Thread: Is this spine wear?

Euclid got it right, on there being a heel issue

Yeah, not at that price....

Scary part is, it's a seller with 700+ feedback @ 100% positive
(also, weirdly, ships from Japan...but user info says seller is in the US? Just feels strange all around...)

That's the razor! I never realised the seller was US based.
Thank you guys for your inputs! I've almost bought it and now I'm happy I didn't.

Good eye, Marty

Ooof....some poor soul bought it
I hope they spotted the issues, and still thought it was worth the $180 price tag to them
(i think it's okay to say that after the auction has closed? If not, mods feel free to edit or delete if necessary)

The heel can still be fixed easily and 2-3 layers of tape on the toe and it can be honed and made to shave well, probably. The hone wear could be sanded and almost made to look normal. You would still need to tape the toe to hone it properly. You can’t add missing width, even with JB Weld…

But…I would not pay $180 or anything near that for it. What bothers me more, is calling it NOS.

Originally Posted by Euclid440

What bothers me more, is calling it NOS.

Agreed. That almost looks like purposeful deception. Not saying that the selling knew any better, but somebody polished the hone wear and narrowed the blade width. This is a great thread though to show what to look for on eBay sales.

The guy sells nothing but straights, with the majority listed as NOS. I'd agree if he was a random item seller with one or two straights, but if that's your whole business... You should know your business
(i didn't look close enough to see if the rest listed as NOS actually were, the few I clicked looked like it)

When I look at a razor that I am considering purchase, and I do not buy many razors anymore, but occasionally, I take a long look at the razor.

First for spine wear, excessive wear, Cell rot, deep pitting and cracks are deal breakers for me. Learn to recognize Cell Rot and stay away from it.

Second, I look at the heel, if the heel needs correction, the edge usually has issues, excessive wear. If the heel needed correction and they honed with tape you may not see excessive spine wear, but you will see it in blade width and uneven bevel wear.

Third the bevels, are they even or better said uneven, and if so why. Large chips and or cracks. If un-even, why?

Every razor I look at, I think what it will take to make it right and how much time will it take.

Forth I look at shape, does it look right, is the blade width even, has the toe been ground, spike muted or weirdly rounded, is the toe sharp. If not, why? Are the scales original and do they fit the blade?

I am always amazed how many razors have toes that appear to have never had the toe fully honed. I use the toe all the time, every shave. How do guys shave without a honed toe? Again, if not honed, why?

Then rust, finish, pinning and last scales. Everything can be fixed except cracks, but some I do not even try, the rest is time. Then price, there are some great deals in the wild right now, there is also a lot of junk.

Glen once wisely said “Restoration, begins at purchase. Buy the razor in the best condition you can afford”. You will be money ahead.

I found another one. What do you guys think?

Nope, Filarmonica scales are not noted for Cell Rot. That looks like it was put away wet and water spots rusted.

Some WD40 and 000 steel wool, then a good metal polish and 0000 steel wool should get most of it off. That spot on the gold wash may cause you to lose some of the wash.

It does have some excessive spine wear in the middle and the edge look to have a slight frown, directly opposite to the wear. I would want to see the other side.

Large Fliarmonica’s have a tendency to flex, if too much pressure is used. Flexing will lift the edge off the stone. I suspect the honer used more pressure or laps to try to get the middle honed, which is exactly the opposite of what was needed.

In short it has some issues.