Thread: Judging the value of old razors

I saw a couple of very old razors today at an antique store. Pre-1860s supposedly. The scales were wood about to fall off. I wasn't sure if there was too much rust.

How does one go about figuring out what they are worth? Is there a blue book for razors?

I didn't pick them up. I was hoping to find an old razor for about $10 to try my hand at polishing then honing. No luck. I think they wanted about $60/each, which is more money than I wanted to waste learning. Now I am thinking about trying to polish up and restore a 15 year old paring knife I have instead. I won't shave with it, but I might learn something and won't risk much.

Personaly, I won't give more then $20 for a razor from an antique shop unless I really like it, and its in good shape. I still haven't spent more then $35 on one. I'm sure you can find one on e-bay for less that will make a good starter, but if your like me you need the steel in your hand before you know if you want it or not. IMHO, look for a razor that says Sheffield, antique stores usualy don't know their value as shavers.

You will find more often than not that antique stores think their old busted up razors are worth prices like you mention. A price is relative. I'm a cheapscape & about $20 is all i will usually give for a razor unless it's something that I am wanting really bad...

There are some books out there giving pricing, but I don't agree at all with their suggested prices. Keep at the stores & you will find something worth bringing home...

ROFLMAO...Cevulirn beat me to the punch with the same thoughts...great minds think alike!

Watch the classifieds here, and look at completed e-bay auctions for different brands. After a while you will get a feel for how brand and condition meet to reach a price. I'm with the guys above, don't spend more than $10-20 for your first honer/restore. There are plenty out there if you do some research and walk into enough antique shops or follow enough auctions...

Straight-razors are often not worth much for the simple reason that they were EXTREMELY COMMON. Before the early 20th century, they were the only way to shave. So there are millions of them all over the world. And since most people don'e use them, their prices are usually dirt cheap.

The razors that are worth money are the boxed sets. The pairs, the four-razor sets, the weekly seven-day sets and razors with unique or otherwise special scale-materials/designs.

Other than that though, most razors don't sell for much. The cheapest razor I have is a $5 German full-hollow straight. But it shaves like a dream.

Flea markets know what Mick Jagger wrote, that time is on their side. They can put a $60.00 price tag on a $10.00 razor and just let it sit in the store. Eventually someone might think it's cute, might remember dear old Grand Dad shaving iwth a straight, or maybe just be a Newbie on this forum who's looking for something to polish up and hone.

slightly off topic.. but what's the best way to handle an extremely overpriced antique store? i have one down the street from me that has a heck load of really nice straights i would love to own.. but they all have $150+ pricetags.. i don't want to be insulting..

Victor, I am with you 100% some of these people look on e-bay and see one razor sell for $600+ and think that every razor is rare and valuable...
I make them an insluting offer and if they even bother to ask why which most don't, I explain it to them.... very simply "www.straightrazorplace.com check it out and learn"

I have a few Antique stores by me. I saw one razor, one time. It was a rusted Sheffield, with one Nude scale on it, missing the other. The price tag was $60.00. I asked her, "Are you kidding". She said, "It's a collector's item" "People collect them". I left it at that...I've never had any luck with Antique stores, but I'm in the minority.