Thread: Vintage value question

Would a razor be worth more with new custom scales, or its original scales, even if the original scales arent in great shape?

I enjoy making things like new scales for a razor, so this really only applies to the ones I'd buy to resell. Anything I use, I customize

I like my scales to be orginal. I only replace them if they are broken or about to break.

The reason i like to replace them is that they are often quite boring. I replace the generic black or yellow plastic with something like snakewood inlaid with abalone or an inexpensive but aesthetic gemstones over a brass liner. They are objectively nicer looking, but would be a shame to invest time and expensive materials and end up with something worth less than it was before

To a collector, original trumps all else.

To a user, who knows.

Originally Posted by Rsq

The reason i like to replace them is that they are often quite boring. I replace the generic black or yellow plastic with something like snakewood inlaid with abalone or an inexpensive but aesthetic gemstones over a brass liner. They are objectively nicer looking, but would be a shame to invest time and expensive materials and end up with something worth less than it was before

Since I just went back through your posts and see no pics of these scales the answer is "How would we know"

Certain Razors have huge value in intact scales (DD, Puma, Craftsman,) Other's have the value in the steel (Filarmonica, Henckels) just naming a few that come to mind at this time in the morning...

As to Snakewood (very dense heavy wood) with inlays, and Brass with gemstones the very first thing that jumped in my head was Weight and Balance... Scales have to be, yes objectively good looking to the owner, but hugely more important, functional first.. I say this as I send home a Dovo I just honed, with some beautiful Burl wood w/ SS lined scales that someone even did engine turning on, that is very good looking, but nearly impossible to strop because of the balance issue....

But in general the value is based on the condition of the overall razor, an NOS #14 Barbas Duras Filarmonica will often fetch way more than some of the finest customs in exotic material ... Which is why we don't do actual valuations on SRP, for it like beauty, is truly in the eye of the beholder...

i would pay for the blade first and scales second, if the scales are good then that's a plus and if not it will give something to do.

If there were two razors and both were the same brand and same price, one with original scales and one custom scales, I would get the original.

Originally Posted by Rsq

so this really only applies to the ones I'd buy to resell. Anything I use, I customize

To me, there is a personal satisfaction making your own scales and then using that razor that you finished yourself.... Buying pre made scales doesn't interest me at all.... unless they were made buy a well known maker.

Thanks, this is exactly what I needed to know. Personally, I think I do a damn fine job and defintely get a sense of pride using something i made. If others prefer the stock plastic, then I'll not waste my time improving stuff I am restoring for resale.

As to the comment on balance and snakewood, that's true, it is heavy. This is why I use a brass liner. I either cut it so thin that it is not structural, or I hollow it in sections, which again makes it weaker. I also will sometimes use it decoratively in small amounts over the brass, in which case it is easy to place it in such a way that it weights it for proper balance. I will upload some pics of things as I make them in the future.

Here's the simple common sense answer. For your own razors you can decide yourself. For other people's razors you do what they want. If you don't know ahead of time, you make a choice and learn from the results.
If you try to do market research on say internet forums you may be greatly disappointed. For example, there is always plenty of people who will praise your work to high heavens, but would never pay to own it.

While I have little to add I must point out that no scales are objectively nicer than any other. In its nature anything aesthetic is subjective.
As for the wood, no scales should be thick enough to where adding brass liners and thinning the wood would lighten the load. Unless the wood is so structurally unsound that it isn't the best for scales (burls) and in that case I would get commercially stabilized material. All of my scales are less than 1/8" thick and are generally quite tapered from the very center, not just the corners.
But then again I am opinionated.

In most cases, i agree with you on aesthetic subjectivity. Except when it applies to scuffed ruddy plastic vs extremely nice and well finished materials like snakewood, abalone, etc.

I also like to over compicate things as much as possible. The most complicated structure that is still sound is my favorite. It's just how I like things. Especially with a straight razor, something about an ultra high tech looking object that is subject to honeycombed components and precise machining, yet remains functionally the same as what was used in ancient rome appeals to me very much. if i could afford a 25000$ belt buckle, I would buy one from Roland Iten.