Thread: Coti vs Escher

I know this is just my judgement and subjective. I had been trying to decide if I wanted to get an Escher or not. So I did a cheek to cheek comparision. I had two razors both around 1800 with similar steal properties from Sheffield. I had one which I honed on my coti ( I am new to this so I would think others could do better) and one that was honed by a razor restorer on an escher. I then shaved with both about two times. Stropped on royal linen and horse hide strop between shaves. Then last night I shaved the right side with the escher blade and the left side with the coti blade.

Conclusion from all use. I cannot tell the difference between the two (maybe the coti glided a bit smoother not sure). So I think I will stick with coti unless the left side grows out quicker than the right. Doesn't seem that way yet though. I guess if I found an Escher cheap Ha ha then I might pull the trigger.

Hope this doesn't cause any arguments. I know others have their preferences I just had to judge for myself.

There is so much of this, the hone comparison, that is wildly full of variables and personal preference. It is good to establish some guide lines to help you select items down the road. It seems for me that over time as things change, and they always to so do my tastes. As long as you are having fun and getting great shaves you are doing it right.

It's an impossible question to answer really, but I would say that if you are very happy with the coti and notice no difference, just put your cash towards something else you enjoy, or save it for a rainy day. You may just have a really exceptional example of a coti. Almost all can be shaved off of comfortably, but some really are every bit as fine as a high level finisher.

I have both and I don't use my thuris much. The thuri or escher if you will. is a little easier to finish on and edges off of it shaves a little closer. But to me the coticule is smoother.

So must of the time I don't bother with the thuri. But they are excellent finishers. I just happens to like my coticules a little better.

It is about finding what you like. Once you do, and you're satisfied, it is just curiosity, or acquisition disorder after that. I like both, but give the edge to the Escher (pun intended)

From A.B. Moler's Barber Manual, circa 1929 ;

I figure from all of this old literature that 100 years ago, barbers never used a hone to do anything other than limit the width of the bevel, and that the hone was never worked to the edge.

Not that such a thing is a real revelation, but almost nobody hones that way now. We all blast the edge off.

Also the handling of the razor after the endfinishing on hones could be essential for the shave experience. Whereas for me personally stropping on Linen is a must for most coticule edges, it could sensible degrade a Thuri edge. Try the thuri edge only stropped with leather.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

It is about finding what you like. Once you do, and you're satisfied, it is just curiosity, or acquisition disorder after that. I like both, but give the edge to the Escher (pun intended)

From A.B. Moler's Barber Manual, circa 1929 ;

Personally, I have no preference, I enjoy the edges from both, but agree, I would give the "edge" to the Escher.

On another note of interest, I was just rummaging around my razor stuff and had a look at my Swaty Barber hone....it's called, "The Swaty" and on the box and the instructions, it says it was made by Droescher??? Did they make barber hones as well? A Barber's Hone with an Escher edge???

Originally Posted by rideon66

I know this is just my judgement and subjective. I had been trying to decide if I wanted to get an Escher or not. So I did a cheek to cheek comparision. I had two razors both around 1800 with similar steal properties from Sheffield. I had one which I honed on my coti ( I am new to this so I would think others could do better) and one that was honed by a razor restorer on an escher. I then shaved with both about two times. Stropped on royal linen and horse hide strop between shaves. Then last night I shaved the right side with the escher blade and the left side with the coti blade.


Conclusion from all use. I cannot tell the difference between the two (maybe the coti glided a bit smoother not sure). So I think I will stick with coti unless the left side grows out quicker than the right. Doesn't seem that way yet though. I guess if I found an Escher cheap Ha ha then I might pull the trigger.

Hope this doesn't cause any arguments. I know others have their preferences I just had to judge for myself.

A great edge is a great edge. Not easy to identify what stones or method was used to get there when shaving.

Yes, a great edge is exactly that. I was very satisfied as I bought and learned my 12k Naniwa. A great finisher, IMO.
The gift of the Escher from a friend is truly appreciated. I probably would never have ponied up for one.
Still, on most old blades, it seems to impart a nice smoothness right away. Don't even waste my time on it for certain hard steels, though. Too lazy to learn the coticule, I suppose.

Indeed, all honing/talk thereof is mostly subjective, JMO.