Razor/Honing

Hey guys,
from what i've looked up, Damascus Steel is pretty good, and i found a razor of that material. Im wondering if anyone can help me out and tell me if this razor is a rip-off or not.

Damascus steel Straight Razor with Ladder Pattern. - eBay (item 290336709511 end time Sep-02-09 20:02:34 PDT)

also, it says this razor requires further honing to make it shave ready, and being a newbie, i dont know how to hone. is there any place that would hone the razor for me?

Thanks alot folks!

also i posted a few more links, i would really really appreciate it if yall can look at them and suggest a razor. thanks again

V.L. VOYLES AND SONS ANTIQUE STRAIGHT RAZOR W/ORIG.CASE - eBay (item 220466595874 end time Aug-20-09 13:06:40 PDT)

Vintage Straight Razor Henry Littlewood Sheffield - eBay (item 300336881288 end time Sep-06-09 22:50:34 PDT)

DOVO #42 42485 STRAIGHT RAZOR,SWEDISH STAINLESS STEEL - eBay (item 370140872497 end time Sep-03-09 08:12:45 PDT)

AGAIN GUY, I cant thank u enough. I really appreciate your help. thanks again.

I,m a little suspicious of the damascus razor because the price is too low , and the damascus handles (also called "scales") would be too heavy . I would also say no to the Voyles razor because the picture of the blade , which is the most important part of the razor , is out of focus , and there appears to be some kind of staining or rust on it . You can't go wrong with a new Dovo (I don't think) . But my choice would be the Littlewood . It looks to be in excellent condition , it's ready to shave with , and the price is less than the Dovo .

I'd be very Leary of ebay razors especially for newbies, Lynn's DVD speaks to this. Have you checked the classifieds here? there are always razors for sale and there is a section on services where you can find a honemeister for a professional sharpening.

Main Index - Straight Razor Place Classifieds

Also from the WIKI here's a short list of sought after razor manufacturers.....

Good Straight Razor Brands - Straight Razor Place Wiki

One more WIKI link this one is to razors to avoid....

Brands of Straight Razors to avoid - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Here's lynn discussing purchasing str8 razors....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dn6uX...eature=related

Good luck and Happy Hunting.

i'd stay away from ebay. your best options are with one of the reputable vendors or the classifieds.

you can not get new damascus anything
you can get things to mimic the cosmetic qualities of damascus steel, but the middle eastern technique has been lost for centuries.
it /might/ be wootz steel
might


that being said, get a razor off the classifieds, and live happily ever after

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jehan60188

you can not get new damascus anything
you can get things to mimic the cosmetic qualities of damascus steel, but the middle eastern technique has been lost for centuries.
it /might/ be wootz steel
might


that being said, get a razor off the classifieds, and live happily ever after

---

It is true that we don't know exactly how the legendary Damascus steel of yore was made. That said, the pattern welded steel custom razors by the likes of Tim Zowada, Mastro Livi and Robert Williams among others are perhaps not damascus in the sense that it was made centuries ago but they make a heck of a shaving razor.

The one you see on ebay doesn't have the maker's name stamped on the tang. One of the things I learned years ago in collecting vintage pocket knives was that if a maker didn't think enough of his work to put his name on it than it probably wasn't worth having.