Thread: Getting to Know your straight razors

Originally Posted by Philadelph

Very good thread IMO. I always remember that these guys are razor collectors and only state what they THINK they know. Without serial numbers, etc. it is very hard (and never provable) to pinpoint a date or something else without some written proof. There is a related discussion going on in another thread about whether or not certain scales are tortoise or not. Despite the reference to one of these 'collecting books', they don't match any real tortoise I could find or have seen...

http://straightrazorpalace.com/show-...nce-shots.html

I started that thread, and perhaps I was overzealous, which I admitted later in the same thread. My limited experience and the needle test tells me it's probably tortoise. The scales are identical to thick vintage tortoise guitar picks I have handled. And I provided a reference to a well known book with a picture that I felt backed it up. But it seems to be giving you heartburn still, and now I'm being questioned in another unrelated thread. I'm still new here and I don't want a question continuing to dog me, and I sincerely don't want to give false information. I wasn't trying to pump or sell anything, I was sharing what I felt was a novelty, that I intend to keep. If I was wrong, I'll admit it.

I want to settle what the scales are, and put it to rest. I will ship you the pictured razor that I said has tortoise scales at my cost, wrapped in a $5 bill to cover return postage. You personally inspect it, and use whatever test you like to verify the authenticity of the scales to your satisfaction, including hot needle (as long as you don't mar the outside of the scales). You also have my permission to send it to anybody else you like for further verification, as long as I get it back.

I will go along with your professional judgment, without dispute either way. You have far more experience than I do, and have seen and worked with far more tortoise than I ever have. But I think you'll agree that a picture is just a picture, an opinion is an opinion, a book is a book - but in hand is different. One way or another, we'll all learn.

Sound fair enough? If so, PM me your mailing address, and I'll get it to you next week. I am being sincere here, I want to put this to rest.

Originally Posted by FatboySlim

I started that thread, and perhaps I was overzealous, which I admitted later in the same thread. My limited experience and the needle test tells me it's probably tortoise. The scales are identical to thick vintage tortoise guitar picks I have handled. And I provided a reference to a well known book with a picture that I felt backed it up. But it seems to be giving you heartburn still, and now I'm being questioned in another unrelated thread. I'm still new here and I don't want a question continuing to dog me, and I sincerely don't want to give false information. I wasn't trying to pump or sell anything, I was sharing what I felt was a novelty, that I intend to keep. If I was wrong, I'll admit it.

I want to settle what the scales are, and put it to rest. I will ship you the pictured razor that I said has tortoise scales at my cost, wrapped in a $5 bill to cover return postage. You personally inspect it, and use whatever test you like to verify the authenticity of the scales to your satisfaction, including hot needle (as long as you don't mar the outside of the scales). You also have my permission to send it to anybody else you like for further verification, as long as I get it back.

I will go along with your professional judgment, without dispute either way. You have far more experience than I do, and have seen and worked with far more tortoise than I ever have. But I think you'll agree that a picture is just a picture, an opinion is an opinion, a book is a book - but in hand is different. One way or another, we'll all learn.

Sound fair enough? If so, PM me your mailing address, and I'll get it to you next week. I am being sincere here, I want to put this to rest.

I think you're taking it the wrong way and I'm sorry. Oftentimes I sound very 'critical' in my posts and I admit that. Your razor is your razor and I really have little interest in the actual piece. It doesn't even appeal to me really. I just looked very carefully because you titled it as "tortoise scale reference shots" which is a big claim to make considering the differing opinions on the scales on that razor. I'm just trying to offer my differing opinion with whatever backup resources I can so that it isn't taken as pure fact. Again, you MAY be right.

Really, I don't have the time or desire to inspect and have others inspect the razor, but I appreciate the offer. Maybe someone else would get it done. I've done similar things before and it was more hassle than it was worth. I also realize that in the original thread you said that you may have been too hasty in posting what you did, and that's great. I do agree that "a picture is just a picture, an opinion is an opinion, a book is a book" so I'll leave it at that. I just think that a lot of people see certain threads and all of a sudden may take them as fact– be it right or wrong. Sorry for the confusion.

Sorry about the

I find it puzzling when people collect things that they don't use. I have never understood that. i can see rich people and their investment collections, okay, putting your money in something. I get that. but everyday people that collect odd ball stuff and don't even use it?

Everything I've ever collected I've used, the ones I didn't use I sold. guns, pipes, knives, girls.

seriouslly though, Lynn probably has as many razors as just about anybody else, although i doubt he'd sell many razors I'm sure he'd always give good pics and list the details and sizes.

Red

Originally Posted by Philadelph

I think you're taking it the wrong way and I'm sorry. Oftentimes I sound very 'critical' in my posts and I admit that. Your razor is your razor and I really have little interest in the actual piece. It doesn't even appeal to me really. I just looked very carefully because you titled it as "tortoise scale reference shots" which is a big claim to make considering the differing opinions on the scales on that razor. I'm just trying to offer my differing opinion with whatever backup resources I can so that it isn't taken as pure fact. Again, you MAY be right.

Really, I don't have the time or desire to inspect and have others inspect the razor, but I appreciate the offer. Maybe someone else would get it done. I've done similar things before and it was more hassle than it was worth. I also realize that in the original thread you said that you may have been too hasty in posting what you did, and that's great. I do agree that "a picture is just a picture, an opinion is an opinion, a book is a book" so I'll leave it at that. I just think that a lot of people see certain threads and all of a sudden may take them as fact– be it right or wrong. Sorry for the confusion.

Sorry about the

Thanks, Alex. I apologize for taking your earlier comments personally, I get a bit wrapped up in this sometimes. My describing the pictures as "reference shots" of tortoise was a bit much, because I have learned at this point that there actually is no reliable "reference" photo of tortoise, genuine or fake.

(Please pardon the thread detour, all. Last time, I promise. )