Thread: VG10 steel, good choice?

I don't have any other experience with straight razors... so I can't compare... expect with a super el cheapo Chinese nobrand razor I bought long ago. I actually posted the ebay sale. (hence the same photos) As I didn't like the heavy scales. Some people might like it though I guess.

However, I believe the blade itself is excellent. The grinding is even... even though the photo seems to show an uneven grind... that is not the case. Its the poor lighting of the photos, playing tricks. Its an even grind. Also the material has a very nice clear metal sound when you tick on it... a nice clean ringing metal snappy sound. Not sure if that is good, but my guess is it is a good sign. Since the other cheap crappy razor I have doesn't have the same beautiful sound, just a dull sound only.

Does the sound tell you something about the quality of the metal?

I am planning to buy another one, without the heavy copper parts. I feel confident it will be nice as well, yet more balanced. The razor was very sharp out of the box. Just needed some stropping.

My favorite pitch: "meticulously based on traditional design."

Just to make sure... the comments that it looks like a pocket knife is because of those copperheads? If without those, then it looks like a normal straight razor. No?

Those copper parts weigh around 30 grams in total or so. Total weight of the razor is 115 gram. Without those parts I guess it would weigh 85 grams.

Originally Posted by Tierdaen

Yes, people don't associate brass ends (or thick liners) like those with razors normally.

Now that the origin of the razor is known to be Asia, there are many who will blindly malign it. I recommend ignoring them if you in fact got a good blade.

The pocket knife thing is also because the scales look heavy, like if a knife guy decided to make a straight.
The fact that the spine and the edge do not run in parallel is also an issue imo.
Those 2 things are genuine issues, not blind criticism.

Originally Posted by Kalecommando

Just to make sure... the comments that it looks like a pocket knife is because of those copperheads? If without those, then it looks like a normal straight razor. No?

Those copper parts weigh around 30 grams in total or so. Total weight of the razor is 115 gram. Without those parts I guess it would weigh 85 grams.

Generally, scales on a razor are pretty light. If you open a straight so that the scales are in line with the blade, you should be able to balance it with the tang on your finger. More or less anyway. If you slide your finger as close to the pivot pin as possible (from the blade side) and you still can't balance the razor, this means that the scales are too heavy.

Originally Posted by Kalecommando

Just to make sure... the comments that it looks like a pocket knife is because of those copperheads? If without those, then it looks like a normal straight razor. No?

Those copper parts weigh around 30 grams in total or so. Total weight of the razor is 115 gram. Without those parts I guess it would weigh 85 grams.

A standard full hollow 5/8 razor with proper balance weighs 40g±2g. Also correct grinding and honing means that the bevel should not extend inside the shoulder (the photographs are probably the stock photos that the seller is using for the listing, not of your particular razor, so yours is hopefully better).

You may have a good razor, but as others said the marketing spiel raises a lot of red flags - it shows clear incompetence as far as razors and steel are concerned.

Back to your original question - the steel is the least important factor in making razors - there are number of steels, some among the cheapest that are excellent choice for razors. And there are many steels that are very expensive that are a horrible choice. VG10 is fine for razors, but you're not going to get better performance than say 440C.
The heat treatment and the grinding are the critical components. Yes they depend on the steel, but more specialized steels are generally trickier to heat treat correctly and may be harder to grind.
All I am trying to say is that selecting razor primarily based on the steel, especially when you don't already have a few dozen razors and are looking for something very particular, is not the optimal choice.

Here we have a weight comparison of some vintage razors I own always nice to see these little details just gives you a better all round understanding of the straight razor in my opinion, as minor detail always builds the bigger picture.


Feather DX including the blade 53g
Vintage Japanese Fon Golden star 13/16 full hollow 51g
Vintage Japanese Orion Kikuboshi 13/16 half hollow 46g
Vintage Japanese "G' TOWA T" 7/8 full hollow 47g
Vintage Japanese Tamahagane Dragon God 13/16 Kamisori grind 49g
Vintage Japanese Gold Rex 13/16 full hollow 80g
Vintage Filarmonica especial Monserrat Pau 8/8 full hollow 64g
Vintage Sheffield 3000 special 6/8 full hollow 55g
Vintage Swedish Heljestrand Le Duc 13/16 quarter hollow 51g
Vintage German dubl Duck Goldedge 6/8 full hollow 38g
Vintage Max Otte German 5/8 extra hollow 31g

Originally Posted by Catrentshaving

I have a strong gut feeling that those scales really unbalance that razor. Good luck with it though and I truly hope it works out for you. Keep us posted on how it's performing after a few shaves.

I shaved with it again, after some good stropping. Much better this time round. But the scales are (too) heavy to my liking.

Those weights are for the steel only, or for the scales as well?

Originally Posted by celticcrusader

Here we have a weight comparison of some vintage razors I own always nice to see these little details just gives you a better all round understanding of the straight razor in my opinion, as minor detail always builds the bigger picture.


Feather DX including the blade 53g
Vintage Japanese Fon Golden star 13/16 full hollow 51g
Vintage Japanese Orion Kikuboshi 13/16 half hollow 46g
Vintage Japanese "G' TOWA T" 7/8 full hollow 47g
Vintage Japanese Tamahagane Dragon God 13/16 Kamisori grind 49g
Vintage Japanese Gold Rex 13/16 full hollow 80g
Vintage Filarmonica especial Monserrat Pau 8/8 full hollow 64g
Vintage Sheffield 3000 special 6/8 full hollow 55g
Vintage Swedish Heljestrand Le Duc 13/16 quarter hollow 51g
Vintage German dubl Duck Goldedge 6/8 full hollow 38g
Vintage Max Otte German 5/8 extra hollow 31g

Including the scales.