Walk, Don't Run

Gentlemen: It's a lazy morning here in the province. Charlie Haden's recording Nocturne is on the CD player. It's a wonderful recording — tenor sax player Joe Lovano, guitarist Pat Metheny, pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba, and a fine list of other player doing the honors. It's also the perfect morning to reflect on things in general, including the straight razor world.

When we start out, we hardly know anything about the world of the straight razor. Yet sometimes we amass piles of razors, in a variety of styles and sizes, some quality but many junk, with little or no thought about how our tastes and preferences are likely to change with time. After all, we've lived with ourselves long enough to know better: that our tastes will change. So we buy new razors, antique razors, and anything else that passes for a blade with a handle. We buy some because we like them and some because we think we should have them.

I am as guilty of this as anybody. Some years later we question our earlier purchases and sometimes regret having ignored our personality traits: that, yes, our tastes will change. I don't blame myself or anybody for running in the early years of piling up straight razors instead of walking. It's human nature to sometimes plunge blindly into a certain activity, be it a love affair, a friendship, a business, and on and on.

Also, because straight razor shaving is unlike many new encounters we face in our daily lives, we're pulled into it as if by a magnetic force. We wrap our arms around it with a deep thirst to learn everything we can, and experience everything we can. Within the first week some of us already think we know enough to not only shave with the straight razor, but to hone it, and to restore it.

And so time reels by and one day we realize how much our taste has changed, and that perhaps we should have put a little more thought in what we bought and what we should have bought instead. This morning as I shaved with my Wacker 6/8" 1st Edition Sheffield with the barber's notch, I was pleased with what I had bought. Then I studied some of the other razors in the rack, the 4/8" and the 5/8" hollow or extra hollow blades, and wished I had not bought them. Oh, they're gorgeous razors, and all great shavers, but my taste has changed as I have matured with the straight razor.

These days I have discovered a preference for the 6/8" and the 7/8" blades in the heavier grinds. I shave just as well with the hollow blades, yes, but they don't hug my face in the same way the heavier grinds do. I like their heavier weight on my face, and their balance in my hands. It's the difference between a conversation at a party and an intimate one at a cafe. Two different worlds. I like the heavier blades against my face. I feel more comfortable with them.

I dare say my shaves are even better with the heavier grinds. There is ample controversy on this: that the heavier grinds shave better than the hollows. Speaking for myself only, with my type of beard, and with my taste in razors, I know the heavier grinds work better me: in the shave and how they fit in my hand.

So, yes, I should have slowed down early on and bought with less compulsion and more thought. I should have walked instead of run toward every razor that caught my eye.

Great thread Obie,always enjoy reading your posts.Great writing style and well thought out.You are truly Obie Wan.

So well said. I hope every new member reads this before RAD gains its grip on them. Thanks Obie.

You're 100% correct, you never should have purchased those little razors not to mention all that other stuff you have that you never should have bought. My solution is to just pack it up and send it to me. I will agree to say 'razors I love you all" every day. By now they probably know you don't love them anymore and if you used one they would take their revenge upon you. Not only that but they are probably plotting against you turning your other shaving gear against you.

Really this mates well with the "if I had only known then what I do now thread".

If I had learned that 20 years ago with watches I'd be a wealthier man now.

Great thread Obie and well written as always. I wish I had this piece of advice when I was getting started, but alas, I did not. Now I too have a few razors that rarely get a chance to slice through a hair. On the other hand, I once regretted getting into a bidding war on the bay for a Torrey, but I used it last night to shave off 3 days growth and it performed like a champ. I am glad it's in my rotation and it was worth every penny, and by penny I mean lots of dollars.

Well said, my dear thebigspendur: "If I had only known then what I do now." Yet all this is part of our growth. The only thing is that I wish some of us would grow a little slower. I have not used the 4/8" razors in ages, and only a few of the 5/8" razors. The 6/8" and the 7/8" blades are my favorites, and among those, I far prefer the heavier grinds over the hollows. With some exceptions, I'll eventually trim the racks to hold only the bigger razors. Another thing, when I score that bestselling novel, I'll send you some of the 5/8" blades — if I have not sold them by then. Stay well.

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Originally Posted by ReardenSteel

Great thread Obie and well written as always. I wish I had this piece of advice when I was getting started, but alas, I did not. Now I too have a few razors that rarely get a chance to slice through a hair. On the other hand, I once regretted getting into a bidding war on the bay for a Torrey, but I used it last night to shave off 3 days growth and it performed like a champ. I am glad it's in my rotation and it was worth every penny, and by penny I mean lots of dollars.

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You and I must have been bidding on that Torrey. I tried really hard but you just kept out-bidding me. I am glad you are enjoying it. I had to settle for another Torrey for a lot less money.
:p

Happy Shaving!

I agree with much of your wonderful post. My only question is how do you experiment to find out what you like with at least buying some various styles and sizes? Perhaps you are referring to excessive, thoughtless, or undisciplined razor purchases?

From the beginning, I developed a plan for my razor purchases and adhered to the plan. Out of 28 razors I have collected, I only regret one purchase, a razor that I simply cannot get to be a smooth shaver. I purposely bought representative razors from the USA, Germany, France, Sweden, England, and Spain. While I slightly prefer heavier 6/8 size razors with a quarter to half-hollow grind, I still enjoy using all the different grinds and sizes in my collection. I tried to be judicious and purchase razors in very good shape, representative of the best models and brands for each country, but at a reasonable price.

Another great, well-thought post. I too prefer the heavier grinds. I do have a 5/8 Dubl Duck SatinWedge that has become my go to razor. Used it today and had a DFS shave. Also bloodless. I love that razor. It has been re-scaled and the bolster transfer was not done very well, but the blade is a work of art. Thanks for your thoughts Obie, I always enjoy reading your posts.

It's not so much a question of excess when one has a broad taste, DLB. To buy, therefore, in order to satisfy that broad taste is perfectly acceptable to me. Excess intrudes when we cast our arms at everything in sight and grab almost indiscriminately. We do so because we don't know better. We run instead of walk.

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Originally Posted by Obie

It's not so much a question of excess when one has a broad taste, DLB. To buy, therefore, in order to satisfy that broad taste is perfectly acceptable to me. Excess intrudes when we cast our arms at everything in sight and grab almost indiscriminately. We do so because we don't know better. We run instead of walk.

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Thanks Obie,

We are very much in agreement! Whenever I see a Newbie who has bought a really bad brand of razor or a good brand in terrible shape, I get a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. Even worse is when they have paid way too much for the razor. Ultimately, I would rather have one really good razor than 100 mediocre razors. If I had to reduce my own collection to one razor, I would keep my 6/8 Thiers-Issard Le Grelot. I love shaving with this one razor because it feels like an extension of my arm and hand. That said, when I shave with a 4/8 Heljestrand No. 24, I am thrilled and amazed at what this little razor can do. It fills me with a sense of excitement and wonder. That is why I enjoy the variety of styles. I love whatever razor is in my hand.

However, all of my purchases were carefully planned to add a very specific type of razor to the collection. Had I bought willy-nilly, I would have wound up with just a hodge podge collection. To avoid the frantic, indiscriminate buying of razors you are describing, I think it is important that a person set some goals from the very beginning. I addressed some of this in a previous post:

http://straightrazorpalace.com/begin...ng-razors.html

When a person has no goals for their razor purchases, I think they are even more likely to fall prey to the "grabbing" of any and all razors in sight, ultimately leading to a fair amount of dis-satisfaction. The more clear the goals, the better the collection and the more rewarding the experience will be. I also think the goals will be different for each person. While one person may only want one good razor, another may want a 7-day set. Some may want only wedges, some may only want extra hollow grounds, while others may want examples of both. The same principle holds true regarding razor widths. Ultimately, if one hasn't thought through all of this and made goals, they will likely do just as you described and that is a true sorrow.

Thank you for your well written and well crafted post. It is a subject that can save people a lot of grief and money.

Regards!
:beer1:

but before reveal it; thank you for taking the time to start this thread and post your experiences and feelings. I will learn much from you and others in this straight razor journey.

I'm 50 years old, new to razors, but not to life. So here's why I "Run".
It give me immense pleasure to occupy my time hunting and buying straight razors.
When I was young, it was women. I was no Don Johnson, but not far from it , in a target rich environment. What slowed me down was not reflecting on the bad ones that I should have left alone; it is the fact that I can no longer catch'em like I used to.
In regards to straights; I really don't care about the quality or condition, to a certain point. Of course I have had no desire to buy current production straights from China or Pakistan; sold locally in flea markets and knife shows.
The only thing that limits me is money. I only can dedicate so much each month.
I bought "13" razors this month; one from the "Master" in Vegas and the other from members and antique malls. Two are under refurbish and the others were honed and shaved with. They have been stored and I probably won't slow down to use them ever again. I'm too busy hunting the next shave.
I've never jumped into any endeavor at 50%, even when wiser men warned me. Maybe that makes me a fool? There will come a time in the near future when I will probably not be able to use a straight without too much bloodshed due to a shaky hand or I will forget where the hell I put it. I also doubt the retirement home will allow me to have one, let alone my collection. My son might use one, or flood the Ebay with all my hastily gotten goods.

I hope many people take your advice and slow down. I hope they really consider whether the razor they are pondering, is right for them. This will give me the opportunity to catch up with them and take it first.


Right now I have found something that I can pursue with all my efforts; for me it is all about the "Run"; not really the razor.

Great posts, everyone. I seriously want to limit my razors to three, but am prepared to go to an absolute max of 7 (1 for each day). I guess it'll probably be 7, since Obie is clearly going to have a sale soon of the 4/8 hollows I seem to prefer at this early stage :-)

As usual Obie, we are in complete agreement. I am finding myself lately thinking of finding a larger then 8/8 blade. Maybe when my name comes up on Max's lost I will see if he is up for making a HUGE blade.

Paul