Thread: Poll: are you a razor collector?

I bought 6 straights in two months. ugh..

I don't know what that counts as except bankrupt.

I just got started using straights so I only have the one Dovo. I doubt I'll ever become a true collector but I'm sure I'll end up with more than one.

I'm totally going through newbie RAD.
Hopefully I'll start using the cheapies I've gotten to learn some resto skills. Then I can start giving restored str8s as gifts and/or sell 'em on the classifieds here.
As far as investment goes, I've only spent "real" money on one razor so far (one of Max's beauties). The others have come from the bargain bin so SWMBO hasn't had to reign me in or anything.
I think I'd eventually like to top out with a handful (maybe a seven day set) of shavers in my actual "collection" with project blades on top of that.

I'm not near that yet, so I guess I'm all good... So far.

mkevenson wrote:
So what is the definition of a collector?

I don't think being a collector depends on the number of razors you own. I always think of a collector as someone who specializes in a certain area. They attempt to learn everything they can about their area of interest and focus their efforts on finding the best possible examples of what they collect. As the poll now stands, less than 10% of those that answered consider themselves "collectors".

The rest variously described themselves as RAD sufferers, accumulators, scoopers, acquirerers or other terms not listed in the original poll. Personally, I consider myself a "hunter/gatherer". For me half the fun is in the chase. Flea markets, antique shops, yard sales, auctions and the classifieds are my hunting grounds and my quarry seems to be getting rarer and harder to find. Of course I have gotten more particular over the years and no longer buy a razor just because it's a razor. I am a gatherer because I still have every razor that I have hunted down. My intentions at the start was to shave with each of them, but I have fallen way behind in that department.

My vote was as a RAA sufferer, as that was the nearest category that seemed to fit.

Regards - Walt

Originally Posted by Walt

Of course I have gotten more particular over the years and no longer buy a razor just because it's a razor. Regards - Walt

That is true of me too. Also the chase. Sometimes receiving the razor is the anti-climax. I already got off on winning the bid. On ebay of course.

I am fairly new to the game. I currently have four straights that can see how easy it is to get RAD. I have a small antique shop near me that seems to have a constant supply of inexpensive straights. I don't mind picking up a $10 razor cleaning it up and working it into the rotation.
Its cool though, I can stop anytime I want.

Originally Posted by li885

Its cool though, I can stop anytime I want.

Yeah . . . . . right! That's the same kind of crazy talk I was trying to convince myself with 150 razors ago.

Regards - Walt

I have full onset RAD and couldn't be happier.

I started straight shaving in early december and now have 10 straights, with 3 cheapies I hope to use as sacrificial honing lambs.

My story is probably a broken record-newbie starts shaving then wants to shave with every type of blade/razor under the sun.

I don't plan on acquiring any more in the near future though i said the same thing last month.

Originally Posted by jakoblah

I'm totally going through newbie RAD.
Hopefully I'll start using the cheapies I've gotten to learn some resto skills. Then I can start giving restored str8s as gifts and/or sell 'em on the classifieds here.
As far as investment goes, I've only spent "real" money on one razor so far (one of Max's beauties). The others have come from the bargain bin so SWMBO hasn't had to reign me in or anything.
I think I'd eventually like to top out with a handful (maybe a seven day set) of shavers in my actual "collection" with project blades on top of that.

I'm not near that yet, so I guess I'm all good... So far.

Sounds a lot like me.

My first month saw me with 4 razors.
The last week has seen me with 4 more.

ALL of them are for shaving purposes!

As I get more razors, I want to know more and more about their history, and their makers, etc...so I feel collector status coming on. But I will only have razors I can actually shave with--no display-only for me...