Thread: Help Me Choose a Straight

Hi guys, I picked up three straight razors a few months ago and have been trying them out since. I the received the razors via trades, 2 of the razors are vintage while 1 is a Gold Dollar. I also have the poor man strop kit from Larry at Whipped Dog.

I've been enjoying it and haven't found it too difficult although I still have to clean up some spots with my DE after a single WTG pass. I find the Gold Dollar to be my favorite of the three razors I've acquired. One of the vintages, a Sheffield is smaller (less than 5/8 for sure and closer to a full hollow and quite flexible) and the other is a Palmer that is about 5/8 but a square point which I don't enjoy as much as the round point.

All that said, I think I'm ready to purchase a straight that I can use daily for a long time. Things I've learned over the past few months are that I enjoy something closer to a wedge than full hollow, a round point, a straight edge, and a stiffer blade as opposed to flexible.

I'm thinking I should purchase brand new and not vintage? Is stain-less steel worth the extra money? I'll also need the razor to arrive completely shave ready.

So, in summary I'd like:

• Closer to wedge than full hollow
• At least 5/8
• Round point
• Straight edge
• Stiffer blade as opposed to flexible
• Brand new (I think?)
• Stain-less steel (I think?)
• Completely shave ready
• Not much over $200

What razor would you recommend and where can I purchase it? I'm located in Ottawa, Canada if that makes any difference. I'd love to see the razor in person but chances of that are slim in my research.

Strop

Would this be a good strop for me to upgrade to from the poor man strop, I think I prefer the solid surface as I've tried my hanging strop on a wood board and feel more comfortable using it that way, also would prefer the 3".

http://classicedge.ca/index.php?rout...rice&order=ASC

Thanks, I apologize for so many questions!

Thiers Issard Full Hollow is what I started with. My first strop was a Dovo. I still have them. My vintage Str8s I use on special occasions.

Just a question, why do you think you can't you use your Gold Dollar on a daily basis for a very long time.

You really don't have many options with 'brand new'. The Dovo pearlex no. 41 should be under $200, they may even offer it with other scales these days. That blade is 5/8.
They used to make the 'Rennaisance' which is shoulderless and 6/8, but last I saw it, it was produced with wooden scales and was more than $200.
Apparently Böker makes stainless steel razor as well, it's 5/8 and a little over $200 Professionally Sharpened Boker Stainless Steel Olivewood 5/8 - $210.95 :

Stainless steel is more resistant to 'staining', I don't know if it is worth to you. My stainless steel razors are Dovos, Friodurs, Hess (those are vintage), Livis, and may be I am forgetting something, but it's got to be either 'vintage' (ah yes I remember stainless TI) or 'custom', so outside of your parameters.

Originally Posted by gugi

Just a question, why do you think you can't you use your Gold Dollar on a daily basis for a very long time.

You really don't have many options with 'brand new'. The Dovo pearlex no. 41 should be under $200, they may even offer it with other scales these days. That blade is 5/8.
They used to make the 'Rennaisance' which is shoulderless and 6/8, but last I saw it, it was produced with wooden scales and was more than $200.
Apparently Böker makes stainless steel razor as well, it's 5/8 and a little over $200 Professionally Sharpened Boker Stainless Steel Olivewood 5/8 - $210.95 :

Stainless steel is more resistant to 'staining', I don't know if it is worth to you. My stainless steel razors are Dovos, Friodurs, Hess (those are vintage), Livis, and may be I am forgetting something, but it's got to be either 'vintage' (ah yes I remember stainless TI) or 'custom', so outside of your parameters.

I'm not sure the GD I have was every given a proper edge. It shaves ok but seems to be lacking and I figure a brand new razor shave ready would let me know what a proper shave ready blade feels like to shave with.

Are you saying no brand new razor around the $200 price point is worth it and I'd be better off getting a properly honed Gold Dollar? There are lots of Dovo's. Thiers-Issard, and Boker's on the classicedge.ca site at around $200 or under.

No, I didn't say anything like this, I just pointed out that you have very few options with your restrictions of 'new' and 'stainless'.

You sounded content with the Gold Dollar too, it was your favorite among three different razors and the jump from a $2 razor to a $200 is pretty big.


I personally don't care at all for Gold Dollar razors in any of their incarnations, or brandings, but I keep hearing people swear by them. Any razor, including these should be able to serve many lifetimes, otherwise I don't think 'razor' is a proper word to use for it.

If you are not happy with your razor you could get a brand new properly honed one and that would eliminate a lot of variables. You could also get a good vintage properly honed one to the same result. All I am saying is that if your razors are not of high quality, poorly honed, or badly abused, a $200 new stainless steel razor is only one of the options that would address your problem.
I'd say it may be helpful if you go back few steps and reassess the issues.

Mission Impossible. The desire for something nearer to a wedge than full hollow already eliminates almost all modern production razors, and leaves you looking at antiques or custom razors. You'll probably have to prioritize your list and decide which items you care about most. Enjoy the search though, it is rather fun. In your neck of the woods, and a good site, check out classicedge.ca

Another option would be to send your Sheffieid 5/8 full hollow out to be pro honed. Pretty much what I learnt to shave with and a lot more forgiving than a wedge. I don't think I have ever seen a stainless wedge, not even a custom.

I thought Joe Chandler used stainless steel and his grinds are quite wedgy (at least mine). Haven't seen razors from him lately though.

Originally Posted by royal52

...

• Closer to wedge than full hollow
• At least 5/8
• Round point
• Straight edge
• Stiffer blade as opposed to flexible
• Brand new (I think?)
• Stain-less steel (I think?)
• Completely shave ready
• Not much over $200

...

There isn't any razor matching all your requirements, the closest are the Boker mentioned above, but it's not very stiff, nor full hollow.
Another close choice is a Thiers Issard, though full hollow they have the stiffest blade but not stainless.

Originally Posted by gugi

I thought Joe Chandler used stainless steel and his grinds are quite wedgy (at least mine). Haven't seen razors from him lately though.

Wow, gugi that sure is a beauty, I stand corrected.