5 razors which do I choose to use?

Hello everyone,

I was getting sick of paying $8 for Mach 3 replacements and thought there must be a better way. Then I found this site and realized that you guys already found it!

My grandfather for some reason collected Barber shop memorabilia, which wasn't that cool after I was 10 years old. But then I realized he probably had some old razors. I went down there and picked some up using the names I read on this site. Now I need to know which one you think I should have sharpened and start with.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_76eANwU6spM/SZ...0/IMG_0246.jpg

From Left to right

"special" from Wade and Butcher

"vanadium"
Genco from Geneva NY

"Invincible"
Wade adn butcher

"red Imp"
by case in USA

"red sun"
Utica Knife and razor
Made in Germany

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_76eANwU6spM/SZ...0/IMG_0245.jpg

The guy in town will sharpen for $16. I have a couple of brushes and some soap. But I know the strops don't look like they are in great shape. I wondering if this is something I should continue with or if its going to be cheaper/easier to stay with the disposable.

Oooh that's a nice find, already in the fam... I' think we'll have to see some more pics, and know the brands.
:hmmm:

Also, before you have a guy in town work on your razors you need to make sure he has experience honing straight razors for actual use. If he is just a knife/tool sharpener you really should send it to one of the honemeisters here at SRP

All of them!!!!! :D

No, seriously, all of them look fine. The last one seems to be a bit small and the one in poorest shape. I'd skip on that one. W&B are great razors and the Red Imp, though I have none, are supposed to be good as well. The Genco is absolutely fantastic and I want to buy it from you. Now! :) I'm a sucker for spike points in faux tortoise scales...

Concerning the sharpening. Unless he is a real razor sharpener and not a simple knife sharpener I'd sugest that you send the one you choose to any of the honemeisters here. Check the classifieds. Any one of them will do a great job and all of them are specialists in sharpening razors.

Take care! And good luck!

PLEASE DO NOT LET SOME GUY IN TOWN HONE YOUR RAZORS! There have been too many new guys let a knife guy grind their razors with very bad results! Please got to the classifieds(Tab on top of page) and choose one of the honemeisters in the member services section. Its not pretty what a knife grinder does to a beautiful blade.

I would ready the Wade & Butcher Special.But take the other members advice,what credentials does the guy in town have.You can ask him if he straight shaves.If he doesnt,forget it.You probably be safer to have a honemeister from this site just to be safe.It will be sure thing.:)

That Wade adn Butcher on the left looks to be in fantastic shape, thats the one id want.

the answer is obvious and very simple - the one you should sharpen and start with is the red imp :)
make sure whoever sharpens it knows what they're doing.

the hanging strop looks like it's useable. clean it up with saddle soap and perhaps neatsfoot or mink oil

I would pick two or three that need the most restoration work and send them out to a pro from the site here. The others, you can maybe start learning to hone on. You'll want to use them all of course! :rock:

Jordan

Id say the butcher or the imp. Great finds:gl:

Wow!

So much for waiting a couple days for a response! Sound like I need to talk to the local guy see what he knows/does and then search for a honemeister off of here. I just read the rave reviews about MAX's work.

Have to decide between the imp and the wade and butcher.

I hope you got the message about the local guy possibly not being the 'best' choice for your razors - unless he shaves with one.

From your pics the Imp & the Genco have yarying amount of rust on the edges. Maybe no big deal, maybe yes. Get one of the SRP guys to assess & hone them.

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Originally Posted by 3stacksandarock

Wow!

So much for waiting a couple days for a response! Sound like I need to talk to the local guy see what he knows/does and then search for a honemeister off of here. I just read the rave reviews about MAX's work.

Have to decide between the imp and the wade and butcher.

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Hey, it will be worth your while to send it to one of the guys... send them a PM asking what they charge for honing nobody really charges more than 20, and you will have the best edge money can buy. I don't know what the local guy does, but it's not worth the risk of having the guy talk you into letting him wreck your razor. Can't go wrong with Max, or with Glen, or dare I say....Lynn. (note, there are plenty of other great honemeisters that I have not mentioned).

Either Wade&Butcher or the Imp.

BUT DEFINITELY HAVE SOMEONE WHO DOES "RAZORS" AND NOT KNIVES SHARPEN THEM!!!

Since getting into both worlds I can say that I "THOUGHT" razors would be just like a knives...I was so wrong it's not even funny!!! And it's not a matter of skill, talent or ability. You simply have to have different equipment.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 3stacksandarock

Have to decide between the imp and the wade and butcher.

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oh, you want my reasoning :)
the imp is stiff grind and they are far more consistent than the w&b's, so it's much safer bet for a great first razor. and the blade looks in excellent condition - that brown stuff at the edge should just wipe off.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gugi

oh, you want my reasoning :)
the imp is stiff grind and they are far more consistent than the w&b's, so it's much safer bet for a great first razor. and the blade looks in excellent condition - that brown stuff at the edge should just wipe off.

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He makes a very strong point.... no pun intended

Welcome to SRP. What a great collection of str8s. It would be a shame to have them damaged by a knife sharpener that did not understand str8s. There are plenty of sad stories here of razors that were damaged by knife sharpeners. Why take the risk? Check the Classifieds (above) for a honemeister, someone who understands str8s, test shaves his work, and can give you advice about your shave. :gl:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 3stacksandarock

Hello everyone,

I was getting sick of paying $8 for Mach 3 replacements and thought there must be a better way. Then I found this site and realized that you guys already found it!

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Just don't come under the common misconception that you will actually be saving money!! It won't happen. It won't take you long to turn around and wonder where all those razors, creams, soaps, brushes, aftershaves, strops and hones came from!! :roflmao:roflmao

I will, however, buy the argument about adding to the landfills from the disposable blades..:tu

Yes, avoid getting them sharpened by anyone unless they know about razors. The risk is not just getting an unsharp finish, they could permanently ruin the blade if they overheat it.

On the cost side ... you can save money compared to disposables if you decide to do so. It has been pointed out elsewhere, you can send a straight razor out regularly to be professionally honed for less than the price you'd pay for a supply of disposable cartridges over the same time period.:gl: