Thread: What made this razor worth $300?

It does have a beautiful set of scales, and a really nice blade. What I find odd is the design of the blade seems to me to be later than the straight scales. Scales began to have a slight curve in the early 1800s according to Robert A. Doyle's book. Blades didn't begin to have thumbnotches and such distinct tangs until awhile after the straight scales were gone. Still, with a fancy razor like that the maker may have hearkened back to the past when he designed it.

I think $300. for the razor is what someone was willing to pay for it. But as mentioned above, you are kind of bidding on half a razor. It could indicate that the seller is unfamiliar with selling razors on Ebay or that the seller is purposely deceiving the buyer by limiting the information to one side, or one side and one closeup of the masterful inlay. There is something a little funny about the design. Where is Thaeris?

The scales.

The scales are definitely genuine tortoiseshell which is quite rare plus the MOP inlays which are very intricate. I have also never seen a "washer" around the wedge pin that was that intricate or gorgeous. The blade looks to be in good shape for its age but I would have asked the seller for additional photos, especially of the back side of the razor, before I bid that much money.

I have a somewhat similar French razor with MOP-inlaid tortoiseshell scales. If I had seen the listing for the one you posted I probably would have been bidding on it in hopes of making a somewhat matched pair with the two.

Originally Posted by goldragon

The scales are definitely genuine tortoiseshell which is quite rare plus the MOP inlays which are very intricate. I have also never seen a "washer" around the wedge pin that was that intricate or gorgeous. The blade looks to be in good shape for its age but I would have asked the seller for additional photos, especially of the back side of the razor, before I bid that much money.

I have a somewhat similar French razor with MOP-inlaid tortoiseshell scales. If I had seen the listing for the one you posted I probably would have been bidding on it in hopes of making a somewhat matched pair with the two.

]

That is gorgeous ! I agree with you about the washer on the pin, though I didn't notice it until you pointed it out. Might be a replacement blade, or the tang was cleaned before repinning. How far down the pivot pin is also sort of odd to my eye ....... not on yours, but on the razor that is the subject of this thread.

Originally Posted by outback

Don't know,nice looking razor,I'm more worried about possible cell rot.
Being tortoise shell, and not seeing the other side of the razor puts a flag up for me JMO.

If it's tortoiseshell then cell rot is not an issue - although you can get bug bites just as with horn.

As for value - there's probably more work in those scales than you get from the whole of a $300 modern razor.

Art, antiques and craftsmanship from eras bygone are worth what someone will pay. I think that filigree and mother of pearl inlay are beautiful. The buyer thought they were, on an old razor, 300-hundred clams beautiful - not a great leap.

It is a French razor, piquee work in tortoise (the tortoise was heated and pieces were pressed into it). We can't say much based on scale and blade shape based on understanding of English razors (and even there it is an INCREDIBLY rough guide to age). It is definitely a collector piece, I can understand the price.

I think I have to agree with JimmyHAD. I have the same book & the blade might be later than the scales. I can see why it went for the price because the scales are so beautiful. I also don't think it would have cell rot because it appears to be original tortoise & even if it were dyed horn, it wouldn't have cell rot. It has some beautiful inlays on it. I would most definitely love to have it if the price was right, even though it is possible the blade may have been changed out!
I believe those scales had a blade in them that was much straighter w/o a stabilizer or thumb notch in it.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

It does have a beautiful set of scales, and a really nice blade. What I find odd is the design of the blade seems to me to be later than the straight scales. Scales began to have a slight curve in the early 1800s according to Robert A. Doyle's book. Blades didn't begin to have thumbnotches and such distinct tangs until awhile after the straight scales were gone. Still, with a fancy razor like that the maker may have hearkened back to the past when he designed it.

The straight-vs-curved scales, edge-to-tang transition, and tail length often run the danger going from rough guidelines for Sheffield razors to dating methods. There are many variations and exceptions so the dating scale must be taken with a pound of salt. And with French razors, all bets are off. I could definitely believe that OP's razor is in its original scales.