Thread: Already found myself looking for vintage ivory-scaled razors online.

782sirbrian,

Thanks man. I have a similar flare for older vehicles and older firearms so I can definitely relate. Not big on patina though.....but I know too much restoration kills value. Better to have an original bluing in bad shape than new bluing in perfect shape.

I started off with two modern Solingen made razors and quickly moved to vintage Solingen razors. Those are my favorite by far.

All of mine are vintage. I started out with plain and inexpensive ones with which I learned to hone, restore and shave. Recently I sold most of them and have bought some vintage but slightly fancier looking ones and I'll keep their number to around 7 as I'm not really a "collector".

I just like a little variety in my choice of straight razors.

gcbryan,

Sounds like good thinking---practice with common, master skill, and then use vintage. If and when I get a nice vintage razor I want it to be something I can shave with. It's not going to be a "medicine cabinet queen." LOL

I spent a lot on new razors in the beginning.
Nower days I would be hard pushed to buy a new razor.
Vintage steel is excellent.

Originally Posted by AnglesMatter

gcbryan,

Sounds like good thinking---practice with common, master skill, and then use vintage. If and when I get a nice vintage razor I want it to be something I can shave with. It's not going to be a "medicine cabinet queen." LOL

Just to be clear, I never bought a new one, even in the beginning. Plain vintage ones are much cheaper and just as functional. Later, when you know what you like you can buy vintage "lookers" that are more expensive.

Buying new ones in the beginning just means you are spending more money than necessary before you know what you like.

After you know what you like you may well learn that you aren't interested in new ones.

They made a lot of cool one in the past. Today, not so much since there is much less of a market for them. Now "nice" newer ones are often just "glitzy" with a lot of gold leaf.

I bought only new ones for seven years. Have bought a few older ones since. I would just add, that if we (people interested in straight razors) don't buy any new ones, we should not be surprised if they stop being produced some time down the line.

Most people buy new things first and then a subset of people go for older things. This is seen with cars, clothes, guns, TV's, you name it.

I love my Dovo "Best Quality" but I wish I could find something with its features but with factory ivory scales.

Originally Posted by AnglesMatter

I love my Dovo "Best Quality" but I wish I could find something with its features but with factory ivory scales.

With the import of Elephant ivory being banned in most western countries you are pretty much SOL on that count. There is always Mammoth ivory as a legal substitute though. It is almost impossible to find new factory razors with one piece solid pearl scales too.

Bob

BobH,

I find most bans to be both self-defeating in their purpose and highly offensive in their conception.

Does anyone have a 3 inch long, hollow ground, round point razor with ivory scales? Some cool-sounding German Solingen-based company would be nice. I'm looking to buy this.