Thread: Dubl Duck $450, seriously?

Originally Posted by Martin103

If the grinding was done correctly, it should be fine, but if the blade got to hot from grinding the temper of the blade might be affected, i would definately contact a restorer from the list they know a lot more then myself about this.

Will do. I am about to send "mainaman" an email to see what it will cost to get the razor re-scaled and honed.

I have and use both Livi and DD's. The Ducks definitely have some old time charm to them. Don't get me wrong, Maestro Livi makes a nice razor too, but I'm sucker for the classics. These prices are nothing new. Looking at the Filys, The Wade and Butcher's, etc...If someone throws a Vintage Fritz Bracht up on the Bay, or perhaps a Reaper, or maybe even a nice Puma Gold in the wooden coffin you'd see the same. It's always a been a seller's market as far as I'm concerned.

I did come across a DD GE in a it's original coffin, never used. Belonged to this woman's Grandfather. She found it in his draw after he passed, and gave it to me. Still has the nice blue ducks, and all the Goldwash. I'm not sure why it held up the way it did over the years, but it has no rust, no rot, no wear. For some reason he bought it, and never used it.

Originally Posted by zib

I have and use both Livi and DD's. The Ducks definitely have some old time charm to them. Don't get me wrong, Maestro Livi makes a nice razor too, but I'm sucker for the classics. These prices are nothing new. Looking at the Filys, The Wade and Butcher's, etc...If someone throws a Vintage Fritz Bracht up on the Bay, or perhaps a Reaper, or maybe even a nice Puma Gold in the wooden coffin you'd see the same. It's always a been a seller's market as far as I'm concerned.

I did come across a DD GE in a it's original coffin, never used. Belonged to this woman's Grandfather. She found it in his draw after he passed, and gave it to me. Still has the nice blue ducks, and all the Goldwash. I'm not sure why it held up the way it did over the years, but it has no rust, no rot, no wear. For some reason he bought it, and never used it.

That's because that's the famous duck with the curse on it. That's why it's so clean, it's impervious to everything because of the curse. The old gentleman never had a chance to use it because the curse killed him first.

You haven't messed with the seal have you? You haven't used it have you? If you did remember me in your will-Har har.

I can not understand the fascination of some of the prices of the older razors, if they were hand crafted, but many were not. they were massed produced for the masses who had to use them. and I'm sure quality standards were not the same as what a hand crafted artisan would aspire today. So for the money give me a Mastro Livi, Joe Chandler or Devin Thomas. Even Dovo, Boker, Ralf Aust, and Thiers-Issard, need to be of a hight quality, to bring in new shavers.

Originally Posted by kettlebell

I can not understand the fascination of some of the prices of the older razors, if they were hand crafted, but many were not. they were massed produced for the masses who had to use them. and I'm sure quality standards were not the same as what a hand crafted artisan would aspire today. So for the money give me a Mastro Livi, Joe Chandler or Devin Thomas. Even Dovo, Boker, Ralf Aust, and Thiers-Issard, need to be of a hight quality, to bring in new shavers.

I really don't see the issue with the DD in the opening post. It's a nice looking DD with box, that probably went to a razor collector who wanted a DD to fill his collection. Companies that "massed produced for the masses" made some wonderful razors & took pride in the product they made.

I have yet to read a post on SRP, may have missed it though , where a Mastro Livi or any other beautiful custom was the catalyst that launched a new shaver's journey.

Originally Posted by kettlebell

I can not understand the fascination of some of the prices of the older razors, if they were hand crafted, but many were not. they were massed produced for the masses who had to use them. and I'm sure quality standards were not the same as what a hand crafted artisan would aspire today. So for the money give me a Mastro Livi, Joe Chandler or Devin Thomas. Even Dovo, Boker, Ralf Aust, and Thiers-Issard, need to be of a hight quality, to bring in new shavers.

Each to his own I suppose but the counter point to yours is that these razors are not in current production so the supply of them in excellent shape to NOS is very limited. That alone drives prices up. Add to that the thrill of the hunt to finally get what you want as opposed to just going to a web page and ordering a current production or even a custom custom razor. Just different strokes for different folks.

Bob

Originally Posted by kettlebell

I can not understand the fascination of some of the prices of the older razors, if they were hand crafted, but many were not. they were massed produced for the masses who had to use them. and I'm sure quality standards were not the same as what a hand crafted artisan would aspire today. So for the money give me a Mastro Livi, Joe Chandler or Devin Thomas. Even Dovo, Boker, Ralf Aust, and Thiers-Issard, need to be of a hight quality, to bring in new shavers.

It is quite an experienced to shave with a 150 years old razor, they were all hand crafted by people who cared about their work and the product they made. If your refering to Dubl Ducks these razors are baby's made in 1940 or so. these old razors have soul and im not talking about the mirror finish W&B 10/8 expensive razor.

Most "New Shavers" i find want to start on the cheap.

i have a dubl duck special with a huge nick on the toe that i will make into a curvre point razor and i think it will shave fine for minimal dollars,i isnt mint but it is good steel

Originally Posted by kettlebell

I can not understand the fascination of some of the prices of the older razors, if they were hand crafted, but many were not. they were massed produced for the masses who had to use them.

Your subjectivity aside, this is true. And by the amount of Dubl Ducks in good to really good condition circulating on ebay alone, I have wondered many times why they fetch prices as high as they do. My guess is that there are very few really rare razors out there.

Originally Posted by kettlebell

and I'm sure quality standards were not the same as what a hand crafted artisan would aspire today.

Why are you so sure? Because customs are all made by hand in the twenty-first century? I think you'd be surprised. How do you expect an entire industry, such as the Solingen razor industry in the nineteenth-twentieth century would have survived if there were bad quality standards? There certainly was no lack of choice, as there were many, many players on the market.

On a side note, how many vintage razors are ground full hollow or extra hollow? Lots and lots. And how many custom razors are ground full hollow or extra hollow? Significantly less, I dare say.

Oh, and aspiration and actual result are two very different things, I hope you understand that.

Originally Posted by kettlebell

So for the money give me a Mastro Livi, Joe Chandler or Devin Thomas. Even Dovo, Boker, Ralf Aust, and Thiers-Issard, need to be of a hight quality, to bring in new shavers.

On a personal, also very subjective note: I cannot understand the fascination with most of the custom made razors. Or I understand it, but I don't get it, if you know what I mean. As far as looks go, I'd prefer any Ralf Aust, Revisor, any of the Eskilstuna makers or even a Clauberg Tonsorial Gem for that matter over pretty much all custom razors I've seen to this day. And that's without taking the prices into account. I usually don't find them aesthetically pleasing at all, in my eyes most of them have a rather unbalanced design. And personally, paua scales give me a seizure or at least a mild headache.

But indeed, different strokes. Very different strokes.

As far as looks go, I'd prefer any Ralf Aust, Revisor, any of the Eskilstuna makers or even a Clauberg Tonsorial Gem for that matter over pretty much all custom razors I've seen to this day

You've seen them. Okay.
have you shaved with them ?