Thread: Parker SRW Straight Edge Barber Razor

So I have decided to take another crack at the straight razor again after dumping probably between 200 and 300 dollars into Shiek Quatro blades this year. My first experience was very short lived, I bought a pricey Dovo razor and in three months I shaved 0 complete times with it because I could not get it shave sharp. I tried on several occasions and after a few nasty cuts each times (due to a dull blade not my horrible technique) I would finish with my 9 dollar disposable head razor and throw it away when done. The reason I know I cut myself because the blade was dull because I used a buddies Dovo (he was much better at sharpening than I) I would nick myself but nothing serious. Now I have discovered a way to save $$$ and not have to go through the sharpening process. I bought a barber shop straight razor with changeable blades which are greatly less expensive than the quatro blades. My question is... is this razor a good quality pick I didn't pay much for it so if its not good and you have another suggestion please feel free to bash away. Thanks for reading

http://cgi.ebay.com/Parker-SRW-Strai...item518e5e0130

You just need to send your SR to a honemeister in the classifieds, then you only have to learn how to strop. Good luck!!

I am assuming you purchased your Dova as new. Maybe a bad assumption, but since you said it was pricey it was likely new, or very nearly so. As recommended you need to get it honed by someone who knows what they are doing. $20 is a cheap investment. Once properly honed it will last a good long time with proper care and maintenance. The only thing you will need immediately is a good strop. You don't have to spend $100 for a good one. Many of our vendors sell ones that are quite inexpensive but of good quality. You will also need to invest in a pasted strop (with some sort of paste live CrO or diamond) to refresh your blade. A barbers hone is also a good thing to have when the pasted strop doesn't put it back in order. But, unless you ding the razor or damage the edge in some other way, you won't have to put another bevel on it. I use a Norton 4K/8K combo stone, and CrO pasted paddle strop on my razors and have excellent results.

I too am interested in this razor (holder). How does it compare to a Shavette or a Feather AC? At 13 bucks I think I might take a gamble on it...

Welp, I got the Parker SRW disposable straight from QED yesterday and so far the results are promising! This morning's shave was one of the most comfortable irritation free (and fastest) I've ever had with a straight. It wasn't however the closest shave I've ever had, which I'd have to relegate to my Gem G-bar with a Personna blade, however that razor is aggressive and not nearly as comfortable as this morning's. I should say that I've only been shaving with a straight for a little over a year although I've had experience with a variety of blades and soaps, including a Dovo Shavette which is what this Parker will be replacing in lieu of a Feather which is out of my budget range right now. I only did a one-pass WTG because I didn't want to push it with a strange untested razor and it wasn't really necessary anyway.

Compared to the Shavette it FEELS more like a traditional straight having similar scales, weight and blade/tang configuration whereas the Shavette just feels like a way of holding a disposable blade. The construction isn't fantastic but overall feels more robust than the Shavette. Looks-wise I think it's pretty cool, having all sorts of strange Arabic and Muslim symbols on one side. It looks pretty scary sitting there in the bathroom along side a tube of Proraso and a badger brush! The blade is held in place in an odd manner, with the two halves of the thing splitting apart and sliding away from each other like a fillet. The blade sits lower and firmer in the holder (which is supposedly stainless steel) compared to the plastic Dovo holder. This means it bends less and is probably less likely to "catch" which is my biggest beef with the Shavette. It also means there is a little "shoulder" before the blade, I think the Feather AC has this too in varying lengths depending on the blade used.

Overall I dig it, but it needs more trials before I can be certain. I used a generic CVS blade, I've been leery to try a feather blade with it yet. Again, for the price it's a fun experiment anyway.

I just bought one of these. It's much nicer than the 1/2 DE blade straight I had been using.

The scales look like chromed metal, but are plastic.

Made in India.

I like it. Worth the $16 shipped, that I paid. Parker SR2 Stainless Steel Straight Edge Barber Razor - eBay (item 350361935911 end time Jun-09-10 04:28:40 PDT)


Edit: I don't know why the pic shows up three times.

Parker in the middle