Thread: Sheffield or Solingen the honing difference?

For the last twenty years or so I have shaved with only one razor, a Boker Red Injun 101 that was my great grandfathers. I maintained it with a Swaty barbers hone and a 2" Illinois strop nothing else. Then I started browsing this site a few years ago and RAD hit me along with the restoration bug etc. I started accumulating a rather large rotation and learning the basics of honing (thanks Lynn you opened a new dimension in sharpness for me, you are truly the Yoda of straights) I thought German razors were it; until I discovered Sheffields. Cutting to the chase , does anyone out there think that the honing is easier , the edge lasts longer and the shaves are smoother with English blades? Maybe it's my imagination but I don't have anything German in my collection ( DD's,Bokers, Henckels,) that compares. Is the steel composition any different, the forging process? I don't think I do anything different with how I use or maintain them. They are pretty much all the same blade widths and types. Just one of those things that make you go hmmm. Interested to hear if anyone else has had the same experience.

Actually, there can be a huge difference not only in country of origin but in the time of manufacture. I have several razors of the same manufacturer that span at least 100-150 years and in some cases I can tell the difference in how long those edges last. At least that is how I perceive it, it could all be just my imagination once again running away with me.

I find my Sheffield razors come out smoother than my Solingen's
The germans seam harsher on the face even with the same honing and finishing process
Might be in my mind also but when asked a long term str8 user a similar question about my honing skills if I was doing something wrong as some blades felt harsher he also claimed that the Sheffield's usually kept a smoother feel

I've read quite a few posts proclaiming the Sheffield edges were smoother than Solingen razors. I wonder if it doesn't have more to do with the grind ? A wedge is generally a Sheffield product and since around 1850 (according to Robert Doyle) the Germans perfected full hollow grinding and began to dominate the market. Some of the razors I've honed, be they Sheffield, Solingen, Swedish, were easy jobs that came good fairly quickly , while others were frustrating so and so's that gave me a rough time. I think it depended more on the condition of the edge to begin with.

Some guys that I know won't even shave with a full hollow anymore while others can't understand how anyone would prefer a wedge. Anyway, if it is full hollow I tend to pass nowadays, preferring 1/2 hollows, 1/4 hollows or wedges. I guess they do feel smoother to me, wherever they originate from. Different strokes for different folks.

I'm by no stretch a honemeister, but the Sheffields in my rotation range from 8/8 W&B's to 5/8 Joseph Rodgers (my new favorite shaver) ,wedges ,full hollows, half, thru the gamut and every one is a joy to sharpen with little effort. Maybe I've just been lucky in my acquisitions but I really am using them over some fine german razors that I still appreciate. Ain't this a great hobby/obsession

The Monkey Wrench


Many of the German razors were/are made with Sheffield steel

Originally Posted by gssixgun

The Monkey Wrench


Many of the German razors were/are made with Sheffield steel

Hmmmm, I would need to see some historical writings on that. If anything it would be the other way around. England doesn't have all the materials to produce a quality steel, they do have coal tho. During both wars, England depended on steel from her allies to sustain manufacturing of war needs.

Originally Posted by guitstik

Hmmmm, I would need to see some historical writings on that. If anything it would be the other way around. England doesn't have all the materials to produce a quality steel, they do have coal tho. During both wars, England depended on steel from her allies to sustain manufacturing of war needs.

Here is just one really fast example..

Vintage Straight Razors : Klass : German Hollow Ground : Sheffield Steel : Faux Horn


Just Google "German Ground Sheffield Steel" and some variations of that theme you will find hundreds if not thousnads of German Razors stamped "Sheffield Steel" and multiple variations of it.. to really make it confusing is that much of the German and English steels were actually made from Swedish ore.

Which goes back to what Jimmy posted about most of the difference in feel coming from Grind, Hardening, and Temper rather than type of steel


You might also look at some of the New Production razors Dovo, Wacker, Revisor, Aust, IIRC some of them did a few razors with Sheffield Steel. I want to say even TI outta France did some but I don't stay on top of new production razors quite as much as Vintage so I might be mistaken there..

I just recently noticed (Sheffield steel) stamped on German hollow ground razors on the bay. I am using some Sheffields right now and they do feel smoother. I think a lot of this is due to the weight of the blade and the grind puts that smooth blade face against your skin more. My habit is DDs and with very light pressure I get a nice smooth feel out of them too. As for staying sharp I could not compare the 2 as I don't use Sheffeilds that much but when it comes to honing Yikes. The hone wear on a wedge or near too it will add some time to the process without a doubt. To sum it up , your going to have to add more factors than steel to come up with an answer to your questions.

This may be why > " I don't think I do anything different with how I use or maintain them. "

I did a little digging and it seems that I need to brush up on my history a little more. From the 17th to the 19th century, England imported the majority of her steel from Sweden and Russia but the development of better more efficient iron and steel manufacturing cause the numbers to swing the other way in the later 19th century.