Quote Originally Posted by theonlychrisj View Post
Just another question:

The description of my current razor says that it's "high carbon steel." What's the reason that it wouldn't keep an edge? Or rather, why shouldn't I just send my current razor out to be honed properly?
Yeah, what has been said already. Plus a lot of "retailers" only use that term to differentiate any carbon steel from stainless steel. Every steel is an alloy. They all contain carbon.

Look at some razor making vids. See how many heat-treat cycles: annealing, hardening, normalizing go in to making a razor that will perform adequately (given a proper alloy). The marginal (junk) stuff out there probably hasn't been through as much processing (or is of improper alloy, or the heat treatment/work doesn't fit the alloy)--that makes it cheaper! And everybody wants cheeper!

Therein lies the fuel for junk production.

Folks seeking a bargain. Bargains are fun when they work out, but it takes a lot of knowledge to understand the difference in many cases. A proper shaving edge is pushing the steel to its absolute limits. This is not apparent to the novice.

Just buy from folks that come recommended. Safest starter route, so what you spend "x" more. It's usually worth it.