WWII Gillette blade compass

[TSWebster]

Its listed on ebay with a buy it now of $349.99


An Original and Authentic OSS/SOE Issued SPY Camp X Gillette Magnetic Razor Blade Concealed Compass Razor Kit

This is the real deal!

This is a Camp X OSS issue Gillette name brand razor in a custom-designed "naughty" package with two concealed magnetic razor blade compass in the original wrapping and package.

This is a very well built padded Khaki Set. It is US Army Property marked on a silver stencil on the inside cover.

This concealed razor blade type of compass is described on a page of the MI9 book Per Ardua Libertas (available in another listing, if needed). The Brits also used Gillette marked products in the SOE "Naughty" packaging.

It is very likely there is also a concealed silk map sewn into the double wall case, but the stitching would have to be pulled to check. It was not uncommon to include an escape map with these types of kits. It is priced as if it does NOT contain a map.

It measures 4-1/2 by 2-1/4 inches closed as shown here, front and back.

The condition is near excellent, as shown. The two "naughty" magnetic and three "dove" (non-magnetic) blades are all mint in the original paper wrap.

Shipping is $5.00 to US destinations.

Is this thing for real?

[DarkAudit]

Can't tell jack from the picture.

[Hoos]

Sorry. But that sounds like a lot of malarkey to me. Not saying it wasn't possible.

But that looks like a standard Khaki set with razor blades.

A web search for "soe naughty packaging" turns up only that auction. So it would not appear to be any standard military terminology (or espionage terminology).

There was a British covert agency called Special Operations Executive in WWII. Which wouldn't explain why they would use a razor case that explicitly says "U.S. Army" on it - especially for covert operations.

Even assuming that's what SOE stands for, "naughty packaging" means nothing.

I'm smelling scam.

[TSWebster]

Thats what I was starting to think after initially looking at it, the story seems piece together from a few facts/names they knew off hand.

[thirdeye]

No....it is BS...walk away....no wait...RUN!!!!!

[Coyotebd]

If you are going to try to determine if this is real from the description, read the description well.

"There was a British covert agency called Special Operations Executive in WWII. Which wouldn't explain why they would use a razor case that explicitly says "U.S. Army" on it - especially for covert operations."

It says that the SOE used similar products also marked as Gilette, not that this was used by the SOE.

This page sells the same thing with the same (word for word) description:
http://www.snyderstreasures.com/pages/compass.htm

Here's something on MIS-X, probably related to the Camp X referred to:
http://www.aiipowmia.com/wwii/msx.html

Another article: http://www.examiner.com/a-879759~Brooke_Gunning__World_War_II_s__Escape_Fact ory_.html

Doesn't make it authentic. However, his description is not malarky.

[Mikeyk]

Yeah, that looks like hooey to me, too.

[Hoos]

If you are going to try to determine if this is real from the description, read the description well.

"There was a British covert agency called Special Operations Executive in WWII. Which wouldn't explain why they would use a razor case that explicitly says "U.S. Army" on it - especially for covert operations."

It says that the SOE used similar products also marked as Gilette, not that this was used by the SOE.

This page sells the same thing with the same (word for word) description:
http://www.snyderstreasures.com/pages/compass.htm

Here's something on MIS-X, probably related to the Camp X referred to:
http://www.aiipowmia.com/wwii/msx.html

Another article: http://www.examiner.com/a-879759~Brooke_Gunning__World_War_II_s__Escape_Fact ory_.html

Doesn't make it authentic. However, his description is not malarky.


Some interesting reading.

His description is still malarkey. He's presenting this as a specific type of razor which, IMHO, it is not. Telling a story about secret stuff then saying "oh and here's a razor" doesn't make that razor a part of that "secret stuff". Unless he has documentation backing up that specific razor being as identified (he uses the term "This razor" and "This is the real deal!"), it's fraud.

In no way did I dispute that everyday items were (and probably still are) used for espionage and cover purposes.

But actively misleading the public is fraud.

[sirahren]

Well shoot, now i want a Gillette khaki in excellent condition in that soft pouch...

I'm curious as to what a magnetic razor is exactly...

I've seen other legitimate sets, (not razors) with a lot of the same things, but they're from WW2. Doesnt this type of khaki set date to WW1?

Hmmm...

[Coyotebd]

Magnetic razors are blades that have been magnetized and are important for making compasses.

[ambrose]

geeezzz man thats a pretty penny.

That god im just a shaver not a collector.

[comp_wiz101]

Of course, there's nothing stopping a seller from magnetizing a few blades in a vintage pack...

[AsylumGuido]

Okay, extremely nice Khaki Set, yet the story sounds totally bogus.

[scottydoint]

It is $499 on their website http://www.snyderstreasures.com/pages/compass.htm

And that is priced as if there isn't a secret escape map inside the double stiching. :w00t:

[Coyotebd]

Just want to repeat that the story is not bogus, although the auction may be a fake.

There was a US Government project which specialized in creating escape and evasion equipment for POWs. Magnetizing razors and hiding silk maps in seams was something they did. One of the articles I posted mentions that they were so successful that the camps became overstocked. This means there was probably a bunch of stuff in the US after the war that could have gotten into the hands of collectors.

That said, it doesn't mean that this auction is legit and if I were interested in such a thing I would not bid. There's just no way to tell and trying to explain it to ebay's complaint system might be problematic.

[thirdeye]

Like I said,,,BS...Run....according to my sources this is bogus info...

The use of magnetized razor blades was not part of a project. Sorry mate, this is what I was told. The only part of this was that in fact GI's where taught how to make a magnetized blade compass. This practice no longer happens.

[Coyotebd]

So I've posted a few websites. True, the web is not the best reference, but at least you can see mine.

"This is what I was told"

By whom?