Thread: Razor Differences

There are huge differences in the attributes of Vintage and New razors, luckily there are also huge differences in our faces

What do you like better Blondes, Brunettes, or Redheads???? why????


Having been pretty lucky over the last 30+ years to hone and shave just a few razors I still couldn't tell you what would be the best for you, I know exactly what I like and why but it doesn't mean you will...

Hakunna Matata or on SRP we say YMMV

Originally Posted by Xel

Thanks for the responses. I wasn't asking what the best razor is, or which I should buy; I was asking about the specifics of some of the major brands. Does Dovo really have nothing specific to the brand as compared to TI, for example? Better or worse built? Generally lighter in the hand or heavier? Uses steel that takes a hone better, worse than, or the same as? The point of my question is this - the fact that people have preferences mean that there ARE differences in the blades. Many people that I've talked to have some brand loyalty, such as "I absolutely love TI razors". What I'm looking for in this thread are the qualities that would make a person say that. I know a lot of it is feel, but since we're men here and technically don't have feelings, there has to be something about the blades specifically that a person likes or that define the brand.

You're on a wild-goose chase.

The problem is that the modern makers -- like the vintage makers -- produce a _whole line_ of razors! Once you have the production machinery and the craftsmen, you can make whatever razor the market wants. And the market wants a wide variety.

The Dovo "Best Quality" that I own has a fairly heavy grind. But the Dovo "Prima Klang" is a "singing blade" - a full-hollow, ground as thin as the craftsmen can do it.

TI (for one) uses several different kinds of steel in its line. So any generalization about "TI steel tend to be . . . " will have so many exceptions that it's useless.

I have three vintage Bokers. Two -- "commemorative blades" -- are fairly heavy grinds. One - a "King Cutter" -- is quite hollow and fairly delicate. They're all plenty sharp.

Right now, you can reasonably say that a modern Hart razor will have a heavier grind than most other razors. But when Hart comes out with a full-hollow model (which they could, any day), that generalization won't work any more.

There are a few statements that may hold water _in the average_:

. . . "Solingen steel tends to be harder than Sheffield steel"

comes to mind. But _somebody_, I'm sure, owns a particular Sheffield razor that -- by accident of tempering, or by design -- will put a typical Solingen blade to shame for slowness of honing. And "harder" doesn't mean "shaves better" !

. Charles

PS -- TheSuperiorShave.com has fairly detailed descriptions of different Dovo grinds. Take a look there, and see what I mean.

What they all said, plus...

With the exception of the quality of the steel, pretty much everything else is largely subjective, from the blade shape and weight to the scales thickness and material. What makes you happy is not necessarily what will make me happy.

There are tons of articles on the wiki and other threads that tell you the differences in grinds, blade shapes, in generic terms the brands and so on.

It's a bit overwhelming when you find out there are hundreds of razors out there... I know I was in over my head after my second one. But I did what most of us do, and I got more; some becauseof their reputation (a Dubl Duck... I had to know what it was all about) and some because they were just something I didn't have (a 200 year old wedge! giggity!) and am still at it. Just this week I picked up a frameback (giggity!), a swedish one and a Boker... because I didn't have them and I want to try. One of them may be my dream razor.

After all this time, and I have no less than twenty shavers - though only about five in rotation - my favorite one is an unremarkable relatively modern blade that is probably worth next to nothing. Let me put it this way: if listed on the bay, i don't think anyone would bid even 10 bucks for it, and not knowing her, neither would I.

The bottom line is that you'll have to shave with whatever you can get your hands on, until you find what you like. Eventually you'll have to pass some on; I'm not there yet, but thinking about some blades that don't love me back should find someone else to dance with. Who knows, maybe they'll be someone's favorite shaver for all I know.

May all your shaves be smooth.



Marcos

Thanks for the responses. Honestly not what I was hoping for, however a lot of people put quite a bit of thought and time into responding, so thank you.