Community Authentication, Validation & Valuation Thread

Here is the full set up.  Dragonsbeards getting it for less than half of Rob’s number.  If he ever sells it, he’s not my friend.

It's nice to have good shave friends. Keep that stuff in tight circle. Good on you Mr Vino. You should charge Frank a lot more than that.

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LOOT that’s right! Keep it in the Family!

This thread could be a good place to get like minded sellers and buyers together to move hard to get gear without having to deal with the Merchants of Chaos slumming around BSTs looking to take advantage of the community. Vet the equipment, vet the sellers, learn who you can trust and who to avoid. It would have saved me some heartburn.

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It probably is a good place for higher value items to be looked over.  

As a side note: ExtraProtein I think the base plate is in really good shape 9/10, but Frank will have the honor of shining it up to see. 

I would bet this razor doesn’t have more than 25 shaves on it.

So another razor to figure out.  I bought the pictured head and handle on the left on another BST site several years ago under the assumption it was a SS WCS "CG designed" razor as it came on the WCS SS (Palms?) handle but in a CG cardboard box.  Following the discussion on the other thread that lead to this one, I realized a WSC baseplate should have West Coast Shaving engraved on the bottom of the baseplate, not the CG tattoo, as the WCS razors were not made by Brian.  Is this one of the matte Gen 1 SS heads that was discussed in the other thread or something else?  Should it instead be on the matte original Bishop handle on the right I acquired in another trade about the same time?  It is amazing how much mix and match was going on with CG parts back then. If it is a matte set, which box should it be in?

It probably is a good place for higher value items to be looked over.  

As a side note: ExtraProtein I think the base plate is in really good shape 9/10, but Frank will have the honor of shining it up to see. 

I would bet this razor doesn’t have more than 25 shaves on it.

Frank knows how to handle equipment but for the love of all that is holy...don't try to mirror polish anything. Sharp edges and engraving gets ruined and I will never be convinced the geometry is not altered in the process. I like shiny things too, but a little Flitz and a soft cloth, by hand, is all you need to take the have off of copper and brass.

It's cringe worthy to see a high value piece of gear get burnt up by power tools. To a true collector, the value is destroyed. It is in my den anyway. I talk to a lot of shavers in private who feel the same. I've held my opinion in public until now. Seems like a fitting setting to air my utter disdain.

Keep rare items, especially modern, as close to factory as possible. My opinion.

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So another razor to figure out.  I bought the pictured head and handle on the left on another BST site several years ago under the assumption it was a SS WCS "CG designed" razor as it came on the WCS SS (Palms?) handle but in a CG cardboard box.  Following the discussion on the other thread that lead to this one, I realized a WSC baseplate should have West Coast Shaving engraved on the bottom of the baseplate, not the CG tattoo, as the WCS razors were not made by Brian.  Is this one of the matte Gen 1 SS heads that was discussed in the other thread or something else?  Should it instead be on the matte original Bishop handle on the right I acquired in another trade about the same time?  It is amazing how much mix and match was going on with CG parts back then. If it is a matte set, which box should it be in?

This is an early thread I've seen: https://damnfineshave.com/thread-new-cha...less-razor

It probably is a good place for higher value items to be looked over.  

As a side note: ExtraProtein I think the base plate is in really good shape 9/10, but Frank will have the honor of shining it up to see. 

I would bet this razor doesn’t have more than 25 shaves on it.

Frank knows how to handle equipment but for the love of all that is holy...don't try to mirror polish anything. Sharp edges and engraving gets ruined and I will never be convinced the geometry is not altered in the process. I like shiny things too, but a little Flitz and a soft cloth, by hand, is all you need to take the have off of copper and brass.

It's cringe worthy to see a high value piece of gear get burnt up by power tools. To a true collector, the value is destroyed. It is in my den anyway. I talk to a lot of shavers in private who feel the same. I've held my opinion in public until now. Seems like a fitting setting to air my utter disdain.

Keep rare items, especially modern, as close to factory as possible. My opinion.

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Frank definitely knows, I’ve also had a few copper razors in my time and always took the patina off with flitz and a microfiber cloth.

It probably is a good place for higher value items to be looked over.  

As a side note: ExtraProtein I think the base plate is in really good shape 9/10, but Frank will have the honor of shining it up to see. 

I would bet this razor doesn’t have more than 25 shaves on it.

Frank knows how to handle equipment but for the love of all that is holy...don't try to mirror polish anything. Sharp edges and engraving gets ruined and I will never be convinced the geometry is not altered in the process. I like shiny things too, but a little Flitz and a soft cloth, by hand, is all you need to take the have off of copper and brass.

It's cringe worthy to see a high value piece of gear get burnt up by power tools. To a true collector, the value is destroyed. It is in my den anyway. I talk to a lot of shavers in private who feel the same. I've held my opinion in public until now. Seems like a fitting setting to air my utter disdain.

Keep rare items, especially modern, as close to factory as possible. My opinion.

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James I wouldn’t know how to high polish a razor to save my life. Like you said a little Flitz and a soft Cloth is about the limit of my ability and I agree I also believe that the geometry can change. I like shinny things to but every CG razor I ever owned was not high polished but that was fine with me and I’d like it to stay as is.

So another razor to figure out.  I bought the pictured head and handle on the left on another BST site several years ago under the assumption it was a SS WCS "CG designed" razor as it came on the WCS SS (Palms?) handle but in a CG cardboard box.  Following the discussion on the other thread that lead to this one, I realized a WSC baseplate should have West Coast Shaving engraved on the bottom of the baseplate, not the CG tattoo, as the WCS razors were not made by Brian.  Is this one of the matte Gen 1 SS heads that was discussed in the other thread or something else?  Should it instead be on the matte original Bishop handle on the right I acquired in another trade about the same time?  It is amazing how much mix and match was going on with CG parts back then. If it is a matte set, which box should it be in?

The only item WCS/CG inspired-commissioned is your Hollywood Palm handle on the left.  DO NOT LET THAT HANDLE GO! You will never get it back.  And if you do, sell or trade it responsibly to a CG enthusiast!

The top cap, base plate and V1 bishop handle is EXACTLY what you think it is. MANY people want believe Level 1 MUST be engraved on the second run matte kits….. Don’t buy into that fable, the second run didn’t occur all at once. This is a good time for Brian to chime in! He probably never thought his razors would be subject to this sort of research OR controversy. If anyone disagrees with my assessment, please chime in, this is the place and time to have a Gentleman’s discussion.  I’m a knucklehead/jokester and wrong at least 10x a day, I’m no razor expert but I can research, read and mis-spell all day long!

Original Retail Price for your 3 piece kit was $180usd if memory serves me. Pricing could be double now and that’s a gift.  Merchant of Chaos, Flipper&Troll pricing is probably quadruple. 

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD YOU BREAK THAT KIT UP or polish it with anything! Soap and water for all 4 pieces! Your kit is flawless and original. Brown cardboard is the original packaging FROG…. if you don’t have one of those get at me via PM.  I “might” be able to get you sorted.  You have a special CG Razor there, period.

I agree with you, why did so many people mix and match these pieces? Leave them alone and “Just Shave!”

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD YOU BREAK THAT KIT UP or polish it with anything! Soap and water for all 4 pieces! Your kit is flawless and original.

I agree with you, why did so many people mix and match these pieces? Leave them alone and “Just Shave!”

I agree about the polishing thing, I don’t know why everyone is so obsessed with polishing everything. I love my matte and satin finish razors. I like to keep everything original even though they are not really rare or anything especial.

Lately though more razors are being offered in a satin, matte and even a stonewash finish and are well received and I don’t buy the slickness thing either. Use less pressure and hydrate your soap better. ?

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD YOU BREAK THAT KIT UP or polish it with anything! Soap and water for all 4 pieces! Your kit is flawless and original.

I agree with you, why did so many people mix and match these pieces? Leave them alone and “Just Shave!”

I agree about the polishing thing, I don’t know why everyone is so obsessed with polishing everything. I love my matte and satin finish razors. I like to keep everything original even though they are not really rare or anything especial.

Lately though more razors are being offered in a satin, matte and even a stonewash finish and are well received and I don’t buy the slickness thing either. Use less pressure and hydrate your soap better. ?

There is definitely a difference in glide. Whether you will notice it or not, I can't speak to. To test it, run the top caps across your lips. But LOOT, I don't shave my lips. Exactly. Maybe you can tell, maybe you can't. Pressure and water are better solutions to glide than ruining a razor with a Dremel or belt. That point, I concede.

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