Both although I have not done any full restorations yet. I also have not bought any razors new other than some Chinese tractor implements masquerading as straight razors :-(
But just as examples: Both of these razors are modern and while I bought them used, they cannot be told from new. The Wanke is a small, delicate razor with beautiful balance that I bought locally through.... wait for it..... a shaving forum! The other is a Dovo Palisander, a current razor although the scales (what you would call the 'handle') is different in this one and no longer available. I think it one of the most beautiful razors I have ever see: it is a shoulderless, flowing razor with beautiful lines I think:
These next ones are typical. I cleaned them up, honed them and re-fit the scales but did not restore them. they have various amounts of patina. The top one is a Schmid, made in Prov., RI and the only razor I have that was passed down through my family. It is about a 1/4 grind, rather light, has a barber's point (note the notch at the toe of the razor) and is a wonderful shaver. The next one is a Case, made in Bradford, PA. It used to have a gold washed tang but that is long gone. I believe it was a barber's razor and it has a singing blade (an extremely thin grind that makes the blade 'sing' when shaving, stropping and honing). It was filthy when I got it but surprisingly there is no corrosion on the blade. The only real grunge left in under the scales around the pivot where I added oil to break up the crud; really the razor will need to be de- scaled and fully cleaned and will make a wonderful example of a mid- aged razor (1950's I think). Finally, the Boker at the bottom is again a small razor, another singing razor and was made in Germany around 1900. Nearly perfect blade but the scales have been dulled back some. That said, it really is a nice example of the classic modern type but vintage razor. $10 at an antique store in upstate NY.
This one is a Berg, made in Sweden somewhere in the early 1900's. It is an odd shape, wider at the toe than the heel, and is made of particularly hard steel which the Swedish razors are known for. One of my favorites and a fantastic shaver, it is pitted, has active rust in the form of black 'Devil's spit' here and there but takes an almost scary edge and is one of my prized razors. It was filthy and actively rusted when I bought it, $20 out of another upstate NY antique store and I would not have bothered had it not been a Berg. My only Swedish blade to date.
Finally, a very interesting find, again in an out of the way antique store. This is three razors of a seven- day set. The center one is near perfect, the top one a bit worn from honing and has some stains and patina but not much and the bottom one has active rust pits near the blade. I believe these are fairly modern German razors, also made from rather hard steel and take a wonderful edge. Seven day sets were originally made for the affluent who could afford them: seven razors, all identical, all packed into a seven- day chest, with the days of the week etched into their spines. As you can see, I am missing four and the odds of finding four K&B 67's, especially in the days I do not have, is about zero. Still, neat razors and I am glad I grabbed them. The set, in a cotton razor roll for.... $5 total.
Brian
Are any of the razors you have ones that you bought looking kinda ugly and then fixed up or were they all new/like new?