Thread: First Straight

A square point is okay. Functionally its not that different from a round or oblique point. The thing for a beginner to avoid is a spike point.

What a collector is looking for, and what is good for shaving is not always the same thing... A $10.00 razor may shave just as good as a $300.00 wacker! Shave quality is = good steel, and sharpness of the blade. Pretty scales and shiny gold embossed steel are nice, but not hardly necessary for a great shave!
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Originally Posted by kyler82

You may also want to look at prices on a couple of vendor sites, and watch razors on ebay. This helped me recognize what people were looking for. I also copied the list of good razor brands from the wiki on this site to my desktop.

Originally Posted by NoseWarmer

Well I've been searching around and I still have to many questions and don't know where to start... So this will be my first question:

What am I looking for in my first straight razor?

My price range is in the $50.00-$75.00 range... I have seen some really nice ones in the classified area, but again, not sure what I'm looking for.

Thanks...

For about $80 you can get a brand new Dovo "Best Quality", honed by Lynn at Straight Razor Designs.

I have one -- it's a nice razor, about 3/4 hollow ground, round point. No gold wash, no fancy carving. Also no rust, no hone wear, tight pivot, dead-centered in the scales.

I don't know that any inexpensive vintage blade will shave any better (and I have a bunch of inexpensive vintage blades).

Charles

yep, my first razor (and my only razor) is a Dovo best quality 5/8ths razor. it shaves really well, i strongly suggest that you get a dovo best quality razor as your first one, its really easy to control. Also, you might want to start with a 6/8ths, because thats dead center in the middle, (it goes from 4/8ths to 8/8ths) and learning to strop with a wider razor is much easier. when i first tried stropping it was hard keeping the razor flat, and it still sometimes is. and then from 6/8ths you can go either smaller or larger, whatever you prefer. but still, 5/8ths isn't really that much smaller than 6/8ths, so it really doesn't matter i guess. try the classifields here on SRP, or ClassicShaving.com, they both have some really nice razors.

Originally Posted by MortuusCruor

because thats dead center in the middle, (it goes from 4/8ths to 8/8ths)

Your points are valid, but your statement is inaccurate. I own a 2/8 NOS razor, there are quite a few 3/8 razors, and there also are razors larger than 8/8.

Razor size selection really come down to a matter of personal preference.

Well I struck a deal with one of the local sellers, Guigi on this Double Arrow... I'm sure that this razor will get me buy for a period of time till the "Razor Demon" get's a hold of me...

So far it's everything that has been recomended...

Gugi has been complimented for his toys & this one looks great. I like the round point - less pronounced than my Dovos - more like the R. Williams version of a round point - doesn't stick out so far it gets in the way.

If they come up, the US steel from the 20s is out of this world. Genco, Shumate, Geneva, Torrey, Ontario. My first was a Genco fluid steel. 'Very much plain Jane - daily driver variety. It remains my best full hollow.

'Hope you enjoy alot. At 3 mo. I'm so hooked, there's just no going back.

That's what I'm afraid of... "Being Hooked"... If it's anything like my tobacco pipe buying.... I'm in trouble...

Originally Posted by Utopian

Your points are valid, but your statement is inaccurate. I own a 2/8 NOS razor, there are quite a few 3/8 razors, and there also are razors larger than 8/8.

Razor size selection really come down to a matter of personal preference.

Ofcourse, i stand corrected that's true, thanks for pointing that out, there are quite a few razors larger than one inch, and yes it all comes down to personal preference. Also, the 2/8 razor you own, That would be a bit too small wouldn't it? 2/8ths of an inch is about 6 mm, close to half a centimeter. could you post a picture? i'd be quite interested to see what such a small razor looks like. does it shave well? i'm interested.

I'm sorry, I've got several hundred razors still waiting in about 20 boxes and that one is among them. In other words, no I can't provide a photo. I do recall it is a Tricho, made in Japan and is NOS and unhoned. I have never shaved with it and remain afraid to hone the damn thing. I figure I need to hone a few thousand more razors first before I realize I should just send it to Lynn to hone. I have honed a few 3/8 razors and they were okay but this one is just ridiculous.