Thread: Don't be wasteful–buy used

Originally Posted by daflorc

Who's looking down on anybody? I thought we were talking about individual's reasons for buying vintage or new

That is your title.... perhaps I read more into it, or perhaps you showed your thoughts with it

Don't be wasteful -buy used

Originally Posted by daflorc

...for example, my new shave ready theo a koch: Vintage Marcella Straight Razor shave ready Germany - eBay (item 220751155105 end time Mar-18-11 16:27:56 PDT)

A lot of sellers that refurbish blades that I see also take pride in honing them for you. Part of the buyers package

You can't possibly have that razor in your hands yet, so I'm not sure why you're so glowingly certain it will be shave-ready. Just saying...


I really do love vintage razors, I don't own a single new one... but I will also testify to the fact that, particularly the last 8 months or so, the vintage market has become a den of thieves and brigands compared to the safe market it used to be-- particularly on eBay.

Apologies if this thought is a repeat.

I love history. I like looking at architecture, arches, old churches, and on and on and on. Part of what I love about straight shaving is that I'm included in the history.

The beauty of shaving with an old razor is that is has character, and has had a life of it's own. I find myself sometimes wondering "Where has this one been?"

A neat thing about new razors is that I'm starting that history. Keepsakes are cool. Passing things down through generations is also cool. I don't give a **it what anyone else says. I bought a Wacker for 2 reasons. 1. Because I want to shave with it. 2. because I'm going to give it to someone else in my family one day.

Maybe I'm too philosophical about this whole thing. Just my thoughts.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

That is your title.... perhaps I read more into it, or perhaps you showed your thoughts with it

Don't be wasteful -buy used

Ah, true, I think I showed my bias in that title. For the record, I hold no ill will against anyone who wants a brand new razor I was just a little sore that my first razor was a $125 new Dovo, when I could've paid half that on vintage and been perfectly happy

Originally Posted by BKratchmer

You can't possibly have that razor in your hands yet, so I'm not sure why you're so glowingly certain it will be shave-ready. Just saying...

I really do love vintage razors, I don't own a single new one... but I will also testify to the fact that, particularly the last 8 months or so, the vintage market has become a den of thieves and brigands compared to the safe market it used to be-- particularly on eBay.

FYI, I got that razor in the mail TODAY (monday march 21) and, lucky me, the razor did not make a liar out of me (i shaved with it right out of the box, kept my stubble for 3 days so I could try it out right)
...when I posted that post, I was confident that it would be what it said it was, as the seller seemed like an honest dealer. I had not gotten the razor as yet, but incriminated myself for the sake of argument

and yes, ebay is a sniper's kill zone on the vintage market. I had my eye on a beautiful new old stock Louis Grah Solingen that I had my snipe softwear set for $100....someone had their snipewear set at $110 and won it Funny thing is the price was $81 until the last second when the softwear kicked in....lol somebody watching that auction would have no clue what happened

Originally Posted by PonderingTurtle

I am not so sure about that, if there was sufficient interest the techniques could be reinvented. There is nothing particularly magic about razors that would make the manufacture a archane art compared to other high end blade manufacture. Some specific differences because of the differing nature of the requirements but not unsolvable.

The issue would be if there were no new razors being made how long could a reasonable number of people use the existing stock? And if that stock is depleted would you be able to build enough of a market to sustain a manufacturer other than the custom market?

I disagree. Your argument presumes that anything that once was can be perfectly recreated, which perhaps would be true of something that follows a formula. But razor forging and grinding is considered an artform. This is best exemplified by the QC problems which plagued some of the contemporary makers as recently as a couple years ago. Why you might ask? Because Solingen's master razor grinders are either dead or dying off at an alarming rate. The apprentices, I'm sure, have come to realize that razor making isn't so easy when the masters aren't around to pass on their craft. If the Mona Lisa was destroyed tomorrow would it be possible to be recreate it on canvas?

Your second point is an issue that I alluded to, or least I thought I did. The issue is there remains a finite supply of vintage razors we all love. They are literally being sold off by the boxfull every day, and therefore will disappear. Contemporary razor manufacturing not only guarantees the survival of a traditional process/art, but that there will be a supply to pass on to future generations.

I have to ask, but hasn't anyone considered that these "darn new razors" will be vintage someday......

I agree with Ryan. Once an art form is lost, it is incredibly hard to rediscover. For example, the process involved in making true Damascus steel was lost over three hundred years ago. Since then, people have been trying to find the "secret formula" for making it, with varying degrees of sucess. The same could be said for straight razors should the reputable makers of today suddenly stop making razors. Jus my opinion.

Originally Posted by daflorc

FYI, I got that razor in the mail TODAY (monday march 21) and, lucky me, the razor did not make a liar out of me (i shaved with it right out of the box, kept my stubble for 3 days so I could try it out right)
...when I posted that post, I was confident that it would be what it said it was, as the seller seemed like an honest dealer. I had not gotten the razor as yet, but incriminated myself for the sake of argument

So you were lucky but tell me it wasn't a gamble buying from a seller who has been selling "shaveready" razors on eBay for 3 months. Whilst I can't criticise his edges, not having one of his razors, his premise that passing the HHT "guarantees a good shave" is fundamentally flawed and shows inexperience or equivocatory marketing. Not saying the guy can't hone just that eBay is risky.

Originally Posted by daflorc

Now that I'm into this thing neck–deep, I'm wondering:

Why would anyone buy a brand new razor, of any brand? Vintage and restored razors are so much more interesting, have so much more character, history, are so much cheaper (most of the time) and in most cases, just as good. Why drop $100+ for a brand new Solingen or otherwise(you know the brand/s)?

That's exactly why I buy the old/used razors, but sometimes I just want a NEW "thing" whatever it is.

Jim

When you buy used, you are supporting the dudes who do the restoration and you have this beautiful antique to shave with every week. When you buy a new custom, you support the modern day craftsman who are creating new and you can marvel at an amazing work of art that a living human made. It's all good!!