Thread: Good inexpensive razor

Originally Posted by bbcountry

I guess inexpensive tended to lean towards cheap. Now I figure that maybe I was too. So I'll pay a bit more and get a bit more. Thanks for the feedback!!

In a vintage razor, inexpensive and cheap do not equate, IMO.

For example, I have two $40 or so razors in full hollow I bought from Pinklather, and they are both EXCELLENT shavers.

I use Pinklather's razors as an example of some inexpensive razors that work, and work well (!!!) for a "you can't beat this" price.

That, IMO, is typical of what you'll find on the classifieds, and you can spend a little, or a lot, depending on the depth of you wallet, and personal taste.

I bought a Wade and Butcher near wedge from HNSB for $40 that is excellent as well.

Virtually anything done by Sham that fits your price range will blow your mind. I have two 1/4 hollows I just received a week or two ago for an average price of $55 (a total cost of $110). I know Sham has a lot of nice hones, but I swear they guy has magical fingers and hands as his edges are the best I've ever used.

The list goes on and on.

Just because you don't dump a lot of cash on a vintage razors doesn't mean it's "cheap"! My experience has been just the opposite. I won't go back to new manufacture razors unless they are custom made. (Well, I did buy out John Crowley's entire inventory of new 1/4 hollow Wackers about 2 weeks ago--I'd probably make an exception on buying new if they are Wacker razors which I consider to be "semi-custom" because he's a one man shop).

Kent

The most tempting razors I've seen this week were one on the Classifieds (which I bought for ~$50) and a new Dovo Best Quality 1/2 hollow, professionally honed, for $70, at a Florida vendor called The Superior Shave. The half hollow is more forgiving than the full hollow, so they say, and a little less common, so I observe. Most of the vintage blades I've seen are full hollows. I'm currently in a grind-exploring stage (full hollow vs. half hollow vs. wedge and so on, vs. my wallet).

If you find a vintage blade you wonder about, you can do two things: 1) search the Razors thread for any mentions of it and see what folks say, and 2) post pictures of it in the Razors thread and ask if people think its worth the asking price. I've only seen good, honest advice here.

Straight Razor Designs has a nice deal now, that any razor you buy during the Holiday Season comes with a certificate for lifetime honing of that razor. If you never buy your first hone, then you'll never buy your second hone, and so on. I only see full hollows at their entry level prices, though.

From what I've read, a 6/8 blade is also easier to learn with than a 5/8 blade... though again, 5/8 seems to be the commonest size in lower-price and vintage blades. I learned on a 5/8 full hollow, as most of us probably have, because they are so common.

Hmm. I hope this brings more clarity than dizziness. Best wishes.

+1 on the classifieds--just bought another one from Stimpy52 (Frank) tonight.

+1 on Jarrod (owner of The Superior Shave) is a great guy, and gives great customer service (I think his delivery is the fastest of anyone I've ordered anything from). He also puts a really nice edge on a razor.

Kent

If you're willing to learn how to sharpen your own razor from scratch, then hunting flea-markets and antiques stores are a great way to get cheap, good-quality vintage razors. You can often get them from between 20-30 dollars.

I have several razors in my rotation that I paid less than $15 for, including shipping.....I restored them and honed them myself.