Thread: Buying my first straight razor--question about damascus steel and HRC Cutlery

I am looking to get started with a quality straight razor, and have been reading some great forums on here and learning a lot. I've been looking at vintage, German-made razors primarily, but I came across HRC Cutlery from Utah on Ebay and wondered if any of you have experience with their damascus steel straight razors? I am suspicious that their product looks too good to be true at about $70, but they have excellent reviews and sound legit. Here is a description of their handmade blade design:

"Blade Material: Damascus Steel 15N20 & 1095 Hand-Forged
Blade Hardness: 58-60 HRC on Rockwell scale
Total Layers: 512 (8 folds German 1095HC / Swedish 15N20)"



Thanks for any feedback you can offer! I am new to the forum.

please correct me if im wrong, which i might be, but im guessing it is not true demascus because its not really folded over numerous times to achieve the true demascus look. its dipped in ferric chloride.

It claims to be 512 layers (8 folds German 1095HC / Swedish 15N20)...

Originally Posted by DrElkaholic

It claims to be 512 layers (8 folds German 1095HC / Swedish 15N20)...

got me there... i did not actually read that part.
i hope some expert would have an input

maybe reputatable brands and artisans drives up the market price for these gems?

I’ve never had one but, I think you will find the consensus will be that the deal is too good to be true as they are rubbish. It will likely have geometry issues and may well not be able to take an edge any way.
For that money there are MUCH better options for a first (or any subsequent) razor, the SRP classifieds often have very good vintage blades that come shave ready.
I would run (not walk) away from the RSO (razor shaped object) you posted.

Like the previous poster I have never owned one nor even heard of the company but would come to the same conclusions for the same reasons. I believe Boker had a limited edition Damascus razor listing for about $1200.00 iirc so that would indicate to me that the razor you are looking at is just to cheap for what it claims to be.

Bob

Hi,

first of all, welcome to the forum.
I agree with what has been said, I wouldn't go near a blade like this. I have 2 new Dovo razors, not too expensive but great shavers.

To be honest, I think you already knew this..

Originally Posted by DrElkaholic

I am suspicious that their product looks too good to be true at about $70, but they have excellent reviews and sound legit.

Too good to be true, is all the reason you need to stay away from something.


Greetings
Yves

JMO, but doesn't it just look like a pocket knife shaped like an exotic razor? Everywhere I look in its construction I see folding knife. I'd stay away!

+3 on the SRP classifieds for getting a good, shave ready razor at a very reasonable price. The point of this whole SR thing is to enjoy the shave... Starting with a quality razor is a must.


Ooooh. Speaking of the SRP classifieds... brb

It seems to me that there are two shaving stores in Arizona, one in phoenix and the other in tucson. You may want to check one of those out. What you do wind up buying should be shave ready. By shave ready, what I mean is it should be hand honed and stropped, ready to shave with straight out of the box. There are also a number of reputable internet stores to check with. This site is actually part of the business of Straight Razor Designs, which has a very good reputation but is not the only show in town. If you would like to further discuss this you can PM me or reply in this post. Any good internet vendor will have done business with multiple people on this site and if you ask all those with positive experience will chime in.