Thread: Filarmonica from Argentina

I thought about it last night, and I'm pretty convinced this is the real thing for one reason: the smell. You can't make new stuff smell old. The nose knows!

Originally Posted by bassguy

I thought about it last night, and I'm pretty convinced this is the real thing for one reason: the smell. You can't make new stuff smell old. The nose knows!

This is real. It is one of a batch of the last razors made by Filarmonica before they stopped making them. Classic Shaving sells these (as the 'exclusive' North American distributor or something. They were selling them for $119 last summer, now they are $259. CS still has them available. They are a very large razor, almost 8/8. I had one and just sold it. Too big, but also to difficult for me to hone myself, very hard, smiley blade. When they are keened up right, they are awesome shavers.

I'm with 'Antioch510' on the Filarmonica 14 Especial Para Barbas Duras. It is a drop dead solid razor. The feel is top notch. I love the black rubber tang cover. Unfortunately All Filarmonicas scales are not on par with the razor's blade quality. Cheap plastic. I've honed and shaved with them all. The Filarmonica 14 Especial Para Barbas Duras is my personal favorite. Both in look and shave.

Originally Posted by Maximilian

The Filarmonica 14 Especial Para Barbas Duras is my personal favorite. Both in look and shave.

Even size? I've been playing with my Palmera 14 and it's like shaving with a (very sharp) spatula. Magnetic too.

Unfortunately All Filarmonicas scales are not on par with the razor's blade quality. Cheap plastic.

But hey, when you're making world class steel for razors, might as well save money on the scales. EVEN MORE reason for (people like) you to work your scale sculpting magic on an otherwise amazing tool.

Originally Posted by bassguy

Even size? I've been playing with my Palmera 14 and it's like shaving with a (very sharp) spatula.

You can test drive my 'Filarmonica 14 Especial Para Barbas Duras' next time you come by.

I can now say unequivocally that the Filarmonica 14 Especial Para Barbas Duras is the worst razor ever constructed. The steel is of especially low quality, the rubber grip is trifle and useless, the scales (OMG) are horrible and the shave was the worst shave ever, high irritation, only took 2 passes to justify the usage, and I can't stop touching my face to feel the BBS parts...

...and if you already own one, I will reluctantly take it off your hands for 1/2 of what you paid for it and save us both the embarrassment of what you paid for if originally. With that money you can easily get yourself a nice Dubl Duck. *

**But seriously, this razor is exceptional. The high raise is prizes may not be justified, but the hype needs to be calmed down a bit so blokes like me can stand a chance at affording one.

Originally Posted by bassguy

**But seriously, this razor is exceptional. The high raise is prizes may not be justified, but the hype needs to be calmed down a bit so blokes like me can stand a chance at affording one.

It doesn't matter. RAD is a long term disease. The longer you wait the worse the withdrawal symptoms start to surface. And it aint' pretty.

Originally Posted by Maximilian

I'm with 'Antioch510' on the Filarmonica 14 Especial Para Barbas Duras. It is a drop dead solid razor. The feel is top notch. I love the black rubber tang cover. Unfortunately All Filarmonicas scales are not on par with the razor's blade quality. Cheap plastic. I've honed and shaved with them all. The Filarmonica 14 Especial Para Barbas Duras is my personal favorite. Both in look and shave.

Hey Max, I was wondering if you honed your new one or if it came "Strop and Chop". Also, regarding the scales, I do not think that Filarmonicas were such a big deal while they were in production, the first one I got about 20+ years ago cost me about $10 new. If you consider that, the scales are ok I guess. Although I agree that the scales could be better, they are serviceable. A bit loose for the huge meat cleavers in my opinion.

Al raz.

Originally Posted by Alraz

Hey Max, I was wondering if you honed your new one or if it came "Strop and Chop". Also, regarding the scales, I do not think that Filarmonicas were such a big deal while they were in production, the first one I got about 20+ years ago cost me about $10 new. If you consider that, the scales are ok I guess. Although I agree that the scales could be better, they are serviceable. A bit loose for the huge meat cleavers in my opinion.

Al raz.

Mine came NOS so I had to hone her up myself. Once the bevel was set it took very few passes to get it ready. Less is better with the Fil 14 EPBD.

My last 3 shaves with the Fil have just been amazing. 2 passes including 1 or 2 patches and I'm smooth as a baby's butt. I could easily get away with just one WTG pass and do a few patches and stop.

I'm usually not a big huge fan of bigger blades but this one for me is truly fun to use. If I needed to only keep one it's the Fil 14. And the funny thing about the razor is that I don't have a wired, coarse or hard beard type and it just shaves me so well.

Well, based on the overall favorable comments, I just sniped a 3/8 with green scales (pretty!). I'm quite comfortable with 4/8 razors, so we'll see how this one works out.