Why buy new? Well, One day, a long long time ago, all of the vintage razors we use today were new. If new razors are not bought, noone will have any desire to keep making them as there will be no money in it. If production of straight razors stops, then way down the road, there will not be any vintage razors for our great, great, great, great...grand kids to learn to use. It is simple...keep the tradition alive!!