Thread: Best vintage shaver?

What is the best vintage shaver besides a dubl duck? I have a a goldedge a month now and starting to get the hang of it but I still get razor burn when I go against the grain, is this something i have to accept because of my skin type? Its fine when I go with the grain and the blade is definetly shave ready and stropped. Please help.

There are so many fine vintage shavers out there I don't think I could ever pick one and say it was the best. As long as you go with a quality razor from one of the countries we all know (and there are some great shavers from some countries we don't associate with razors) you won't go wrong.

I would encourage you to check out the U.S makers, names like Torrey, Genco, Case, Union, Shumate, Cattauraguas and many others. They are great razors and most can be had for a song.

I think an easier question to answer would be "what are the worst vintage shavers?" But even then, its still a big can of worms.

There is no answer to your question. Just opinions.

Nobody can answer this question better than you can. You'll have to try some different razors to discover your preference, but that shouldn't be too terrible a task.

X

As everyone else said, most of the vintage razors are great shavers. I have many that I like, but lately I'm becoming a big fan of wade and butchers.

I'm not sure if you were sort of asking two questions at once with regard to the ATG irritation, or if maybe you hoped that a different razor would cut back on the irritation.

Unless your current razor isn't sharp enough, or there is some other problem with the edge, a different razor should not make a difference in your ATG pass. The only way a different razor might appear to help, especially if it's a different size or grind than you have now, is if it's size/grind/heft/etc helps to mask a problem with your technique.

Now, that being said, I can personally go ATG as long as I don't use much pressure, and I won't get irritation, however, some folks just can't do it without irritation no matter what they try. You can continue to try it once in a while as your technique improves, and see if you can eventually get a light enough touch that it doesn't cause irritation, but it's possible that no matter how you do it, due to your whisker and skin type, you might get irritation.

I agree with what everyone has said.

I have come to really appreciate razors that come from Sheffield, England. I believe they are very special; and don't ever discount American made companies, they made some tremendous razors. I like them because they are rather unknown, thus making them unique and very collectable.

Steve

Sheffield steel > DD. I'm going to sell my Wonderedge...people are willing to pay WAY WAY too much for it.... Its just not that awesome.

edit:
I'm not saying Sheffields shave better. There are other concerns that go into my "calculation." One of them is value. DD's are way overpriced.

I have several in the 'best' category, but they may not be your best. My Wonderedge is among them, there are others made in different parts of the world, and in different grinds and sizes. Some, I'm pretty sure, you won't be able to find and even if you do they probably won't be as good as mine.

try a puma. pricier but nice nice nice.

vintage henckels also hard to lose.

and try one of the americans (genco, robeson, cattaraugus, christenson, kinfolks, etc.)

also, go with the grain and across the grain, and skip against the grain.

To personal to nail that down I have my favs but that doesn't mean to much to someone else....

Once you figure out Size, Grind, and Point styles, that appeal to you then it gets easier...

For me I target certain razors, 11/16 size, extreme hollow grinds, and spike points.... 95% of all my razors fall within 1/16 of that razor.... So now I really can tell the differenecs in the steels.....