Thread: What type/style razor keeps its edge longest?

Hi all, this post is a sequel to my last post, when I decided that I probably will not invest in a hone for some time.

Naturally, I want to get a blade that is best suited to being able to keep a edge for the longest time. I know that stainless steel holds an edge longer, but I want to go with a carbon steel blade because I may want to hone it eventually.

I've heard that wedge, or slightly hollowed blades hold its edge longer than full hollowed? Is this true, and if it does, does it hold its edge significantly longer? I will also probably get a smaller blade, 4/8, if that is relevant. Thanks.

ZiCheng

I've heard the same thing about wedges, but don't have enough experience to corroborate that. Wedges can be a challenge to put the edge on in the first place so that's a consideration.

In general, I'd say the biggest factor in not only edge retention, but ease of honing for me has been the Sheffield steel and in particular the Thiers Issard razors. Those TI's aren't as touchy as most hollow blades are to hone and the wonderfully keen edge likes to last the longest iI have experienced. Like I say though, little experience with wedges so I can't compare.

X

Yeah, I've got a couple of wedges but they're only recent arrivals - too soon for me to tell how long the edge lasts.

I wouldn't completely rule out stainless if I were you - I got a Henckels Friodur back in late Oct. last year, honed it in early Nov. and haven't needed to touch it since. I know that's not a particularly long time, but I do use it on average about 4-5 times a week, and on head stubble as well. Honing was a bit slower, that's all.

There's also stropping considerations - good stropping (I'm quoting theory here!) can keep an edge keen for a long while. In fact, I've read some members can keep an edge sharp for ages this way (but that's more than my stropping skills can replicate at this stage, so I can't give personal experience....).

James.

I'm a newbie too, but I'll throw in my two cents here.

If I had to do it all over again, for a 1 razor solution, I would get a Dovo White Linen Micarta in stainless, and get it sharpened by Lynn. Then I'd get a pasted paddle from Tony (with leather and Cr-Oxide) or a handamerican equivalent. I would not get a hanging strop though. This would be a one razor solution. You'll have six months before you need a hone, and by then (trust me on this) you'll have at least six more razors

EDIT: I am very happy with my current set of razors and strops. I am thinking of the Linen Micarta and the Tortoiseshell as my next purchases (both highly reviewed by Lynn and Joel). This is just what I would do, in hindsight, if I wanted a one razor solution.

Reasons:

First shaves with good razors are superb. Duplicating them is hard, as razor edges degrade. It is also somewhat frustrating, particularly if you 'roll' the edge with a strop. So far all my razors are carbon steel. The Sheffields strop up nice and sharp. The Solingens are (IMHO! imho!) not so nice.

I find it is hard to mess up with a straight piece of leather on a hard surface (eg paddle strop) but much easier to ruin a razor (and a strop, I've cut up my first strop) on a strop. A good strop runs about 70$ from Tony Miller (and is an impressive, quality piece of hardware that speaks for itself) and if you cut one of those up, you'll want to strangle yourself with the remains!

See Joel's Badgerandblade review on the Dovo Micarta. Someone here is also selling one.

Good luck and happy shaving!

Although I can't tell you what grind holds its edge longer (if in fact the two things are even related), I can say that Sheffield steel is superb in this respect. My Thiers-Issard razor holds its edge for almost as long as my Dovo stainless. If you're thinking of going for a carbon steel blade, I'd recommend TI to any relative newbie. It really does set the bar for carbon steel razors.

I think you'll find that most carbon steel razors will give you about 15 shaves before they start to degrade. The slide downhill is very slow at first and often times you don't realize it because you become accustomed to the shave you are getting. Its only when you switch to a well honed blade that you realize the difference. If you use a stainless you'll get a few more shaves out of it before honing is required. I can't tell you about wedges because I only have one and its not a classic wedge but wedges are a real bear to hone when they need honing.

If you want to get a razor that goes a long time between honings I can tell you a TI Damascus will go forever as will a Maestro razor (well maybe not forever but will go a long long time).

Just remember that the greater the hollow the thinner the edge so potentially it should shave better but not last as long while a wedge is just a big chunk of metal so it will last much longer. I don't think the blade width really matters.

In the end if you only have one razor you may as well learn to hone because your going to have to do it sooner or later. A pasted strop will delay it but not forever.

Originally Posted by Jimbo

but I do use it on average about 4-5 times a week, and on head stubble as well.

James.

You shave your head with a straight?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Is that before of after you wrestle the shark out of the Brisbane River with your bare hands and make shark burgers for the folks on the man made beach?!?!?

I think a wedge is hard for everyone to put an edge on, except Lynn of course. However I had a W&B that took even the master Lynn a while to get shave ready.

weather carbon steel is better than stainless could cause a fight if this was a custom knife forum. The truth is that there are just to many variables in this equation. A plain carbon steel will outperform an high alloy stainless that incorrectly made and heat treated, and stainless will outperform carbon steel that is incorrectly made and heat treated. There are so many variables that you could argue for either side and be right and wrong at the same time. When picking a steel for any knife you need to ask yourself how you will use and what type of maintenance on the steel you are will to perform. If you are going to take care of the blade, make sure it is completely dry, don't mind oiling, or waxing it, like something easy to sharpen. Then Carbon steel might be right for you. On the other hand if you are going to rinse off the blade, shake it dry, put in the holder, and only sharpen it occasionally then the higher alloy stainless steel might be right for you. Some of these newer stainless like s30v, s60v, take a while longer to sharpen than just plain old 1090 like is used in the old Kabar knives. Each has it's pluses and minuses. It's really up to you and how you intend to take care of your razor, and how much time your willing to put into sharpening it. Once you know that, it's easier to decide weather stainless or high carbon is the way to go.