Thread: Goldbug or Gold Bug Black Diamond

This is my razor: Vintage Black Diamond German Straight Razor CM Harris

Not much information there and they want you to sign up to tell you anything else.

Now that you've purchased the razor are you wondering whether or not it's even worth spending the money to send that razor to someone who offers honing services here?

Forgive me, sometimes I'm a bit slow, but I've been following your thread and I'm not sure now that you've purchased this razor, what your desire is or what you're looking for at this point.

Chris L

Not slow at all, that's pretty much it.

Yes, wondering if worth the money really. It will only be used as a shaver for my personal use.

I would recommend looking in the vendor section (different from the classifieds) and locate a few members that offer honing services. Then, click on their user name and send them a private message. To make it helpful for them, you should open your original post about this, copy and paste the URL and make reference to it in the PM. That way they can view the razor and I'm sure they would tell you what the total cost would be if they'd hone it for you. Say you spend another $30 for honing/shipping. IMO it's worth trying. Otherwise you have an unhoned razor sitting on a shelf.

You can have the best honemeister in the world, but if the edge has pitting that is significant and your face is sensitive enough to notice and not like it, it wouldn't be the fault of the person honing the razor.

I'm not saying your razor has pitting on the edge. It's impossible to tell from just a picture, but based on the picture, it would be a possibility.

Chris L

Chris, that is precisely my plan. I have another shaver that'll get done by a member here when funds permit. It was my grandfather's so I cannot put a value on that at all. I'll never part with it and I'll pass it on to one of my boys.

THIS razor was bought to learn on. I have never stropped nor shaved with a straight. I did not want to ruin Grandpa's razor.

My theory/ thinking was this....

Look in the classifieds and find a razor ready to go (shave ready). I've seen them there average low end prices of about $45.

So, with that, I got this razor for $33. Now, I have to send it out to get it honed and all for say $30 w/ shipping and all. I'm into a razor over $60 when I could've gotten one from classifieds for just $45.

That's my thinking and I could be WAYY off base. I suppose $15 is nothing to cry about with a lifetime investment. And, truth be told, I'll buy another from the classifieds before it is over with.

Originally Posted by ChrisL

I would recommend looking in the vendor section (different from the classifieds) and locate a few members that offer honing services. Then, click on their user name and send them a private message. To make it helpful for them, you should open your original post about this, copy and paste the URL and make reference to it in the PM. That way they can view the razor and I'm sure they would tell you what the total cost would be if they'd hone it for you. Say you spend another $30 for honing/shipping. IMO it's worth trying. Otherwise you have an unhoned razor sitting on a shelf.

You can have the best honemeister in the world, but if the edge has pitting that is significant and your face is sensitive enough to notice and not like it, it wouldn't be the fault of the person honing the razor.

I'm not saying your razor has pitting on the edge. It's impossible to tell from just a picture, but based on the picture, it would be a possibility.

Chris L

Oh,you'll probably buy a lot more than that,before you're done.Once that RAD (razor acquisition disorder)sets in,you might end up with many.......FWIW I think that Black Diamond might make a real good one after one of these pros get done with it.

Don't sweat the $15 over from what you originally intended. I can say that I've paid too much on some razors but then I've also gotten some killer deals on some as well. The razors I overpaid on were admittedly when I was starting out, had almost zero knowledge and instead had truckloads of overzealous excitement which bit me in the end.

Put it in the past and look to the future I say. Enjoy!

Chris L

Originally Posted by aroliver59

Oh,you'll probably buy a lot more than that,before you're done.Once that RAD (razor acquisition disorder)sets in,you might end up with many.......FWIW I think that Black Diamond might make a real good one after one of these pros get done with it.

Thanks, man. Good words.

Originally Posted by ChrisL

Don't sweat the $15 over from what you originally intended. I can say that I've paid too much on some razors but then I've also gotten some killer deals on some as well. The razors I overpaid on were admittedly when I was starting out, had almost zero knowledge and instead had truckloads of overzealous excitement which bit me in the end.

Put it in the past and look to the future I say. Enjoy!

Chris L

I appreciate this and look forward to many good shaves. I don't think it's going to be a bad razor by any means.

Rick your original plan of buying a shave-ready razor from the classifieds here was a good one, and is advice repeated here often with good reason. Had I paid more attention and realized that you're new, I would've advised against buying from an antique store. Antique stores are great for picking up new finds to work on once you already have a solid shave-ready razor, but are not the place to go for your first razor. You need a shave ready razor to start off with.

If you're interested, I'd be willing to help you out. PM me your mailing address, and I'll send you the Wade & Butcher pictured below for free this weekend. It's 5/8ths square point with bamboo-styled celluloid scales. No rust, pitting, stains, warping, or other issues, tight pins and it opens and closes perfectly. I'm no honemeister, but am a competent honer, and it will come to you sterilized, stropped, and shave ready.

If you like it, it's yours. If you decide after honestly trying for some time that straights aren't for you, give it to another new person on the forum. You're out nothing, and worst case help out another forum member. People have been very helpful to me on this forum.

You're not obligated at all. I'm not otherwise giving away or selling the razor to anybody. But PM me if you decide you're interested.