Thread: Keep it NOS or hone and shave?

Is it advisable to keep an old NOS razor unhoned and unused or go ahead and hone it and shave. Will using it be a a real detriment to the value of the razor by not keeping it in it's "virgin" state? I have been lucky enough to find 3 razors in this condition. They are all real beauties and I really would like to shave with them, but I also appreciate their near museum like condition.
What's a guy to do?? I do have plenty of other razors to use. All advise is greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

Pete <:-}

If I have it I'll be damned not to shave with it. I guess its all in the person. I dont see the value lowering in making it shave ready. As long as you tape the spine who's the wiser?

Originally Posted by petercp4e

Is it advisable to keep an old NOS razor unhoned and unused or go ahead and hone it and shave. Will using it be a a real detriment to the value of the razor by not keeping it in it's "virgin" state? I have been lucky enough to find 3 razors in this condition. They are all real beauties and I really would like to shave with them, but I also appreciate their near museum like condition.
What's a guy to do?? I do have plenty of other razors to use. All advise is greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

Pete <:-}

For me, if I had another one, or could easily get another one, I'd keep it NOS.

If it's an uber rare razor, only one I'm likely to see, I'd get it honed up and shave with it - why not?

Give me that NOS W&B Ottoman and Egyptian straight razor, and I'll have that beauty up and shaving quicker than a fat kid on a Smarty!

Life is Short; Get the satisfaction provided from using it.

From a true collectors pov nos untouched would probably be the most valuable. If you hone it and shave with it then it is no longer nos and the value is reduced. Just how much it is reduced is anybody's guess depending on the market when you go to sell it.

You just have to figure out if you are a collector or user.

Bob

I think a potential buyer would not be put off by the notion that it has been used a few times. If it has gone through the stones several times that is one thing, but a razor that has been honed to a shave ready edge and used a couple or three times would, in my eyes, be preferable to a NOS blade.

It means I would not have this decision to make myself.

Originally Posted by Orville

I think a potential buyer would not be put off by the notion that it has been used a few times. If it has gone through the stones several times that is one thing, but a razor that has been honed to a shave ready edge and used a couple or three times would, in my eyes, be preferable to a NOS blade.

It means I would not have this decision to make myself.

Best answer to that question I've read in a long time....I agree.

I agree with bobh. Personally i love using them, if i were to spend the extra $on NOS it would be with the intention to shave with it. The fact that you are even bringing this up would cause me to say keep them in new condition, once honed you cant put the metal back on.

Well, if you want to shave with them there's only one thing to do -> hone 'em up
Razors are made to be used, to shave with and all my NOS razors have been honed and are in my rotation

The true 'value' of a razor is a personal thing, a choice between using it or keeping it in the original condition. It's all up to you, razors to me have little value if I can't use them, but that's just me.

Personally, I do both. Get it honed, use it occasionally, and preserve it... My daily shavers are a little less collectable.