Why the disparity?

[jelajemi]

I have been looking at some Wade&Butcher straigth razors and what really calls my attention is to see such a great disparity when it comes to prices. I"ve seen some on ebay from $27 to more than $300 Any idea why this price range is so great.

[ace]

The larger W&Bs, that is 8/8 and up, tend to go for much more money.

[Hirlau]

There could be half a dozen reasons why.
It takes a trained eye to spot flaws in a razor; flaws that might lower it's price.
Maybe the seller has no background in razors.
Maybe the seller is sipping the Bourbon as he sets the starting bid.

[mainaman]

People want bigger razor more than they want smaller razors.
Then the condition plays role in the final price for a big blade.
Then there is the bidding wars, when more than one person wants the same blade so badly they can't live without it.

[Silents]

First, let me say I am a fan of the large W&B.

I think the reason has to do with the collectors thinking the larger blades look cool.

OR

The people purchasing them think that the larger the blade the better the shave. This is NOT necessarily true. While some of my best shaves come from an 8/8 W&B I own, I also get fantastic shaves from my two Boker 5/8 and a little 4/8 Morley.

OR

The fact that the there is more steel on the 8/8, people feel the blade will last longer. But he reality is that an 8/8 will outlive all of us in terms of blade wear. Most of the 8/8 that you find come from the late 1800's early 1900's and they still haven't shrunk from honing.

In the end it is all about what the market will bear in terms of price.

[bakepit]

i have yet to buy an 8/8 w&b due to the cost. im sure i will eventually find a good one. antique store , friend or ebay. personally ebay is a necessary evil on the west coast as i dont find much locally. seems all the wonderful old stuff is on the eat end of the states.

[pixelfixed]

If your going to wait to find a nice 8/8+ W&B FBU for cheap,you may not live long enough,will never happen on ebay. unless you reload the newly listed page every 5 mins, 24/7.

[bakepit]

If your going to wait to find a nice 8/8+ W&B FBU for cheap,you may not live long enough,will never happen on ebay. unless you reload the newly listed page every 5 mins, 24/7.

Too right fellow shaver.