trying to purchase a razor for my husband

My husband enjoys a straight shave at the barber shop and has mendtioned a time or two about wanting a straight razor of his own. So, I decided I would like to get him one for Christmas. I have read through the forum and have, kind of, figured out what I need to get to get him started. He is the Army and I came across this razor...

Koken Army and Navy - Vintage Straight Razor ... Now, wondering if #1 is this a reputable dealer, #2 is this a good price for this razor or would I be paying way too much and #3 is this a good razor for a beginner.

I really appreciate any help and advice you guys can give

Thanks!

That's a great looking razor and it fantastic condition, and I'm sure he'd be proud to own it. On the other hand, I passed over an Army/Navy in "good/used" condition at the local antiques mall for about *** (which had more to do with my $ on hand than the "value" of the razor).

If I were you, I'd post a "want" ad here, to see what SRP folks might offer you in the way of a nice gift/beginner razor (READY TO SHAVE (important)).

Also, don't forget that he'll absolutely have to have a strop and brush. You can easily spend that much again buying a strop and brush. It's a bit of a trinity: blade/strop/brush.

He should learn to shave before he fiddles with "touching up" or honing a blade (and those accessories/future gift ideas).

And then there's soaps/creams/balms/etc. (make him smell like he's yours ;) )

Between you and us, he's in good hands.

your Q's:
#1. No idea
#2. ... good dealers deserve to make a profit.
#3. yes.

price discussions are rather taboo here.

from many a respectable vendor you probably could do better especially when you consider that the razor is just one part of what he will need. he will need a brush, a strop and some new soaps and or creams ( the stuff in the cans really does not work well)

boker, dovo and thiers-issard all make nice brand new razors that cost less and many vendors make sure they are properly honed before selling them. I would look elsewhere if I were you.

enjoy,
jim

That is probably a nice razor but I wouldn't buy it if I were in your position. I would have gone with a brand new, entry level, razor still in production. Like a Dovo, Thiesr Issard or Böker. 5/8 or 6/8. Make sure it comes shave ready from the store (a reputable one).

First reply edited to be less

taboo. :D

and my answer to #3, yes, was a reflection on the size and shape of the blade. 5 or 6/8, hollow-ground, round tip. Your hubby will be able to decide which way (if any, ever) to go from there.

JW,
You'll get no shortage of replies with a post like this. More than anything this community tries to help guys and gals get off on the right foot. It can be a scary (and bloody) experience especially if you have a bad start. So know that all advice is honest advice. (good or bad is another issue! LOL)

With regard to your questions; I'm unfamiliar with the vendor, but I've seen similar Army/Navy/Military razors in like condition selling for 1/3 and less the cost asked from your link. Finding something that connects with your husband's military service will cost more than simply finding a good starter razor. If that's a significant part of the value for you; then maybe it's worth it. There's no reason to think that the razor in question won't be a great shaver that will last your husband the rest of his life.

The vendors that advertise on this site have proven themselves to this community as gentlemen's businesses, operating with integrity, and providing quality goods. I know several that sell fine quality razors hand honed and ready to shave (some with a free re-honing when the razor dulls). These are good options to consider. These will also have strops, brushes, bowls, etc. that can often be bundled to save a little money while still getting quality products. And no, I don't get any kickbacks...not that I'd be against that idea. LOL

You may also find something great at a local antique shop(s) depending on where you're located; but that is always a bit of a gamble, and you will need to send the razor off to be honed before your husband can make use of it. If you go that route, there are several members here who provide honing services at a considerably reasonable fee. Check the classifieds section for their services.

I hope our advice is helpful to you as you search out the right gift for your husband for Christmas. Good luck! And be sure to give him a link to this forum with his Christmas present!

Peace,
Jim

I would strongly recommend contacting one of the vendors who advertise here at SRP either by email or phone. They will be more than happy to discuss your straight razor gift need(s) for your husband. You'll be pleased that you did.

Happy holidays to both you and your husband.

Hello and welcome to SRP! :)

As others have said, you can get away with cheaper options than the one you linked to - there are current manufacturers (as listed above) who produce high quality razors for under $150.

Given this is your husband's first razor, a slightly cheaper option may be more prudent (eg sometimes new users don't fully appreciate the importance of keeping razors completely dry, and their first one develops rust, etc). But, on the other hand, if you can afford this particular one and given your husband is in the army, there's nothing at all wrong with it as far as I can see.

I would say that a fair bit of the price on that one is probably due to the ornate scales (handles), but again that's not really an issue if it is in your price range.

Whatever you decide, a straight razor is a very thoughtful gift and I think he'll be very chuffed! :)

James.

Check out Straight Razor Designs. They can set you up with everything he will need to get started not the least being a shave ready razor with a second honing included. If he stays with this style of shaving he can research additional razors that peak his interest (and there will be many). After looking at the website give them a call and they will answer all your questions and steer you right. Happy Hollidays.

I noticed the price of those razors dropping . Maybe an offer would be considered if you have your heart set on THAT razor. There are a lot of nice razors out there.

A quick look at the classifieds here and you'll see a Colombi for $95, That I think would be a better starter for him and leaves budget for you to add a strop.

Before I really knew what to look for when buying razors, I referenced the "Good brands of straight razors" and "Brands of straight razors to avoid" list before making any purchase. There are razors out there that are fantastic shavers but still not on the list (Hibbard Spencer and Bartlett for example) so the Army and Navy razor might shave great, I've never heard of the brand though so I don't know. Here are links to the Good and the Bad lists of straight razors if your interested.

Good Straight Razor Brands

Brands of Straight Razors to AVOID

+++++++++11111111 to Straight Razor Designs also VintageBladesLLC.com is a Great site that has good deals on beginner sets.

I suggest that you call Straight Razors Design. They are great to deal with and extremely knowledgeable.

The thing is that with vintage razors you can't quite comparison shop directly.
But you can do it with other razors listed on the same site and you will notice the striking tendency of everything being at enormous markup compared to everywhere else, and that is the so called 'discounted' prices. If you still decide to go for it I'd say it would of utmost importance to have it sharpened by somebody with skills and experience (e.g. see the member services section at the classifieds). That particular vendor is known for some rather 'creative' sharpening which most of us here consider an outright abuse of the razors.

As far as this razor goes the scales are not special - they are thermoplastic (not sure if celluloid, I'm not an expert) but relatively common mold that can be found on many different razors from the period.

A significantly better option in my opinion would be to contact some of the vendors on this site who sell vintage razors (look a the vendor's corner section) and ask them if they may have something along the army theme. There are a number of razors who were marketed this way, some of them were even commissioned by the military.