Oh just that it can hide damage and bad steel in pictures. If you dont know about it then you can overestimate condition, as I did with my "shave ready" Filarmonica 14 that had perforations all the way through the bevel and needed a lot of time in stones to be usable.
Help with honing a warped blade
- Thread starter BMFtoolco
- Start date
Steve56
Ask me about shaving naked!
The prime directive in vintage razor buying is don’t buy razors with rust on or near the edge.
I also don’t buy worn razors (with rare exceptions), there’s too many unworn ones around. I also try to avoid restored razors, because you don’t know who did what to the temper. Most Japanese razors restored in Japan are fine, they know what they’re doing.
My ideal candidate would be a vintage razor with light to no wear that’s at or very near full width, no rust at or near the edge. and unrestored. When I get it, I’ll clean and inspect it, and hone and shave with it. Once I’m convinced that it’s a good razor, then I will consider further investments in time/money as appropriate for the razor.
Look at the images VERY carefully.
I’ll buy dud razors for the scales if they’re desirable and the price is right.
So there’s really not that much to it, but everyone has to go through the learning experience. Have fun and enjoy the ride, and the above guidelines will help you avoid the duds.
There are some more advanced things that you can do if the razor is desirable/expensive and the images are bad, but maybe that’s another topic.
I also don’t buy worn razors (with rare exceptions), there’s too many unworn ones around. I also try to avoid restored razors, because you don’t know who did what to the temper. Most Japanese razors restored in Japan are fine, they know what they’re doing.
My ideal candidate would be a vintage razor with light to no wear that’s at or very near full width, no rust at or near the edge. and unrestored. When I get it, I’ll clean and inspect it, and hone and shave with it. Once I’m convinced that it’s a good razor, then I will consider further investments in time/money as appropriate for the razor.
Look at the images VERY carefully.
I’ll buy dud razors for the scales if they’re desirable and the price is right.
So there’s really not that much to it, but everyone has to go through the learning experience. Have fun and enjoy the ride, and the above guidelines will help you avoid the duds.
There are some more advanced things that you can do if the razor is desirable/expensive and the images are bad, but maybe that’s another topic.
Thanks.
So it is hard to see damage before purchasing. And there are so many sellers with bad/out of focus/blurry pics out there as if they have used vintage digital camera to take pics of vintage razors.
So it is hard to see damage before purchasing. And there are so many sellers with bad/out of focus/blurry pics out there as if they have used vintage digital camera to take pics of vintage razors.
That was the most dangerous 007 action to date…a Moneypenny SR shave!We just need one more James bond movie with a scene featuring Moneypenny swinging a straight razor.
All the hipsters will want one and sell it practically unused a few months later for a bargin
I call these razors Moneypenny razorsI have quite a few. These usually sell for 50-60 Euros.
For that price i don't mind a tiny amount of geometry challenge.
Steve56
Ask me about shaving naked!
Thanks.
So it is hard to see damage before purchasing. And there are so many sellers with bad/out of focus/blurry pics out there as if they have used vintage digital camera to take pics of vintage razors.
Usually I can see what I need to see. I think most of the bad images are taken very carelessly with a cell phone by sellers that have no idea what’s important about SR condition.
Download or screenshot the images and adjust them in any basic image editor for exposure and contrast mostly. Color adjustments can work too. You’re not looking for a beauty shot, you’re looking for edge pitting and cracks. I rarely do this, but once in a while a desirable razor shows up with terrible images. This has saved me a few times. I don’t think that the bad images are intentional in most cases, but you can get burned by ignorance more often than ill will.
A frequent example is the seller telling you that the razor is 6-1/2” long but not how wide the blade is. They don’t have a clue, but this doesn’t mean that they’re trying to swindle you (usually).
In addition to what Steve says, look for rust on or near the spine - bit good. Small amounts of rust between the spine and the edge may be unsightly, but it should not affect how the razor shaves.
You also need to be opportunistic when buying vintage razors. Say you're looking for a Filarmonica 14 and a 13 in very good condition for a very fair price shows up on your radar screen, perhaps the gods of straight razors are sending you a message.
You also need to be opportunistic when buying vintage razors. Say you're looking for a Filarmonica 14 and a 13 in very good condition for a very fair price shows up on your radar screen, perhaps the gods of straight razors are sending you a message.
