Thread: "antique" shop on crack

I stopped in at the antique/junk shop in town and found 4 straights. All were from Sheffield or Solingen. One was a Torrey the others I couldn't read as there was some corosion over that part of the shank. 2 were barbers notch points, one was a spike, and one was a round point, but had a crack in the blade about 3/8 back from the point. 3 looked to be about 6/8 and one of the barbers notch looked to be about 4/8. All the handles were in exceptionally bad shape and would have to be replaced to use. Effectively they amount to 3 restorable blades, and 1 that could be repaired to make a decent shaver. Now here's the kicker, they wanted $45 each for them. Needless to say, they still have them all.

Originally Posted by Rhys

I stopped in at the antique/junk shop in town and found 4 straights. All were from Sheffield or Solingen. One was a Torrey the others I couldn't read as there was some corosion over that part of the shank. 2 were barbers notch points, one was a spike, and one was a round point, but had a crack in the blade about 3/8 back from the point. 3 looked to be about 6/8 and one of the barbers notch looked to be about 4/8. All the handles were in exceptionally bad shape and would have to be replaced to use. Effectively they amount to 3 restorable blades, and 1 that could be repaired to make a decent shaver. Now here's the kicker, they wanted $45 each for them. Needless to say, they still have them all.

And probably will for a good long while.


Jordan

We're probably going to see more of that. Gone are the days when old straights were next to nothing to buy. I travel in Minnesota for business and it gives me the opportunity to make quick stops at antique stores.

Good buys for me are $10 per razor (not mint or even excellent...but decent condition).

If a razor is unique and one or the the type I don't have, I'll pay more. Occasionally for minty, I'll bite at a $30-$40 price but to date I don't think I've bought any with higher prices.

Even in doing this for approx 1 year I see prices going up. Some like you've found to be laughable.

It's all still fun though!!

Chris L

I may have given 8-10 each for 3 of them just since I don't find that many of them around here, and they could have been cleaned up. But, the difference between what I would pay and what they wanted was way to far.

I've got an antique shop by my house and once they saw my interest in razors the prices in the shop went through the roof. They still see me, but I make my rounds and leave without a purchase. They likely made more money on me when they sold for less.

I'm probably hanging around the wrong antiques shops, but cut throats have never been what I'd call cheap in my neck of the woods. The thing I've noticed is that the dealers over here tend to not know the difference between a desirable brand and a bog-standard brand. I was in a store not long ago where they had 45AUD on a beat up piece of junk, next to a Puma in very good condition for the same price!

James.

I have not had any luck to speak of when looking for straights in this part of Texas. I went a gun show a few weeks ago to get Dremel supplies and checked a knife dealer. He had a non branded razor, standard black scales 5/8 spike in fair condition that he had a price tag of $50.00. I politely declined the purchasing the razor.

IMHO, prices depend on the seller. I have picked up several $5 to $10 good old very restorable razors at flea markets (W&B, Wostenholm, DD, Torrey, Morley, etc.). I have also seen asking prices $40 to $50 for the same stuff and some stuff in pretty bad shape. You need to get lucky and find a seller who really does not know too much about what they have. The real fun is when you find a diamond in the rough for a bargain basement price. My best pick up was a circa 1850 William Greaves and Sons (Sheffield) 7/8 wedge with horn scales and nickel inlay for $8. I do agree as well that once they know you buy old straights the prices escalate.

Just yesterday I was out cruising the antique shops and I was thinking the same thoughts. I remember the days when you could find cigar boxes full of razors for no more than five bucks each. I went to about twenty shops yesterday. Only one had straight razors. They were a matched pair of Biddells with ivory handles in a solid ivory box. Sure they were just glorious to behold but when the man told me he would take $850 for the set I wet myself.

I used to trawl antique shops and car boot sales regular at one time. I went to a car boot sale today and found 4 razors.............
1 Rogers round point hollow about 6/8, good but replaced scales, pivot pin was a nail, blade had 2 bad spots of rust but otherwise an excellent blade.
2 FRAM blade only, shape/style as above, couple of small fleabites on the toe of the blade.
3 can't remember the maker (it was someone good though) as above but 5/8 or less, but had large pieces of edge missing
4 another Rogers as No1 but again chunks out of the edge, and about 5/8.

I bought No1 for ALL OF £1, destroyed the scales de-pinning, and spent this evening getting rid of the rusk and nearly all the pitting and it now has a new if not mirror finnish - took me a couple of hours
I didn't care the scales got mashed as this razor is going to be clad in ebony scales my first attemp at a rescale
Wish me luck! piccies when done!
M