Thread: How much would you spend on a decent razor?

I've paid over $500 for a custom, as little as $10 for an ebay special that I restored myself, usually around $100 for something nice and everything in between. When I first started, I bought a Dovo Best for $50 from a retail store. Yup, they were $50 in retail stores, kicked myself when I found the same razor for $30 on ebay. And yes, they were $30 way back in the day.

The next razor I bought was off of ebay and I paid $25 for it. The next two were $15. Then I just kept buying more and more expensive razors.

best shave ive got is off of my 100 dollar solingen apollo, my most expensive one.
ive gotten good shaves from a 40 dollar razor.
id guesstimate about that for a good vintage starter razor, in shave ready condidtion

I am a shaver, not a collector, so bear this in mind. The most I would pay for a razor would be $40-50. This would for a razor that is in good condition (no chips on the blade, little or no corrosion or pitting, and fully intact scales). By implication, this would be a razor that did not need excessive work on the hone to "set" the bevel. As I have said before, if I cannot get a proper bevel in a reasonable time on the 4000 side of my 4000/8000 Norton, I am not interested in it. I have better things to do with my time than trying to fix a damaged razor. I'm also not interested in rescaling or other reconditioning exercises. Those who are - more power to them, but I have other hobbies. Using this philosophy, I have aquired six excellent shavers, all for less than $50 each.

Simmons Hardware Keen Kutter
Case Red Imp
Duble Duck Satin Edge
Duble Duck Golden Edge
Geneva Seneca Chief
Boker Red Injun

I can't decide which of my now 10 razors is the best one yet, but they've all been had for under 75 bucks with the exception of one - a NOS Friodur which I had honed by SRD. It's definitely up there with the best.

There are many, many eBay specials out there if you are looking for a good shaving tool. That is all they ever were to begin with. Any Sheffield, Solingen, Thiers, or Eskeltuna or any of the various American razor manufacturers made great quality razors. If you get one from eBay make sure you don't screw up and buy one of the disguised new Pakastani razors. On an older razor; shop the blade not the handles or decorations. Look for a blade that has not been mis-honed or over honed and it should be a good shaver once you put a new edge on it.

$50-$80

As long as the edges are clean, the blade and handle scales have a nice intact finish I'm all for it. It doesn't have to be anything fancy dripping with gold wash, etching and wearing a pair of Buffalo Horn scales. Just something that looks nice, something presentable you wouldn't be ashamed to show. Like...well like this:

I don't pay huge amounts for razors. I would certainly spend more if I was interested in the 'popular' makers or if I wanted to buy new, but I'm a vintage man. As it stands, I think $50 is a ceiling, and it would have to be someting very unusual as I'm very happy with my rotation as it stands.

All my razors so far are $10-30 ebay specials. What I consider "decent" in a razor is a blade that is not badly damaged (ie no chips, cracks or excessive pitting). I'm sure some others will have higher standards, but I enjoy the restoration process more than shaving. People who want a shave ready razor or NOS will have to pay more, of course.

Double post

$250 for new razors. $100 for used razors.

Pabster