Thread: What the heck is this?

Guys

ricardo.ch is a nice place. it's like ebay for swiss people (that's like the 20th time i mentioned that on these forums).


There's a guy from Solingen, Germany selling straight razors there for around 15-20 bucks(You can sell stuff on ricardo.ch from outside of Switzerland as well).

So, what's the catch? I mean, if he's selling blades, knives and stuff whilst being from Solingen, they must be good?

Check this link:

Rasiermesser mit Holzschalen und sehr schönem Schriftzug Neu bei ricardo.ch


The auction's title roughly translates as: "straight razor with wooden scales and beautiful writing".

He's selling that razor for 16 bucks. Swiss Franks are roughly equal to US dollars. Keep in mind that everything is twice as expensive in Switzerland than in any other industrialized nation, except for maybe Japan. (i.e. if your salary is below 3500 dollars a month after taxes you're considered poor). If you pay 80 dollars for a razor in the united states, expect to pay 150-160 in Switzerland.


Wooden Scales are nice, having a beautiful writing on the razor is cool too. But this razor must be crap, right?
There's an option on ricardo.ch that allows potential buyers to ask questions about the article-on-sale. Once answered, the question+answer go public. I asked the guy, in another auction, whether the razor was made in Germany from German steel -> he refused to answer.

Looks to me as if this guy is abusing the name of Solingen to pretend he'd be selling quality stuff (not that a town's name could be a protected trade mark or anything. he could just as well be from some other place.)

What do you think? Crap or awesome?

Hard to tell without actually trying one, but the blade you linked to does not match anything I know to be decent. That is not saying it is not decent, and I by no means know every blade out there. But I would be a bit wary on the quality, I think, until proven otherwise.

James.

I saw this razor an a French auction site as well. It probably isn't anything special.

How about this one. Knives Straight Razor

They sell an a small assortment for around $10 a piece and some reviews say they shaved with them. It does look interesting but what kind of quality can you truely be getting for $10?

The ones at True Swords (Tsasser's link) are definitely razor shaped objects, not razors.

The one in the OP is interesting - looks like a knockoff of the Dovo Renni. No clue about the steel, though.

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

The ones at True Swords (Tsasser's link) are definitely razor shaped objects, not razors.

The one in the OP is interesting - looks like a knockoff of the Dovo Renni. No clue about the steel, though.

I still can't get over the fact that some have shaved with them and state they do pretty good. I wonder if they can be made actual shave ready? The scales on some of them are nice, and I wouldn't mind owning one or two.

At that low price point I'm assuming that particular razor comes from China (or Pakistan), although there is no stamped-in maker's mark to be seen.

The razor itself is a simple, single-shoulder grind with no gimps sporting a satin finish which was apparently sandpapered a bit (lengthwise) before that decoration was applied.

The scales are wood, but nothing special in my opinion.

The page seems to suggest that the razor is made of stainless steel and that it comes from Solingen.

I would have serious doubts about that blade coming from Solingen except that it might have been assembled there, but certainly not forged and ground in that area.

Of course, what they are asking for the razor is certainly cheap enough, but then again, I fear that the quality will match the price.

keep yourself away from it.

Originally Posted by ignatz

At that low price point I'm assuming that particular razor comes from China (or Pakistan), although there is no stamped-in maker's mark to be seen.

The razor itself is a simple, single-shoulder grind with no gimps sporting a satin finish which was apparently sandpapered a bit (lengthwise) before that decoration was applied.

The scales are wood, but nothing special in my opinion.

The page seems to suggest that the razor is made of stainless steel and that it comes from Solingen.

I would have serious doubts about that blade coming from Solingen except that it might have been assembled there, but certainly not forged and ground in that area.

Of course, what they are asking for the razor is certainly cheap enough, but then again, I fear that the quality will match the price.

There's an important thing to consider: This razor sells for 16 bucks in Switzerland. In the US, it would sell for 8-10 bucks.

But they do sell Ninja gear