a good day hunting thistle,henckel and a W&B speical

[Hammertime1]

Usually, I have very little luck when it comes to big scores.
I could have had a few more but I was happy with the finds and spent more then I had planned on. I left with the three. I made some new contacts too.
what I left with. W&B Special, Very Nice Henckle and A thistle with one piece scales. Very uniqe looking too. Even, the inside is all clean and smooth. MY Hart is finsihed rough on the inide from the mill, dremel type tool or whatever they used to make the cut. Not a big deal, I will eventually get to sanding it. So I was very shocked to find a vintage one with one piece scales because I had never seen it before the Hart. It is has the sami? flag on the balde. Its an eplehant and I forgot whose country that was. I saw one other post about a simialir Thistle razor. Didnt say what reason it had the flag. If it was an option to order things like this from the company, a model design or whatever. Looked very cool. I got a griffon box in ecellent shape to so now my griffon has a matching box. He entioned the box it came with was a griffon so he removed the box for when he finds a griffon he can sell it with the box. I mentioned I had a Griffon, so he gave it to me. Sorry abbout pictures.
MY pixel setting and B&B arent playing well I had to make some serious changes. One guy was asking Ebay premiums for a collection he had. $200.00 a peice. I think he was smoking crack because I had never seen any on the models he had sell fro more then $40.00. He did have a Dorko so maybe that but the others he was insane. he found the big barbers and such and figured oh, they all msut go for the high prices. He had a Duck that was so heavly rusted, there was no good metal along the edge or above it. It was rust throguh and through. I have seen pcitures of razors like that but it was my first person. Literally would have to gind a new edge, 1/4 of an inch or more above the old edge to get to good metal. He offered it to me for $50.00 which brought a chuckle as I walked away. I would have love to done it but not for $50.00 dollars. He tried to ruin my piurcahse of the Thistle too. The guy, who I have spoken with on ocassion for over two years and sold me an NOS Filromaonica at a great price. He had a case of fillys at one point. Not the newer ones either they came from a straight razor store in Chicago from the 1900-1960 era. He got those razors way below market vaule. He had the Thistle today. He knew what it and the Filarmonicas were worth at ebay, privae sites and at what market prices bring. He sells most for full value through other avenues. He enjoys bartering. He keeps a few for guys like me to barter with him at the markets. Needless to say it got laughed off by both of us when the jerk tried to get the price tripled he was going for.
I go back in a few weeks to get me new industrisal grade equpmient for my grinder build. That guy had more parts at home and asked me to come back so he can give me it all. I gave up on method I was thinking because the pirces were outrageous for what I needed so to get everthing below a hundred is awsome. I can use this device on mills, drill presse etc when I get it built and will make working with straights so much easier.

here is a quick picks of the razor. Hopefully have more in a few weeks. The guy whol sold me the W&B id someone who I have alwasy talked too when i past his booth. He pulled it out of his secret reserve bag for speical requests. Three more he said but I will have to wait and he has someone who deals sloley in straights and vintage tooling he thought would be able to help. He said the guy has ten thousand razors in his collection and knows everthing there is to know about edges for straights and De's inlcuding the machinery. I walys love to hear what othwer have to say about this addicting hobby so should be intresting.

[hig789]

Mark that Henckels is sweet. Nice scores.

[Hammertime1]

Thanks its almost perfect, looks to be NOS, one spot on back tang thats rusted but my new buffer should make quick work of it.

[Captain Pre-Capsize]

Congrats Mark, well DONE!!

[Wid]

Very nice. I need to go up north to find some of these razors you and Scott are finding

[Raithskar]

Grats Mark! I love me some henckels, and I am a bit jealous of that one! Nice scores!

Jon

[Captain Pre-Capsize]

Very nice. I need to go up north to find some of these razors you and Scott are finding

The big secret - shhhhhhh - is that we both leave the metro area and go to smaller towns beyond. There is a most excellent town just a bit south of Joliet but don’t tell anyone or whatever you do DON’T PUT IT ON THE INTERNET!!!!

[Hammertime1]

It's rare and not easy!!!! Trust me over 30 visits to various places in last three years to turn up what I have!!!
I know a few shops around you, can't keep anything In more then a few hours with the south of I 80 crew! I grew up around your neck of woods. Still have family in area, hunt and fish down there! Belong to Brc so down their a lot or on goose and moose lake too. I haven't ever scored down that way!
Few antique shops in Arl Hts area got some very nice straight razors and De's but that's because for last 15yrs they have been marked up 600 percent and owners won't budge!!! Eventually a richy rich antique collector will pay full asking price and they are willingn to wait to get insane prices! stopping in over time and those shops in areas like that won't budge. One store near me lady is same way! Only way I get anything if is the one Vendor who is a friend finds a razor. He will keep it and sell it to me at a few bucks more then he paid! I stopped looking in that store, I have helped them price items, identify, bought some trench art at full value for an ice breaker and it got me no where with owner. Go in to see the guy and that's it. He knows to keep me posted on his findings.

I have heard where some really good spots are further north for all sorts of antiques inlcuding straights. We should get a group and make a run this summer. I don't mind competion. Plus be knocking out my own pretty soon and won't be as exciting as my own customs. Just a few more I really want! A niche size Henckel was one of em, probly get one more with scales on logo. Ever since getting my 7/8 from shave shop I wanted a few more. I have a 4/8 too but needs edge reworked, polish and new scales which I need to get too. I like their scales with the logo so this find is my first. I want a few of the really big W&B barbers styles too! I think I have most of the smaller models they made under 5/8 besides the skinny thin 4/8 I have been seeing popping up recently. I have one big concave and it's lonely!!!! Want to try my hind at making that big smiling wedge they made and the other styles too but need ones first to duplicate edges. And a 5/8 or bigger Dorko too. I know my Whacker near wedge is a Dorko regrind. I love that razor. Having an orginal stamped Dorko is a must. A few other cases because I have always collected case knives but it isn't a must.
I am doing some prescouting this weekend since I had a meeting all weekend up north. I don't enjoy bar hopping anymore so seems like a better way to kill time away from family. Plus I will hit places on way up and back.
I have had at least 5 store owners and triple that amount from other people who antique hint mention places up north as being a hot spot for smoking deals and says its no comparison. Time to see if the hype is worth it.
Be more then glad to plan something out after I get a few places picked out. My name
be on the line since I mentioned it so have to make sure it's worth it.