Thread: From the 'Bay

When I first got into fountain pens, I would buy a couple of lots of pens. Would always find half or better were good to great writers.

Did the same thing for my first batch of straight razors. Figured the worst that I could do would be get some fodder for learning to hone the beasts.

I am a long-time DE shave-guy..Merkur adjustable with various blades...Feather, Derby, some Indian, Russian, Pakistani, etc. Normal shave is with then against the grain.

Right now...what info should I post about the razors I have to find out which ones are clunkers and which ones are going to be okay for actual shaving...

Bill...a not so babe in shave land...

Pictures,Pictures,Pictures.........tell us what is stamped on the tang...maker,etc.

You might try looking at SRP Wiki about razor brands to look for and avoid.
Here is a link Category:Straight Razor Manufacturers - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Good luck

Originally Posted by aroliver59

Pictures,Pictures,Pictures.........tell us what is stamped on the tang...maker,etc.

Yep, yep, yep... Hard to tell you anything without seeing them...

This is an interesting question that I'd like to know too...I think the OP's original question was how can HE tell on his own how to separate the wheat from the chaff?

What characteristics to look for (water spotting, nicks, etc.), what's indicative of quality, what's a diamond in the rough etc. beyond the minimal "these are good brands."

He (or at the very least, I, and by my extrapolation of reading his OP) wants to learn how to identify rather than simply asking y'all case-by-case and potentially grating on your desire to help.


Y'know, teach a man to fish and all that.


<EDIT>
...Oh damn, I misread, he's really looking for info on his current razors...I'm looking for the more meta-info...guess I should start my own thread.

Originally Posted by Sansnom

This is an interesting question that I'd like to know too...I think the OP's original question was how can HE tell on his own how to separate the wheat from the chaff?

What characteristics to look for (water spotting, nicks, etc.), what's indicative of quality, what's a diamond in the rough etc. beyond the minimal "these are good brands."

He (or at the very least, I, and by my extrapolation of reading his OP) wants to learn how to identify rather than simply asking y'all case-by-case and potentially grating on your desire to help.


Y'know, teach a man to fish and all that.


<EDIT>
...Oh damn, I misread, he's really looking for info on his current razors...I'm looking for the more meta-info...guess I should start my own thread.

Sure, I'll give you the basics - no cracks on the blade, little and even hone wear, no warping, no pitting and rust at the edge. The only way to find the diamond is to hone it and shave with it - if it shaves better than any other razor out there, you've got yourself a Chronic Ah, and the first things are not really necessary for a great shaver.
I guess now you'll have to go find what this all means - you don't learn fishing by just listening the stories of the fishermen

Check Bill Ellis's guide to buying razors on ebay - iirc it's mostly the stuff I just mentioned, but spoken by somebody with many decades of experience. Speaking of such people I think Lynn has a pretty good section on his DVD as well.

<I'm now off fishing >

as a general rule... avoid anything that even looks like it says pakistani unless you are looking for a uniquely shaped letter opener

Originally Posted by gugi

Sure, I'll give you the basics - no cracks on the blade, little and even hone wear, no warping, no pitting and rust at the edge. The only way to find the diamond is to hone it and shave with it - if it shaves better than any other razor out there, you've got yourself a Chronic Ah, and the first things are not really necessary for a great shaver.
I guess now you'll have to go find what this all means - you don't learn fishing by just listening the stories of the fishermen

Check Bill Ellis's guide to buying razors on ebay - iirc it's mostly the stuff I just mentioned, but spoken by somebody with many decades of experience. Speaking of such people I think Lynn has a pretty good section on his DVD as well.

<I'm now off fishing >

Hehe, thanks for the info. I will definitely check out Bill Ellis's CD/Book when I get to that stage. Right now I just want to get a quality razor and strop and dive in. I'm trying to accumulate all the info on the later stuff now so that when the honing and restoration itch hits I'll be prepared.

I'm so excited waiting for my strop to come, still trying to pull the trigger on the razor (Ken Rup's Wapi seems great and gets good reviews as a newb razor but I'm wondering if I might be able to find something else in that same price range, like maybe a used Henckels or something...maybe I should just get over it and order the Wapi and then bargain hunt for my next razor waaay down the line). I think I'll probably just order the Wapi tomorrow.

Sorry for the thread digression!

Anything that is stamped with Sheffield or Solingen is gold.

Anything made in the US is probably good if it survived 50 years. Must have shaved well for someone.

Anything made in Sweden probably also good. Same with France. Anything made in the former USSR, probably not good. Only true test is to hone it up and see how it shaves though. Theres always exceptions to every rule. Such as: a Pakistani razor with a heat treat worth a damn.