New to straight razors, need an opinion or two!

Shoki

Shoki

Joined
Apr 10, 2007
Messages
7,395
Hey guys. My Pops-in-law recently picked up a couple of razors and I'm thinking about buying one or both to collect/use. They aren't in perfect condition but neither blade is chipped or bent and I think either would be usable. The thing is, I don't know a fair cash amount to give him since I can't find either model on feeBay and other, similar models run the gamut on prices. I'm not really looking for an appraisal or anything, I just don't want to rip him off unintentionally or waste my money and I really know almost nothing about this stuff. My digital camera is still missing it's cord so I don't know if these pics will help at all but here goes:

The smaller of the two, marked "GEORGE WOSTENHOLM & SON
SOLE MANUFACTURER OF THE ORIGINAL & TRUE (pictogram of pipe) RAZOR"
and a larger pictogram of a pipe on opposite side.
Photoon2011-07-24at17342.jpg

Photoon2011-07-24at17343.jpg


The larger, marked "The Celebrated HOLLOW GROUND RAZOR FOR BARBER'S USE
(encircled letter "B", pictogram of an arrow, and a cross similar to an iron cross)" on the blade and "MANUFACTURED BY WADE & BUTCHER SHEFFIELD."
Photoon2011-07-24at1734-1.jpg

Photoon2011-07-24at1733.jpg


I hope that's enough info/image to go on, I apologize for the poor quality pics and the caps, wasn't sure if that made a difference.
 
He paid $14 for the W&B, not sure about the other but probably in the same vicinity. Do you think either is usable? I'd like to give him a little profit if they are.
 
They both look like they could be cleaned up and honed for use. How wide is the blade on that W&B? Old meat choppers can go for a fair price these days. The fact that the tang stamp only says Sheffield and not Sheffield England, probably puts that blade at prior to 1890. You could double his buying price and still do well.
 
It's about 1" wide, and was thinking around $40 for the both of them. Sound about right? Too low?

The cool thing about the W&B is that it still shaves! I wouldn't use it on my face but it does take arm hair off really easily.
 
$40 bucks is a real good price, for you not necessarily him. If you get them to use and/or restore I am sure he will be happy with the price. I found a book at Hastings or Barns and Noble a little while back that was about collecting str8 razors. It gave a basic formula to determine value. Took into account various things like name brand = $100 + age + $10 per decade over 50 years old + 30 for still having original box... and so on. You might try to track it down, it was in the hobby section near antique collecting and Knife collecting.

Jeff
 
TURNMASTER said:
$40 bucks is a real good price, for you not necessarily him. If you get them to use and/or restore I am sure he will be happy with the price. I found a book at Hastings or Barns and Noble a little while back that was about collecting str8 razors. It gave a basic formula to determine value. Took into account various things like name brand = $100 + age + $10 per decade over 50 years old + 30 for still having original box... and so on. You might try to track it down, it was in the hobby section near antique collecting and Knife collecting.

Jeff
Click to expand...

Not sure where the author of that book came up with that formula. I have purchased probably 70 straight razors in the last year. Prices have ranged from $2.00 to $70.00 for a fully restored and professionally honed W&B razor of roughly the same vintage as is shown here. I have purchased from a vartiety of antique stores in 2 provinces and 3 states, as well as on ebay and private classifieds on shaving sites. Average price for an unrestored razor is about $15-20.00. The big blades do go for more, but it is rare for razors to go above$150.00, especially in an unrestored state. Can you get a custom for more than that? Of course, but that is a specialty market.
 
Frank Raud said:
Not sure where the author of that book came up with that formula. I have purchased probably 70 straight razors in the last year. Prices have ranged from $2.00 to $70.00 for a fully restored and professionally honed W&B razor of roughly the same vintage as is shown here. I have purchased from a vartiety of antique stores in 2 provinces and 3 states, as well as on ebay and private classifieds on shaving sites. Average price for an unrestored razor is about $15-20.00. The big blades do go for more, but it is rare for razors to go above$150.00, especially in an unrestored state. Can you get a custom for more than that? Of course, but that is a specialty market.
Click to expand...

I thought as much. I've been to many a yard sale, flea market, antiques auction, etc. and have never seen razors in similar repair as the two I'm looking at go for more than $30 or so...
 
I'm jealous of both of those, but especially the W&B. I've got an old W&B "Diamond Edge" that I've been restoring off and on...but it still has a ways to go before it's shave ready. I love those broad blades.
 
The biggest razor I have now is 7/8" If you ever consider selling that W&B, let me know, would love to try a serious chopper.
 
Well, I think I'll buy them. I'll probably offer him $40 and give him more if I find out they are worth more later on.

Just for fun, I thought I'd share a pic of an odd little razor I bought last year. It's a J.R Torrey marked 'Mr. Curry's Special' on the blade. I thought the faux-bamboo handle was kinda neat and looks restore-able. Not bad for $1, right? The funny thing was that the guy selling it had a Pakistani Rambo ripoff knife for $60 :confused:

Photoon2011-07-27at1607.jpg
 
Well, two months later, I finally bought both razors and a classic Leatherman tool in good shape for $40. I tried to offer $60 but he wouldn't take it so I guess I owe him a nice birthday gift or a round or two of the good stuff.
 
Getting the blades shave ready is the issue. You might want to have a restorer work on it. Check out Badger and Blade. There are a couple of guys that restore old blades and get them shave ready. Look for cracks in the blade, chips or any other imperfection that would ruin it. Depending on condition dictates how much effort goes into restoring the blade.
 
Thanks for the tip, attempting a restoration of them is way beyond my skill level!
 
Average price for an unrestored razor is about $15-20.00.
Click to expand...

And...

Well, two months later, I finally bought both razors and a classic Leatherman tool in good shape for $40. I tried to offer $60 but he wouldn't take it so I guess I owe him a nice birthday gift or a round or two of the good stuff.
Click to expand...

Wow, he gave you a great deal! I'd say Frank Raud's estimate was spot on, though in my experience, "average" is a little less shiny, and usually a 5/8". Big shiny ones, I'd probably add on around $5-10 each. So it also sounds like you made him a pretty fair offer, too.

Birthday gift or a couple rounds of good beer sound perfect to me. I'm partial to Sam Smith Oatmeal Stout, since a good oatmeal stout is impossible to find, and at around $70-80 per case, it's one of the few things I can buy at a bar or restaurant without feeling incredibly ripped off. I was in a Hooters once that had Yuengling Black and Tan for $4, Sam Smith for $6. Is that messed up, or what???

Also, I'm not sure if restoring them would be all that hard, as long as they're in good condition to begin with, and you don't attempt to do anything to clean off the patina. I got my great grandpa's razor to shave by just very carefully honing it on an x-fine DMT (it was very dull, from someone taking steel wool to it long ago! Probably a minor miracle the edge was only dull, not ruined), honing again with water and no pressure (more like the starting point on those two, judging from appearance), stropping with Veritas honing compound (probably too aggressive for regular use, but great for restoration), stropping again with less pressure, then stropping on bare leather. It's still not quite 100% yet, and takes just a bit more pressure than it should to get a close shave, but it's slowly improving with use. Then again, if I ever did send this to one of the pros to fix up the rest of the way, I'd probably feel compelled to lie and say someone else tried restoring it. :p
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top