Thread: which straight razor newbie

hi guys im new to this and want to buy a quality straight razor i live in the uk condition needs to be exellent

the razor i was looking at was the DOVO of Solingen Straight Razor - Singing Violetwood - Prima Klang
Dovo Prima Klang Violetwood straight razor - buy open razors online UK


but it costs £140 so i am looking at vintage options because they can be a bit cheaper so can anyone advise a good vintage razor they have seen for sale that is as good or better than the Prima Klang please. I have read this article but couldn't find any of these brands for sale:
Good Straight Razor Brands - Straight Razor Place Wiki

the razor needs to be in exellent condition i was looking at this one:
J.A. Henckels - FRIODUR #70 - INOX - 6/8 - Straight Razor Place Classifieds

i dont care about the Defect: black ‘M’ written on rear scale as it doesnt effect the shave my price range is $120 or a little more if its worth it.

i hope you guys can help me pick out a good razor thanks in advance guys!

My vote is Henckels all day. Great price on that razor.

thanks for the reccommendation how does payment and delivery work? i dont want to get scammed lol

Hi Steven,

I usually don't recommend an extra hollow to begin with, but I'm with Alb. Friodurs are really wonderful. I also happened to get mine from Zethlent, and he's a pleasure to work with - which should help with the concerns about purchasing. Mine is also 6/8 (fav size), and the one in the link has more edge extending below the shoulder than mine. 'Should be a fabulous shaver.

First blades are less critical than most noobs imagine. The first few months are all about learning the shave - beard prep, facial topography and what funny looking stretches and strokes take care of any challenging segments. But make no mistake - the Friodurs are loved by a whole lot of us, and I'd buy again from Zethlent in a heartbeat. Mine came w/ an excellent edge. Should you need a hand w/ touch-ups after a time - I'd be happy to help - just the actual cost to mail it back to you.

Enjoy your shaves - whichever blade you go with.

if you have never used a straight before then personallyI would buy 2 or 3 shave ready from ebay or elsewhere. give them a try . decide which you like (size, feel etc) and then invest in a better version of something similar to whichever you find most comfortable. You can pick up a decent shave ready for less then £15. ( I know because I just sold one for £10.50 Damn!). After you have tried them then you can re list them and get your money back. If you are lucky you might even make a small profit. Once you have decided on a type, then you could look around and buy exactly the kind you want.
Everyone is different. Some people like the big heavy blades eg: 7/8 and above. Others like a smaller blade eg. 4/8.
Personally I find a 5/8 a good starter size, but prefer a smaller 4/8 for around the nose and a 13/16 for the cheeks and neck area.
I dont know if I am unusual or not, but I seldom shave with just the one razor. I use a 5/8 or above for the main part and a much smaller blade for the details.
Trust me though. for many people it gets so it is no longer just about the shave. We all have our bit of RAD and I guess most people here have more than just one razor.
Beautiful objects and they do get adictive.

Oh one more thing .. If you really want to go the vintage route then it will most likely need honing more often than a modern one. Especially if you look at german steel. Swedish and Sheffield tend to be harder IMO and , although a little more time consumng to get a good edge , they will keep it for longer than the older solingen ones. French is also a good but under rated option. (Most French used great quality Sheffield steel using the famous swedish iron as a base) Not as hard as modern stainless but not too far off.
Just my 2 cents/pence/... insert currency here