Hello from Nashville.

Hello all, I'm just getting started with straight razors and am still in my reasearch phase before buying. Looks like I got lucky and found this Forum before making some costly mistakes. I've already learned a good bit of helpful info from reading through older posts but I've still got lots more reading to do.

I was looking at several vintage razor on ebay and decided to research them before bidding, that lead me to Tony Miller's site at thewellshavedgentleman.com which in turn lead me here. Feeling really fortunate to have stumbled on this wealth of information just as I'm getting started and it appears all the goods and services I could possibly need are right here in one place.

At the moment I'm looking at a Wostenholm and an Engels and well as maybe a DOVO (through Tony's site). I've read some favorable things about the first and last but not much on Engels - still searching. I'm sure I'll have lots of questions in time but for now I'm reading all I can here. Just wanted to say hello and introduce myself. Thanks again for the great website,
Jack

That cleanshavedgentleman (sic.) ;) sure has what you need and there are lots of vintage refurbs that have been goingup for sale (FS) almost weekly it seems so keep your eye out here too. The benefit of getting a razor from a member is having it arrive shave ready. Also, if it's been refurbed, it's usually better than when it came off the line decades ago. There are some excellent craftsmen here.

Don't be afraid to let us know what you are thinking and ask any questions you may have. We like to help.

X

Welcome aboard. I've heard some good things about Engels' as well so you won't go wrong with either one of the three. I've dealt with Tony and been satisfied every time.

Thanks for the welcome and suggestions guys. If I win the current auctions and the blades are decent I'll have some nice users at a reasonable price. If they turn out to be crap, at least I'll have something to practice honing on before I score a nice razor through one of the folks on here. Figure I'll come out okay either way. If I lose the auctions well, that's money I can put directly toward a nicely honed razor from one of "youse guys" anyway ;). Only quandry I have is, do I spring for a new DOVO with a professional honing or go for a vintage refurb and have some REAL old school cool?
Jack

I enjoy the oldies because I save them from a life of obscurity. However I do own a new DOVO and it's in my regular shaving rotation, so you won't go wrong with either choice.

Jack,
Welcome to the addiction! You're one of the very few lucky people that live in a city with a straight razor store that you can walk into. It's called the Nashville Knife shop and they have a website as well. I don't know if they have knowledgeable people there that can answer honing questions and such, but they stock some nice items. I'm not at all familiar with the Nashville area, but I hear that store is in one of your malls.
As far as new or used, I guess I'm not sure what to recommend. Lots and lots of choices! Just be extremly careful if you use a pre-honed razor if it's honed by one of our members in here. I had only honed my own before getting an expertly honed blade from Tony Miller. Wasn't used to anything that sharp!
If you're unfamiliar with anything, just ask away, there's no shortage of opinions!!
-Fred

hey jack and welcome to srp. I was just wondering are you in Nashville, IN or Nashville, TN because the Nashville Knife Shop is located in Indiana and if you live where Oprymills and Tootsies Orchid Lounge are, you'll have to order online from them.

Hey, another Southern boy! Yep, I'm in TN - probably oughtta build that profile I suppose. My wife and I try to hit Tunica at least once a year, usually stay at the Gold Strike and come home broke :o.
Jack

I hear ya, I dont gamble, but the wife does. I lived in Nashville for a couple years, off of galatin rd and my uncle Robert used to own Tootsies up until a few years ago when he got diagnosed with cancer. Its a great place to live, and all of the people are just as down home and respectful as you would expect.

Welcome Jack,

You're a lucky bugger to have found this site before starting out, I spent a lota cash before I found this site which was wated:cry:

As to old or new, it doesn't realy matter as long as it is shave ready. I don't bother with ebay and restoring as my skills arn't up to snuff so I prefer to buy used and restored razors from the guys on this site.

For strops etc you can't go past Tony Miller and for razors I've got a Bill Ellis blade with garrythepenman's custom scales and have a few razors from Joe Chandler.

All these vendor's offer top quality gear:tu

Again, welcome and don't be surprised if you have 10 razors in 3 months time:eek:

Welcome to SRP Jack, I have to agree I wasted some cash befor I got hip to this site. I have'nt been a member long but I have bought about 10 razors now. Hope you enjoy yourself here.
Eddie

Well, so far I've won an I XL Wostenholm and from the pics (and feedback here) it appears to be in good shape. That'll get sent out to one of you experts for a real honing and then it'll be my first user.

I've also got bids on these two from the same seller:
A Koch & Schafer with some hone wear. It's a nice width though and will be my practice honing blade if I win, might even add some nicer scales. http://cgi.ebay.com/Unique-German-Ra...QQcmdZViewItem

The other is an Olympic INOX. Also has some hone wear as well as a crack at the pivot pin on the left hand scale - another practice blade/scale replacement if I win: http://cgi.ebay.com/Olympic-Inox-Raz...QQcmdZViewItem

At this point I'd almost prefer to be outbid on those two. Practice is nice but I'm having a cervical fusion on 12/15 (C5 thru C7) so it'll be at least February before I'll be able to look down at a workbench.

BTW, I keep seeing the term "Inox" on certain razors. What exactly does that refer to, a particular style? size? what?
Jack

Inox means that the steel isn't supposed to oxidate.. Ide Est stainless steel. A bit more difficult to hone (doesn't make much of a difference with modern hones) but it holds the edge a bit better than most carbon steels.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT

Inox means that the steel isn't supposed to oxidate.. Ide Est stainless steel. A bit more difficult to hone (doesn't make much of a difference with modern hones) but it holds the edge a bit better than most carbon steels.

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Appreciate the "inox" definition, it actually makes sense. I'm perfectly happy with my carbon steel knives and the edges they're capable of - heck I prefer carbon steel so I doubt I'll be disappointed in carbon steel razors. I'm curious why few, if any, makers list the actual steel used in their razors though (O1, A2, etc). Being a long time knife-knut I even asked my surgeon what steel he used in my first lumbar fusion (S30V). He looked at me sort of funny so I had to explain my hobbies and metallurgical interests ... my wife just sat in the corner and rolled her eyes (you married guys know "the look") :shrug:.
Jack

Lol sometimes I feel sorry for our SOs, but then I remember that they should have known what they were getting involved with, so that alleviates some of my guilt. :D
I actually have one inox shaver in my rotation (G. Butler) and it gives me fairly decent shaves, on the level with my C-steel average pieces.

Like carbon steel, there's a wide variation in the quality of stainless razors out there. Both the Henckels and Puma stainless razors are consistently excellent, and Maestro Livi's stainless blades have an outstanding reputation as well.