Hunting for Vintage Razors In the Wild

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unky_gumbi

Joined
Aug 28, 2009
Messages
7,951
So as most people that don't shop on Ebay, hunting for vintage razors in a fun pastime for me. Not only the thrill of the finds, but the reactions of people when you ask about them and tell them you use them. Today I struck out and didn't even see a razor, but when I asked one lady at an antique shop if they had any and told her I use them I swear her jaw hit the counter top. The reaction was wort the travel time:D

I did get a lead on a place that may have a bunch of razors so I am heading out there tomorrow with fingers crossed to find either a New Standard, or a British Aristocrat #15. I am not greedy and don't need to find both in one stop or even in one day, but I sure wont turn them down if I find them both:p
 
I want to start shaving with a straight razor and I've heard fleabay is not the place for noobs to get their first razor...sooooo, where does one get a good beginners razor? Any help is greatly appreciated.
 
Yes both of the larger shaving forums are great places to get information on razors and have buy and sells on them. I have bought a couple of razors from badger and blades buy and sell and have had good experiences from them. Many of the online shaving stores have a good selection of straights and you get some sort of return policy as well.
 
Unky, not too far from you Johnson Antiques, on hwy 138 just outside Cornwall has razors, mostly beat up straights after I got done with him;). Also if you can head up to the Smith Falls area, there are a bunch of antique shops in Lombardy and surrounding area. I've had no luck in Morrisburg,limited luck in Winchester, nothing in Kemptville.
 
when I was living in Winnipeg I got my beat finds at flea markets, I haven't been to McHaffies yet, but I will be hitting it up Sunday. It has been 10 years since I moved to Winnipeg and if I remember right McHaffies is a huge market. I am not sharing my lead till after I have checked it out:p I am also scrounging in Brockville tomorrow. Sometimes these dealers don't think the old razors are worth anything, but wont throw them out or display them and you have to ask for them.That is how I scored the mint cased Rocket with blades and instructions.
 
Thanks for the info guys, I'm checking out the forums right now! Appreciate the intel...see if I dont kill myself learning how to use a straight razor!
 
If all else fails, you can still get a good straight razor shave at Crown Barber Shop in Coronado, CA. One of the great things about being out in the field and getting scruffy was coming home and getting a good shave with hot towels, hot shaving cream applied with a badger brush, and a straight razor. I asked for one when I lived in Virginia Beach and the girl at the barber shop immediately had a case of the vapors and trembled like a chihuahua passing a peach pit. Turns out she was scared poop-less of safety razors, much less straight razors!
 
Well no real luck today, I went to a few places, saw lots of crapped out straights, and some knives. One place even had a couple of Kukhuri shaped objects that they had labeled boomerang knives:rolleyes: I asked to look at them and informed them that the blade was known as a kukhuri and gave them a brief lesson on them. I didn't tell them that they were crappy versions or that they were over priced at $145:eek:

The last place I went to said they had some and even looked, but he couldn't find them and asked for my name and number so they could call when they found the box they were in in the back room. I don't think they will be anything special, most likely some brassed out Techs, but you never know.

Tomorrow is another Flea Market and a trip to Ottawa hopefully to pick up a couple of band saw blades.
 
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