Thread: Does cost of straights make for a better shave?

Originally Posted by 59caddy

i thought this would be a good topic for some of the members to comment on.
i see a lot of straights going for big bucks, such as fili's and dubl ducks and such. i know some have questions in regards to how the cost relate to a great shave. I myself have both lower cost and higher cost straights. i do get great shaves from all price ranges. for example, i have a dovo and a gold dollar and both give a great shave.
your comments are welcome and i think will be helpful to all(especially newer members)

It's only priced that way due to amount of work involved.
I reckon if demand wasn't so high for high priced items the price would inevitably drop but not for long while.

In the end it's all about aesthetic values. Some people prefer ornate and ostentatious while others like simplicity.
I don't have 4000 razors in my arsenal but I've yet to see someone report their Tamahagane or even pattern welded steel shave better than the rest.

For all intents, pattern welded steels are not necessarily better than a mono steel of similar carbon content if both are heat treated correctly. The difference is only aesthetic.

Taken from here

More over, you'll never catch me paying 300-400 on Dubl Duck or Filarmonica. Masses have raging hard-on for them. But the scales on the latter are boring. I wouldn't know this because I don't have it on hand.

People like different things and that's given. They like to hunt and gloat and when they acquire hard to find items. Usually it stems from whether or not you've got the money to dispose and the other person you're competing against has depleted their funds. In all honesty, if someone has all the money to burn that's great. It's their own money and I can respect that as I wouldn't want someone to dictate me what I should like or not like.

That said, for the 300-400 I'd prefer to spend that on a Japanese straight. I wish I'd started out with a JDM straight-it's a lot more forgiving and easier learning curve-not to say I had horrid time with western. To each his own. JDM FTW!

Originally Posted by Philadelph

There will never be an answer to this. It's like anything else in life- does a more expensive toothbrush do a better job cleaning your teeth? Does a more expensive brand of shoes fit better than a cheap pair to every person who tries them? There are always examples of both sides of the argument. Anyone ever try that $30,000 damascus straight?

No but I owned a 30k rally car that equaled if not surpassed the performance of modern day Ferrari's.

I shaved with a couple of 9$ polish wapienicas. It was smooth as hot butter. Iwan (a collector of high end razors) stated that they put his Livis and TI to shame.

Incidentally, you'd like the wapi. They were made by the communists, which proves that they got it right at least some of the time I honed a couple of them for other members (still have 2 NOS wapis tucked away). They are extremely easy to hone, and provide superb shaves.

So no, cost does not make a shave better. A mint duck will cost hundreds of $, yet shave no better than the 50$ duck with the scuffed scales.

And honestly... I can't bring myself to pay hundreds of dollars for a razor. I'll buy on ebay and restore them myself. I do have a pair of near mint joseph rodgers blades in ivory, and even that was only 100$ (goodwill on the part of the seller + the ivory needs mending).

I wanted to shave with damascus razors but didn't have the money, so now I am making them myself and selling them after 1 shave because I really don't need dozens of blades.

The only razor I would consider spending over a 100$ on is a Mappin Lancet point. Not because it is so much better than my other shavers (probably not) but because it just appeals to me.

Originally Posted by Bruno

Incidentally, you'd like the wapi. They were made by the communists, which proves that they got it right at least some of the time

oh-oh, I do see a pattern here, despite the name the gold dollars also happened to be commie razors (may be because now they've got all the american gold dollars).
i wonder when we'll get a hold of the cuba's awesome production too - that could be the crown in scott's collection

i would argue the case is pretty similar to cars :

if u wanna buy a cheap car, and when i mean cheap i mean it, you better to have a lot of knowledge about cars.
if u wanna buy a 10$ razor, you better know what u can get from that razor.

On the other hand, if u are new to cars, try to hit something in the middle, for the hassle-free and mind peace.
Same for razors
If you are new, stay away from anything that doesn't have a CLEAR reputation.
A brand new honed Dovo for 90-110 $ would be a good deal and a good start.
if u wanna pay less, u better KNOW why
and if u wanna pay more the same.

Originally Posted by gugi

oh-oh, I do see a pattern here, despite the name the gold dollars also happened to be commie razors (may be because now they've got all the american gold dollars).
i wonder when we'll get a hold of the cuba's awesome production too - that could be the crown in scott's collection

Who knows, they may win after all
Why I feel a consipracy theory coming up: The razor maker lobby are the ones responsible for the continued economic US blockade.
Or maybe the corn farmers because the cubans refuse to make their most EXCELLENT rum with HFCS instead of natural cane sugar

I have a few cheap razors and a few mid priced ones - but they are all good (as in quality). I prefer style of blade rather than maker, meaning I prefer shaving with a 6/8 roundpoint to a 6/8 straight point. Having said that, my GD is still my best razor considering the price/edge/utility ratio.

The honing means much more than the brand name and price.
My Mastro Livi shaves great as does my Wackers and my $5 Berg....

Stick to the razors on the good list in the Wiki and avoid the bad and you should be ok, as long as the razor is in good shape.

Yes. Free razors shave best.

Originally Posted by JimR

Yes. Free razors shave best.

lol !! wow

i like it !