Thread: Wedge Razors

So I have been looking around for a wedge razor to restore but I cannot believe the prices that people are asking for these beat up razors. Can anyone let me in on the memo I didn't get on why these razors are so expensive?

Supply and demand. Theres not a lot of supply and theres a lot of demand. Those who are still making them are usually the custom builders and go for exorbitant prices and those that are vintage and in good shape are hard to come buy.

If you are talking about vintage "true" wedges 8/8 and larger it is supply and demand plus they are one of the flavours of the day.

Bob

Flavor of the day for sure - people gravitate toward widely trumpeted names. Do some research and find what wedges were made that you may like and look for those makes - and avoid W&Bs and similar ones for now. There are a few thousand guys out there looking for the same blades in the same places you are right now - so do something different until public interest shifts to something else.

Flavor of the day come on guys ...

More like the flavor of the last 7 years, at least since before I joined the forum, the bigger heavier Sheffield razors has always been popular going all the way back over 100 years...

The uptick in actual money value can be attributed to Supply and Demand when we had 2800 members here they were going for $30 dollars in Vintage condition, of course a sweet Wonderedge was $50 back then too and the #14's were about $75 in mint condition


Now just doing a numbers game, the membership of just this forum has increased by more than tenfold and there are many more new forums out there too, seems that it followed the price increase on razors pretty closely...

Imp wedges (#132) are still easy to find. Not the big and heavy type but still a wedge.

Originally Posted by Bamasamson

So I have been looking around for a wedge razor to restore but I cannot believe the prices that people are asking for these beat up razors. Can anyone let me in on the memo I didn't get on why these razors are so expensive?

Let's toss the question back to you: Do you want a wedge razor to restore for your own use, or to then sell for a (large) profit? If the latter, then that's the cost of doing business, which you'll pass on to the buyer; if the former, then that's the buy-in cost for the privilege of building "sweat equity" and ending-up with your sweet razor.

Here's my suggestion: Find someone selling a "naked blade" -- a full or near wedge -- in the size you fancy, and buy-and-restore it. Then, if you're not into making scales for it, there are any number of SRP members who are.

Originally Posted by JBHoren

Let's toss the question back to you: Do you want a wedge razor to restore for your own use, or to then sell for a (large) profit? If the latter, then that's the cost of doing business, which you'll pass on to the buyer; if the former, then that's the buy-in cost for the privilege of building "sweat equity" and ending-up with your sweet razor.

Here's my suggestion: Find someone selling a "naked blade" -- a full or near wedge -- in the size you fancy, and buy-and-restore it. Then, if you're not into making scales for it, there are any number of SRP members who are.

+1 ... EXACTLY! There are plenty of wedge/near wedge razors to be had out there in the wild, and at very reasonable prices. I know...I have dozens and dozens of these old Sheffields. They're popular because they are GREAT shavers. But....if you want perfection on a hundred plus year old blade, you're either gonna have to do the work yourself, or pay someone else to do it for you.

It's really as simple as that... IMO.

WP34

Originally Posted by JBHoren

Let's toss the question back to you: Do you want a wedge razor to restore for your own use, or to then sell for a (large) profit? If the latter, then that's the cost of doing business, which you'll pass on to the buyer; if the former, then that's the buy-in cost for the privilege of building "sweat equity" and ending-up with your sweet razor.

Here's my suggestion: Find someone selling a "naked blade" -- a full or near wedge -- in the size you fancy, and buy-and-restore it. Then, if you're not into making scales for it, there are any number of SRP members who are.

No I purely plan on this to be for personal use. The issue is even crap looking blades where selling for an arm and a leg. So I guess if I want one I will have to bite the bullet. If I want to make any kind of money, I would make my own razors. Yet that is still a little bit down the road

Originally Posted by Bamasamson

No I purely plan on this to be for personal use. The issue is even crap looking blades where selling for an arm and a leg. So I guess if I want one I will have to bite the bullet. If I want to make any kind of money, I would make my own razors. Yet that is still a little bit down the road

That being said I see very wedgey 1850's Sheffields 6/8 - 7/8 all the time in the 'popular' brands all the time on eBay- one that comes to mind are 'fine India steel' W&B that can be bought, had, cleaned and ready to go for under $100 if you have a good eye.

I have a couple of the above mentioned from Near true wedges to 1/2 hollow and the are all awesome in form and function. They are far from rare, but no ones giving them away.

Look at the pics to judge the grind. There are also numerous wostey's and jos. Rodgers and Fred Reynolds that sell for less then a W&B .