Thread: Value of Scales

As some of you may have noticed, I have a bunch of Friodurs. I usually keep all my razors unless I'm strapped for cash but I have so many Friodurs, I've sold a few recently. I looked at the prices at ShavingShop.com to compare with my prices and they're pretty high. Are the scales really that big a boost to the price?

That's really a tough question. I think to a guy who is strictly a collector a rare or unusual scale can be worth alot of money. To a guy who is strictly a shaver a nice set of wood or other scales can be worth something but probably not a huge amount and to someone who is a shaver/collector the original scales if they are signed with the name of the company are desireable. But, in general I don't personally think of scales as being things of value. To me its the razor first and then the scales can enhance that. If you have a dog of a razor spending alot of money for ivory scales won't increase the value unless someone wants to remove the scales and put them on another razor. Now I'm not talking about solid gold or silver scales which can have intrinsic value and can be melted down.

So I guess its like everything else, if you have someone who is looking for something rare and specific and you have what they want then the answer to your question might be yes. Now I know of some people who collect razor boxes but I've never heard of someone who collects strictly scales but there seem to be people who collect everything so who knows.

It's curious because I'd sell a NOS 8/8 Friodur for maybe $200. At the going rates on the site, either I need some new scales or I'm underestimating the value of the Friodur name.

Good scales are basically a luxury item...in that they don't add much value except aesthetic. Look at the Art of Shaving, they sell a Gillette Quatro for over $100 because it has a cool handle (analogous to cool scales) also you can get a TI from Classicshaving with a wicked horn scales, but it costs about $100 more than the same razor with plastic scales.

Should really wicked scales cost basically the same price as the blade itself?

Also, the rareness and appeal of the razor's width is important. You said you have a NOS 8/8 Friodur...I think it's worth every bit of $200 even with cheap plastic scales. The biggest TI you can get is a 7/8 and you're going to spend about $200 on it.

Agreed the friodor is worth the money you say but the question is if it had plastic scales and you substituted nice wood or horn scales how would it affect the price. I would guess maybe another forty bucks or so. The point is a friodor of a certain size and condition is worth just so much. You can do only so much enhancing. Excuse the bad analogy but you can put a pig in a nice dress but its still a pig. (no, I'm not calling your razor a pig)