Thread: Are some razors just better than others?

Originally Posted by Bruce

I bite my fingers to keep from replying, but as neither honemeister nor one with great shaving technique, I can't.

This is darned hard for one with opinions on nearly everything, doncha know.

I didn't mean to rule out anyone (everyone?). I really do want to hear everyone's opinions! Please disregard all mention of honemeisters and shaving technique in my first posts

I have 3 razors, a wapi, a bengal and an unbranded razor made for a Manchester businessman back in 1910. Of all of them the Manchester razor is unbeatable it lasts for ages before honing and just suits me. The wapi is ok but lacks that certain something but that is a personal thing. As for the bengal, it really doesn't seem to suit me that much. I don't know why - it is a lovely razor but never seems to get that close.

I guess in my case it is a face, whiskers and razor combination. They all came from the same seller and were all superbly honed. But I think it comes down to how you fit the razor.

Not sure if this helps but my 2pc worth.

Originally Posted by nathanjones

I have 3 razors, a wapi, a bengal and an unbranded razor made for a Manchester businessman back in 1910. Of all of them the Manchester razor is unbeatable it lasts for ages before honing and just suits me. The wapi is ok but lacks that certain something but that is a personal thing. As for the bengal, it really doesn't seem to suit me that much. I don't know why - it is a lovely razor but never seems to get that close.

I guess in my case it is a face, whiskers and razor combination. They all came from the same seller and were all superbly honed. But I think it comes down to how you fit the razor.

Not sure if this helps but my 2pc worth.

So true. When I used to shave DE and participate in DE shaving forums I was surprised to see how many people had differing opinions of the performance of the top rated DE blades. One man's favorite was a dog to the next fellow. It stands to reason that the same would apply to straights.

Having been absent for quite a while this seems an ideal thread to jump back in. Yes, I believe some razors are better than others. First comes the Thiers-Issards followed closely by the Ice-Hardened Dovo's. In my opinion there is no reason to look at any other.

I have been using straight razors, mainly TI's, for a long time and have used a lot of different razors. Their ability to take and hold an edge places them on top.

Bill

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

So true. When I used to shave DE and participate in DE shaving forums I was surprised to see how many people had differing opinions of the performance of the top rated DE blades. One man's favorite was a dog to the next fellow. It stands to reason that the same would apply to straights.

You know, I never looked at it that way, Jimmy. Interesting point!

An interesting topic!

Yes, there is definately a difference from one brand of razor to another. The Ducks, Pumas, W&B's, Filly's, Wosties, ShurEdge, Revisor, Henkles Friodur, and on and on....

I have noticed, though, as I have become a better shaver and a honer, many, many more brands are being added to this list of great shavers. In fact, almost all of them.

Then I need to break out my Maestro Levi or my Robert Williams to bring me back to reality as to what is really great edge!

Steve

I have had dozens of razors pass through my hands, maybe hundreds. I have found very little difference between most razors. Some are made from ridiculously hard steel and should hold an edge...forever. Some are very easy to hone and may lose their edge sooner.

I've had DD's with messed up spine wear that took hours to regrind. In the end, they made great shavers. That said, some of my best shavers are non branded razors. I've had four non-branded, presumably American, razors and each of them performed exceptionally well.

Like others have said, it can be a crap shoot. But that doesn't mean it was the maker's fault either. The razors on ebay could have been honed with a heavy hand, creating a frown or taper, or other problems. They might have been dropped in the past. Or they could have been manufactured incorrectly. All steel with a good heat treatment can take an edge, so all razors will theoretically shave just as well as any other razor. That said, some razors with better heat treatment will hold their edge better.

Keep this in mind as well. Som razor owners just prefer a single brand of razor for no other reason than they personally prefer it. Just like coke v. Pepsi. Also, if someone spends $500 on a razor, there is definitely the psychological need to justify the purchase price, therefore subjectively the razor will be the best razor ever. This does not mean that the $500 razor is not the best razor ever, it just means that spending $500 on it has an effect on the perceived quality of the shave. And because DD's and Pumas routinely cost over $100...it could very well be a psychological preference. Don't get me wrong, all my ducks are superb shavers. And the one Puma that I have come across was also a superb shaver. BUT, so far I have not come across a crappy shaver either. Broken razors yes, razors that need to be trashed, yes.

There is a difference in shave quality but it doesn't seem to be as big a deal as it once did. Except for wedges, which invariably give me razor burn unless they're a bit dullish. I think at some point you get to where you can get just about anything sharp enough to shave well, and at that point it comes down to familiarity, ergonomics, aesthetics, and maintenance. I've got a mint DDWE that I never use because I don't like the long blade, and it doesn't shave me sufficiently better than anything else to warrant retraining my instincts.

One of my favorite razors is a chrome-plated 5/8 Koeller that I've had for about 3 years now. It shaves about like a DDWE, Puma, ERN, Boker, Clauss, Heljestrand, Genco, Robeson, Waterville etc etc etc, but wins for non-shave reasons. I replaced the original warped scales with Dovo ebony scales from Classic Shaving. Lightweight, small, agile, the chrome and ebony look great together, and the chrome makes cleanup a snap. And after all these years together it just seems to strop and shave itself.

Edit: This isn't to say that razors are basically interchangeable - They definitely aren't. Pumas and Dubl Ducks have very distinct personalities, for example, even though they shave nearly identically and it's likely the DD's were actually made by Puma. I love the Puma "feel", and don't really care for DDs, and feel somewhat ambivalent about my PumaDuck. But this isn't based on how they shave, but on some fuzzier and ill-defined preferences. I love nearly all the old grind TI's but the new grinds and Silverwing leaves me cold, though they all shave well. And Watervilles make me curl my toes in delight but I always feel guilty shaving with them because they're so old and delicate. But I have no such guilt shaving with their W&B contemporaries because the W&Bs are so substantial.

Aside from the basic shape of the razor, and the grind of the razor, another critical component is the STEEL of the razor. That makes a huge difference in how it hones and how it shaves. Why do you think a Zeepk sucks? The steel sucks, and it doesn't matter how the blade is shaped or what kind of scales are attached. If the steel is bad the razor is bad. If the steel is great, then at least the razor has the potential to be great.

The first Griffon Carbo-Magnetic razor I ever bought was an amazing shaver. I bought several more hoping to eventually make a seven day set with them. None of the other razors I bought were as good. They shaved just fine, but they were not the amazing shave of the first one. I finally noticed the difference--the first one had a small imprint with the words "extra hard." The grind and shape of all the razors was identical but that one razor was made with different steel, and it made a world of difference.

I think if you start saying this razor is better than that brand wise you can get into trouble because there are so many things that people prefer from one to the other that affect the ultimate performance from both a physical and psychological standpoint. You also have to be careful about barbers opinions because many brands like Double Duck were really made and sold for the trade and these brands had salesmen who went from shop to shop peddling their wares so very often if you went into a shop you would often times see the same handful of brands. It might be a cost factor for the barber I don't know.

I can tell you this. I have about 100 razors of all brands and grinds and sizes and I classify my razors as either giving an excellent, outstanding or exceptional shave. They all shave wonderfully so its like splitting hairs (ha ha) between them but the exceptional category is a razor where if you were blindfolded and someone shaved you with it and you didn't know you were being shaved you could never tell a razor was going down your face that's how smooth and sharp it is. The other categories, well you can feel the razor working on your face to various degrees. Now I can change an excellent shaver to an outstanding one if I'm willing to put in enough time on the hone but no matter what I do I can't make an outstanding shaver an exceptional one. Its something the razor either has or doesn't and that's it. Of all my razors I would say probably 25% are exceptional razors and that cuts across brands. I have about 20+ ducks and they all shave wonderfully but only about 25% are exceptional.

So what makes a razor exceptional? Balance, the feel in the hand, good QC with the blade, good manufacturing, good steel. Who knows maybe these and maybe other factors.