Newbie trying to figure it out.

Just looking for a little feedback, I'm trying to figure out how it all works. I have been str8 shaving now for about 2 months. I bought 4 new razors, (one at a time in rapid succession) and a good quality new strop, good soaps and aftershaves, etc. And I'm loving the whole pampered experience for my face--very few nicks.

I just shaved with my 4th and newest razor--a boker 5/8 Eidlwies from The Straightrazor Place. Holy cow that thing is sharp--so far my MOST comfortable, effortless shave. It made my other 3 brand new razors seem sort of dull in comparison.

The other three are all full hollow ground dovos--a 5/8 from the Art of Shaving, a 6/8 Bismark from The Straight razor Place, and a 5/8 pearlex from the Straight Razor Place. All high carbon blades.

My question. Is it how they were sharpened before they were sent, or is it just a brand thing? If the same guy sharpened my boker and two of my dovos (I'm guessing since they came from the same place) why is the boker so magnificent to shave with in comparison?

...as an aside, the boker looks like it has a burn mark on the heel and is tapered back a bit instead of straight. It looks almost damaged on the heel. But I don't use the heel much and the disappointment of the aesthetic wore off after I shaved with it. The dovo blades on the other hand are ALL gorgeous to look at. The art work and finish is flawless--they just don't feel as sharp. They seem to pull quite a bit more than the boker.

Thanks for a great forum. I looked it over pretty well before I dove in, and it paid off.

Different blades all have their nuances..the same person doing all the sharpening can only control his technique and can not control the metal..
Different manufactures different process in forging..all those things come into play so it is hard to say why exactly is the cause.
One batch of ore could have had more carbon..too many factors for a specific why..

Sorry if it does not exactly answer the question but I hope you understand there are too many variable in metallurgy itself..

Congratulations on your progress, well done :tu

On the sharpness, did you consider it might be a technique matter? As you learn better shaving, you will get more from your blades. And also all the other factors, stropping, lathering, hair growth pattern and so forth. I know for a fact that my own shaing experience improved a lot over the first months, and continued to do so for probably close to a year. I would not worry - just enjoy :)

I know my technique and muscle memory is a dynamic process. But I think there is something different about that boker. I guess this whole hobby is about the quest for sharpness, or shavability. So the thing to sort out is... do you have to finally learn to hone yourself to get the perfection you seek, or can the reputable names on here deliver it reliably.

Maybe that leads me to another question. Is there an expert sharpener around who would consider taking the extra step to check a blade or two before honing them and just give me feedback, like "yes, your blade needed it." or "no, you were fine, you just needed better stropping." The only guide I have is just the way the blade moves across my face. And the boker made me wonder about the other blades because it was so tangibly different.

I'm sure the day is coming where I won't worry about it, but I'm at this stage where I'm over-the-top curious.

If there are any members nearby with experience I'm sure one can tell you if the blade is proper sharp without sending it to a honemeister.

Excellent question. I have been shaving for only a month and I have absolutely no clue when I will need to use paste or get it honed again. I'm hoping that something will jump out at me but I'm doubtful that will happen.

What will "jump out" is a shave when the blade doesn't seem to be doing as well as it had been. When you feel the blade pulling the whiskers slightly as it cuts through them that's when the edge needs some adjustment.

I can only suggest learning some sharpness tests to see if you can feel a difference in sharpness. Unfortunately, you will need a lot of experience to really read a blade, and you aren't there yet. Id guess there is at least a 70 % chance that what you are feeling is sharpness related. That seems to be the common thread most of the time. It's also the newest, an important point. You are also talking about what I think might be a potentially better steel.

Also be careful messing with edges, they dull when you test them.

I thought the Pearlex was stainless? That might have some issue with it, too. I find that carbon razors feel sharper.

So that probably helps. The ad for the pearlex states that it is carbon steel, and it looks like it to my eye. "Pulling the whiskers as it cuts them" seems to be exactly what it feels like is happening. The boker is the first time it didn't feel like that was happening--a pleasant surprise.

Thanks for sharing a minute of your time... all of you. I will make some phone calls and see if I can't get someone to examine my blades before honing them.