Thread: help choosing razor for this beginner!

hello guys,
first time poster.

I've done my research and i've learned a few things:

-Gold dollar razors are conversation pieces
- china does not make quality razors
-you get what you paid for

I mistakenly purchased a "gold dollar" razor from ebay. It was advertised as "shave ready".
when i got it, it was approximately as dull as a butter knife. I tried to hone it with a whet stone and an Arkansas stone, and i got it to the point in which it would easily shave the hairs on the back of my forearm, but putting it to my face wouldn't even shave the longer hairs on the soft part of my cheek - a task that even a cheap bic disposable razor would accomplish....


I went into a store recently and looked at a " Colt 175th anniversary " straight razor. I've browsed a discussion on this forum about that particular razor, and the general consensus was less than favorable. I believe one guy went as far as saying he wanted to buy one for a novelty letter opener. The razor seemed pretty sharp doing a thumb pad test, and when the shop owner wasn't looking, i easily removed hair from the back of my arm totally dry - with ease. But then thinking back on the gold dollar razor that did the same, I was wondering the effectiveness of removing hair from my face.

Here's the scoop...
With a brand new hydro 5 or schick titanium I can quickly shave my face with ease, and after a few ATG passes, obtain a relatively smooth shave... The problem is, after the 3rd shave, the razor is ready to be tossed. My facial hair is EXTREMELY coarse! It's rougher than 40 grit sandpaper! I'm in the army, and I would get in trouble at my unit for " not shaving properly " by about 9AM - when i shaved around 0600.
I'm the kinda guy that grows the 5 o'clock shadow around 11AM in the morning. For a while I had to switch to electric razors because I was tired of disposables tearing up my face because I would have to go WTG,XTC,ATG,ATG,ATG, on my chin in order to get it all off. 5+passes just to get a smooth shave is ridiculous! And yes, I know how to prep my face for a close shave, hot towel, let the lather sit for a few mins, stretch the skin, yadda yadda yadda, I can promise you 95 % of you guys out there DON'T have coarse hair like mine.. only people I ever saw that was bad as me was me and my grandfather.
I can grow a full beard, that is thick and black in just a week!

I need help choosing a razor that will cut through my retardedly coarse whiskers. All I know is that I should look for one from Soligen, Germany.
I trust German engineering, that's what I want.. Not America,England, or Portugal, not that I have anything against those places, but I've never had anything that was made in Germany fail, whereas the other three I have.

I want to know what kind of razor would probably be best suited for me.. 5/8" 6/8" What are the main differences between the different angle and bevel sets?
What does " hollow ground " mean?

I want my face to be cleanly shaven and not worry about it being rough around supper time... clean as a baby's bottom.. and no more shaving twice a day BS for me..

Thx in advance for helping me choose my steel

oh and btw, my budget on a vintage razor or whatever is $50

Cheers,

Mark