Gold Dollar straight razors

[Blade_Runner37C]

I know these are cheaper straight razors that usually require alot of honing to make them usable. I was told you can pick them up for $30-$50 USD

I was looking on Aliexpress and found what they call Gold Dollar straight razors under $5.00. My question is are these the same gold dollars you purchase in the USA or just some knock off. The only reason i'm even looking at them is to practice honing on.

Here is a link. I dont know what i would be looking at (real vs fake), if this helps.

aliexpress gold dollar

 

[Wid]

No one is gonna fake a gold dollar. Very inconsistent grinds, bent blades and usually some sort of heel correction is helpful. The worst scales on the market.

 

[Anchovie666]

You can pick up a shave ready vintage Straight from reputable dealers for $50-$60 - a much better use of your valuable resources. My first razor I bought on the BST Forum here for $45 shipped. Nothing against Gold Dollar - I own two.
My fave EBay site is Ye Ole Straight n Strop. I've done business with Adam and he is just a wonderful honer, seller, and human being. He's restoring two razors and honing two others for me right now.

 

[silverlifter]

Read this:

Gold Dollar Adventures⎯The Beginning

I've wanted to try straight razor shaving for some time now. I actually do pretty well with an fixed handle AC razor if I'm careful. I've spent time reading the honing sub forum but I got a case of information overload. All this talk of pasted balsa, coticules, and lapping film made my eyes...

www.badgerandblade.com

 

[Steve56]

They’re real, I paid about $5 each delivered for the last batch. If a US Gold Dollar is selling for $35 up it should be honed and maybe free shipping. These are the ones I got last time. I’d probably go for the 66 at $0.60 more.

 

[Blade_Runner37C]

You can pick up a shave ready vintage Straight from reputable dealers for $50-$60 - a much better use of your valuable resources. My first razor I bought on the BST Forum here for $45 shipped. Nothing against Gold Dollar - I own two.
My fave EBay site is Ye Ole Straight n Strop. I've done business with Adam and he is just a wonderful honer, seller, and human being. He's restoring two razors and honing two others for me right now.

I think you missed my reasoning behind why i wanted to buy one, it was to learn to hone on ONLY. I have a nice vintage shave ready razor and just purchased a Dovo Bergischer Löwe which is going to a Honemeister. I just want some cheapies to practice on, I don't want to spend $40-$50 on a shave ready, that would defeat the purpose.

 

[Steve56]

Grab some from AliExpress or wherever has the cheapest price. Don’t even think about getting less than 6, 10 would be my minimum.

 

[Doc Dan]

Pay $50 USD for a Gold Dollar is a rip off. I paid something like $5 for mine with carbon fiber scales. All Gold Dollars are not equal, either. Some are higher quality than others. Stay away from Gold Monkey and other such razors as they are very poor quality. I know a couple of people (one no longer on this forum) that prefer the el cheapo Gold Dollar and hone them nice and sharp. Trust me when I say, they will get the job done, but are nothing like a good quality straight razor.

 

[Saloogie]

I go on eBay and buy vintage razors for 10 or 20 bucks to practice honing on. I even practice cleaning off the rust and sanding and polishing them too. I've gotten pretty good at it to. When I'm done, they actually look and shave well and it's gratifying to see them have new life.

IMHO, that's much better then buying Gold Dollars. Save The Vintage Razors!!!

 

[Anchovie666]

I think you missed my reasoning behind why i wanted to buy one, it was to learn to hone on ONLY. I have a nice vintage shave ready razor and just purchased a Dovo Bergischer Löwe which is going to a Honemeister. I just want some cheapies to practice on, I don't want to spend $40-$50 on a shave ready, that would defeat the purpose.

Gotcha. Gold Dollars will present a honing challenge. I agree with others - snag some old razors off EBay and hone. Save a memory.

 

[jcborr00]

Every Gold Dollar Razor I've owned I was able to make shave ready, but each required a different approach ( ie. grinding shoulders, butterknifing the edge) in order to get them shave ready.

I would agree in getting a cheap vintage razor (preferably a hollow grind) and practice with that. The GDs require too much extra work that most will never encounter when honing.

 

[LJS]

I think you missed my reasoning behind why i wanted to buy one, it was to learn to hone on ONLY.

This reasoning and being sold around $5 is why many have thought it would be a good razor to practice honing like you said. Unfortunately it is flawed logic because they almost always need significant correction before they can be honed. They are good razors to learn how to correct and grind out stabilizer issues, heel correction, spine thinning etc. But even when corrected, they are pretty poor steel in my opinion. You idea is good, but unfortunately the razor is not well suited for the idea to work.

 

[helicopter]

There is an ebay seller who will ship you one for $25, with whatever edge you pick from several stones. I haven't tried one and can't vouch for his skill.

The Razor Company sometimes offers honed ones for a bit more.

It is a cool idea to use them for one way trip edge trials. It's too bad they aren't easier to hone.

 

[TSENG]

When you get the razor, first check if the back is straight and not deformed.

 

[Legion]

IMO you need to already know how to hone to properly hone a GD. Getting them to learn with is a fools errand.

 

[mr_houston]

I agree with the room. You will develop poor technique and pick up some bad habits learning on a GD.

 

[Jud]

I went down the GD rabbit hole a while ago. Got rid of all of them. They shaved good after some work. I found the squeeze wasn’t worth the juice. After time, use of hones, scale replacement, there are better options.

Go to your local flea market, cheaper than the bay. $10 and you should be able to find something in good shape. Like the one below.

I am hitting mine up again on Saturday. The guy at the knife shop Garth said he has some more at home. I told him I would be back this weekend. I will see what he has. If there is anything helpful I will hit you up.

 

[Steve56]

They shaved good after some work. I found the squeeze wasn’t worth the juice.

Agree. That’s why none of the ‘old guard’ that honed them up for noobs is doing it anymore. Too much time, too much wear on expensive stones. The new generation of bonded diamond stones has helped that a little. But they’re still kind of fun to muck around with once in a while. I usually hone them and give them away if I hone for someone, or see razor folks on travel. A nicely honed Gold Dollar is a nice and cheap gift (except for your labor).

 

[Jud]

You need to hit the local flea market. Picked up 4 razors today. $5 each is what I paid and he has more, but I did cherry pick today.