Tactical razor

Hey guys it's been awhile since I have been on here. Kinda gave up on the straight razor thing after a bad first experience. Decided to give it another go. My problem the first time was bad advice purchasing a bad razor. Led to frustration. I am back and in the market for a good razor this time. While checking Amazon to see what they had I ran across this. Amazon.com: Tactical Black on Black Straight Razor: Health & Personal Care
Just wanted to know if it is a quality razor. Thought I might get lucky and find a cool razor that is a quality product. Let me know what y'all think. If not I will move on to picking out a Dovo or similar razor.

I don't know. Went to their website and their facebook page and wasn't impressed with the lack of information about the razors themselves. They came across more flash and little bang. Seemed to be playing up to the "I'm macho. I use a straight" crowd.

A Dovo is a absolutely known quantity. Get it from SRD and it comes shave ready (don't strop it before the first shave.) Also check the classifieds. Those will come shave ready also and they come from other SRP members.

What was wrong with the razor you started with?

hello prometheus. Think you might run into the same problems with that razor, I wouldn't want to shave with it.
There are a number of excellent razors in the classifieds at the moment.
If you are dead set on a tactical look, I seem to remember a couple of customised razor threads....lets see if I can find them:

http://straightrazorpalace.com/custo...10-scales.html
http://straightrazorpalace.com/custo...-gssixgun.html

I think the standard advice around here for newbies is to buy a SR from a reputable vendor that supplies them shave ready or alternately a used SR from the classifieds. Seems to me that is the easiest way to avoid being stuck with a RSO and the disappointment that causes.

Bob

Hi Prom, 90% of ebay and Amazon straights are absolute rubbish - that's the straight dope - all that glisters is definitely not gold! Follow the advice of the old hands and buy either a new razor from the reputable sellers or a great vintage blade from the classifieds here on SRP.

Prometheus,

I don't know what razor you used the first time, but from the looks of it, and the name, this razor could be another mistake. As many gentlemen have suggested, buy a quality razor from a reputable vendor noted here, or from the classified ads. Some vendors even offer their straights shave ready.

Ralf Aust, Thiers-Issard, Wacker, Dovo, Boker and Revisor comprise a good range of new production razors. For vintage razors, you'll find a catalog of quality, and some legendary names. Starting on the cheap with junk razors or those with lofty names that are probably junk is the wrong way to approach straight razor shaving.

Cheap begets cheap.

Stay away from them. Definitely stay away from eBay for now, at least until you learn your way around the straight razor world. Give yourself a good start with a quality shave ready razor.

Take a look at the Ralf Austs on SRD. Fantastic razors that will definitely be shave ready. I prefer mine over my Dovo. The Dovo is a fine razor, there's just something about the RA that makes it smoother for me. I don't know enough to know why it's different, just that it is. At least for me.

-Steve

From the amazon link you gave everything about this razor screams "don't buy me to shave with", I say this mainly based on the text as almost anyone with the right tools can stamp out a razor shaped piece of steel and put it in a pair of scales. Much as their description describes it as an heirloom piece of shaving equipment I suspect it is little more than an ornament.
Sorry to be blunt (probably like the razor :)) but if you want a good shaving experience purchase something known to work. This doesn't have to be new or expensive, in fact there are usually shave ready vintage razors in our classifieds for similar money.

Hello and welcome back.
I see from your earlier posts you are being offered the same advise you received 4 years ago.
I would suggest you check out the library.
The answers to all your questions are there.

That razor looks like junk. As other have said, buy a shave ready razor from a reputable retailer like SRP.

Yea the one of the hardest things for a newbie to do is separate the wheat from the chaff when buying a SR. Mostly because they have no idea of what to look for and wind up with junk chaff.

Bob

The general advice given before me here is worth considering. As a smith, when I see someone talking about forging I will give them the benefit of the doubt. But like Ronald Reagan, I will trust but verify. Aside from a few annoying mis spelled words in the text, the pictures lead me to believe there is some forging involved. Except none of the forgings are razors. When I got to the comment "molten metal..." and the link to a decent video from "How It's Made" about German razors and nothing to be seen of molten metal...I lost complete interest. This is an assemblage of advertising hype, more sizzle than steak. Pass it by.

Looks like a pretty standard razor just black with fancy scales. Great advice so far. If you want a tactical type RAZOR then it will be custom and expect to pay $$$$. If you want to shave it will likley be plan boring and functional.

Follow the advice of experience:

SRD - Ralf Aust or Dovo
Buy on SRP classifieds from a member
Check out Whipped Dog for sight unseen if you are on a tight budget

SRD has Ralf Aust round points for just over $100, fantastic shavers.

The reviews on that thing are 99.9% fake. Stay away.

Be wary of a dentist with bad teeth...
Be wary of a cook that won't eat their own food...
Stay away from anyone who forges straight razors but has a full beard and doesn't shave...

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Originally Posted by Damo

hello prometheus. Think you might run into the same problems with that razor, I wouldn't want to shave with it.
There are a number of excellent razors in the classifieds at the moment.
If you are dead set on a tactical look, I seem to remember a couple of customised razor threads....lets see if I can find them:

http://straightrazorpalace.com/custo...10-scales.html
http://straightrazorpalace.com/custo...-gssixgun.html

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Those are awesome looking razors I really like the scales on the first one and with the second one is really cool to see that you can dothings like that to really make it your own

I distrust this razor, I would not buy it.

For starters, I'd say get a Dovo, Boker, or TI. Once you understand what kind of razor suits your facial needs, then you can venture out and start purchasing the straight razors you desire.

Stay away from that thing.

If you like the look of it, Baxter of California has something that looks similar, but is made by Hart, and is of better quality.

As a relatively new member to the straight shaving community -less than a year - I understand the dilemma you're facing with the purchase of a good first razor. Obviously the overwhelming response from the seasoned pros is to not buy the razor in question, but I would like to share some newby advice that might help a little bit.

I fretted over the decision of a razor for a long time, and I've come to realize that it was all in vain. Once you accept the fact that there's going to be a learning period with any razor, it's not too critical what exact blade you're using (assuming that it's a quality blade). I started with a semi-ground 5/8 Aust which I like very much. Since then I have purchased a 7/8 Aust, and borrowed a 5/8 full ground Aust. Through my experimentation I've learned that I like them all equally. Sometimes I like the heavier weight of the 7/8, but other times I want the lighter 5/8. I wasn't a huge fan of how the full ground flexed as I used it, but I still had no legitimate complaints.
The common thread here is that if you spend a little bit more on a quality blade, you're sure not to be disappointed. In the beginning any razor you get will be able to outperform your skill as the operator. It's likely that you'll eventually want to get another one anyway, so don't sweat the decision too much.

I hope that helps, and good luck. It's totally worth getting over the learning phase.

Hey Guys, Prometheus may have already left, that is if his posts from 2008 and 2010 are any indication.:D

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Originally Posted by Raol

Hey Guys, Prometheus may have already left, that is if his posts from 2008 and 2010 are any indication.:D

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No he has come back, the first post in this thread is dated 1st September 2015

Buy good quality and you wont regret it. Lots of good advice on here; read , read and reread. I don't think you'll be disappointed if you buy one of the recommended ones from SRD or someone on here. you eliminate almost 100% of the biggest variable-is it shave ready? Then you can concentrate on technique and take it slow.. don't try to speed the process.