Thread: Should i buy?

ok, guys, you will know what i am looking at

i just visited an antique shop in my city that has been closed all winter and therefore i havent looked it up yet

anyways, i went there today and found three razors that i have on hold until tomorrow
i was wondering if i should pick them up for sure or not

anyways, here they are

the first has written on the tang: Suplee hardware co. and made in germany on it; etched into the blade is the word figaro, it has some silver (i think) inlay on one side of the scales

the second says "clear cut de luxe" (there is a space in the de luxe) etched into the blade
it is a covered tang (mother of pearl i think, or very close to it), the scales are broken some, but in a way that is even on both sides and you wouldn't notice unless you were looking for it

the last and third thing, is a rolls razor, still in box, (both the silver box it came in and another box around that), it seems to be in good condition

i talked him down to 18 for each straight and 25 for the rolls

is this worth it for me, or will i be getting ripped off?

with tax the total for the three is 61

what do yall think?
good deal or not?




ps: there is one that is covered in rust for 1$ that i am getting too for an experiment with CLR, i will let everone know how that goes



also, the shop has many more straights in it (i will probably prowl there every so often), including what i think is a W&B (i didnt get a good look at it) so if anyone lives around Bristol, TN/VA check out Antiques on Commonwealth

It would be impossible to say without photos to tell the condition. It will also depend on how much of the work (if any is needed) you can do yourself.

+1 to the above post. Also, unless the hone is intact the Rolls ain't worth much if you want to use it. They make for pretty display pieces...

they are all in a condition that i can take care of myself, learn how to easily enough, or i will be learning how to deal with it sooner or later

the condition of everything is good

the guy has 3 rolls razors, the one i have on hold, the hone seems to be intact (i may get a different one if a hone is intact on another of them

there isn't much work needed (except for the one covered in rust that i mentioned before) on any of them

if i decide to get them i will be posting pictures

if the hone is intact, is the rolls worth it?

Do not use CLR it will stain the blade and discolour the scales!!!

Originally Posted by epd

Do not use CLR it will stain the blade and discolour the scales!!!

EXPERIMENT is the key work, the blade and scales are both shot, i just wanna see what will happen
if the blade was good, (it has a lot of gold inlay an etching on the blade, but the blade is half rust or more)

i dont care about the razor, i just want to see what the CLR will do

Asking a bunch of straight razor enthusiasts whether to buy or not is like asking an alcoholic if they want a drink..... Buy buy buy!


Seriously only you know if it is worth the money to you, if it is buy them if not don't, if you do though make sure to share the pics.

as an avid bay buyer, I would say that is too much. Unless the rolls is complete, don't pay that much. An old straight that is not a W&B, Westonholm, or any other highly sought after razor, is only worth about $10.00 as a blanket statement. I have many, MANY, blades of excellent quality that I got for a lot less than 20.

Remember, there is always another razor.

Razors sell for next to nothing to astronomical prices. W/o actually seeing them it is hard to put a value to them, which we don't do in the open forum. Bottom line is "how available are they in your area?". Here in WNY I was falling over them almost anywhere I went so 10 - 15 bucks was about average. That was a few years ago. Now I have to really hunt for them and they are much more expensive. Today $18 is an average price. As for brands, as long as they are not from a country on the 'do not buy' list you should be safe with vintage US, German, English or Swedish makers. Some of my best shavers are no name brands. As long as they are quality steel the bottom line is in the honing. The Rolls razor is up to you. I don't use them so I might pass on that one unless the cost is insignificant to you, but then you wouldn't ask. Good luck.

Originally Posted by Joed

Razors sell for next to nothing to astronomical prices. W/o actually seeing them it is hard to put a value to them, which we don't do in the open forum. Bottom line is "how available are they in your area?". Here in WNY I was falling over them almost anywhere I went so 10 - 15 bucks was about average. That was a few years ago. Now I have to really hunt for them and they are much more expensive. Today $18 is an average price. As for brands, as long as they are not from a country on the 'do not buy' list you should be safe with vintage US, German, English or Swedish makers. Some of my best shavers are no name brands. As long as they are quality steel the bottom line is in the honing. The Rolls razor is up to you. I don't use them so I might pass on that one unless the cost is insignificant to you, but then you wouldn't ask. Good luck.

+1 My rule of thumb is <$15 for straight blade, no chips bigger in depth and/or width than the thickness of my thumb nail...I don't care what it is (though for a good example of a razor type on my want list I might be coaxed to pay more). BUT, that's me, in the midwest, with very few straight enthusiasts within hours. It could be an entirely different world where you are, and only you can prevent forest...I mean...only you can tell if it's worth while.

Peace,