Thread: If you had to do it all over again — would you still have gotten an Escher?

I've been posting a lot lately, but this was just something I'm curious about:

Going 500 a pop now for a 5x3 labelled on the bay.
Arks made a comeback, Jnats have stolen the obsession of many, naniwa 12ks, coticules, even other thuringians.

Is the Escher still worth it in 2016? What can a thuringian do to a maxed out coti? Is any thuringian any different?

Yes, each was worth what I paid, but I never paid near $500. In general, I feel that most thuringians will improve most coticules, but they both can make great edges.



Then again, part of that belief may be because I paid more, on average, for the thuringians!

I have a few naturals in my box of hones. The biggest thing that seems to change for me is the feel of the edge for lack of better words. They all shave similar when well finished, as in they cut whiskers effectively and efficiently, but do not all feel the same on my face. I have only two Eschers and they are pretty much the same. I have three Coticules and they are all different. The others I have are all one ofs so I cannot compare from one edge to another of the same type. They can all get pricey from time to time.

I had a labeled escher. Loved it, but it was a 6x1.5 iirc. I ended up selling it to get another jnat. Then I bought a 9x2 thuringian. Love that one too, but I find myself going to jnats 100% of the time in the last year. The price tag for a large, labeled escher is not worth it my eyes. You could get a sweet jnat for that kind of money, and be much happier. All my opinion of course, others will likely disagree.

With the exception of one NOS Escher, still in original wooden box, labels and ink stamp on the stone intact, which I paid slightly more than $500.00 for, my other 3 stones were half that price, and IMO, have never failed to put the nicest, softest shaving edge on all of my razors, especially using them to refresh a razor.

I'm a firm believer as echoed in another post by JimmyHAD, that a finish on a natural, followed by thorough stropping on linen, felt, and leather, produces the nicest edge for me personally, never followed by CROX.

Personally, I never use my old crox pasted strop, unless I'm lazy, just to easy and the results are so superior to do a touch up on an Escher.

YMMV.

Originally Posted by J743

I've been posting a lot lately, but this was just something I'm curious about:

Going 500 a pop now for a 5x3 labelled on the bay.
Arks made a comeback, Jnats have stolen the obsession of many, naniwa 12ks, coticules, even other thuringians. I'LL

Is the Escher still worth it in 2016? What can a thuringian do to a maxed out coti? Is any thuringian any different?

An Escher, Thuringen, has many different colors and grades. They can be learned fairly quickly. The hard work should have been done on the lower grit hones. I am happy to have my Thuringen.
I bought and found many hones. I am happy I have mine. JMO.
~Richard

Simply, No. I paid too much for one a few years ago but was fortunate that the market was such that I sold it for a small profit. Honestly, it did not add anything to my CH12K 100 lap finish.

Originally Posted by kelbro

Simply, No. I paid too much for one a few years ago but was fortunate that the market was such that I sold it for a small profit. Honestly, it did not add anything to my CH12K 100 lap finish.

I'm guessing that if you sold it for a profit then you paid slightly under market value. In any event, we all find our preferred edge. If you really want to know what this hone or that hone can do, have someone with skills and the hone you are looking at to put an edge on a razor for you. If you fall in love then buy one and learn how to use it.

Originally Posted by Phrank

With the exception of one NOS Escher, still in original wooden box, labels and ink stamp on the stone intact, which I paid slightly more than $500.00 for, my other 3 stones were half that price, and IMO, have never failed to put the nicest, softest shaving edge on all of my razors, especially using them to refresh a razor.

I'm a firm believer as echoed in another post by JimmyHAD, that a finish on a natural, followed by thorough stropping on linen, felt, and leather, produces the nicest edge for me personally, never followed by CROX.

Personally, I never use my old crox pasted strop, unless I'm lazy, just to easy and the results are so superior to do a touch up on an Escher.

YMMV.

Im not a fan of paste either. I just like my coti too much!

Do eschers pop up in antique stores ever? Might have to check that out. Much better than eBay hunting. Easier to find but I feel like the price is just too outrageous.

Originally Posted by RezDog

I'm guessing that if you sold it for a profit then you paid slightly under market value. In any event, we all find our preferred edge. If you really want to know what this hone or that hone can do, have someone with skills and the hone you are looking at to put an edge on a razor for you. If you fall in love then buy one and learn how to use it.

That was several years ago. Thankfully, the market moved up during the time that I owned it. Had I held it until today, I could have doubled!

Plenty of hones (over 20). Multiple strops. Plenty of experience/skill (over 35 yrs). I get fantastic edges from many different combinations and enjoy experimenting with different progressions. Nothing wrong with the Escher edges. They were great. I have just been able to duplicate or better them with hones that were much less expensive.

Maybe I'm getting to be more of a minimalist in my old age. I traded in my twin turbo V8 BMW 550i in on a new 3.5L Nissan Altima SL and have no regrets. OK, maybe a little regret