Small Perfect Diamond or...

I asked this question once, whether you would choose a small diamond free of imperfections or a larger diamond with imperfections but clearly more noticeable due to its size. So I turn this to razors: would you rather have a mint or near mint condition, let's say Greaves Sheffield razor or a dozen or so fully servicible buffer queens, I think they are called? You can fill in the Greaves with any big Sheffield as they now seem (and maybe for some time) to be hitting the stratosphere in price on the bay.

Buy the best you can afford,glad I did when I still had a job,The razors I have today in my rotation would never happen today:(

Best to get both! Greaveses have souls, you know. Big and smaller, the steel is great.
It's about time they were getting the recognition amongst more famous antique brands, IMO

Not a good comparison because a razor can be restored to look like new (most of the time) and perform that way.
A big cheap diamond is just a chunk of carbon full of imperfections and you can't do anything about that.

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Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Not a good comparison because a razor can be restored to look like new (most of the time) and perform that way.
A big cheap diamond is just a chunk of carbon full of imperfections and you can't do anything about that.

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And, once you've given that broad the diamond, she'll only want another one... bigger, and more expensive. Stick with straight razors! :-) (and keep the carbon in the steel, where it belongs)

When I first got into it I'd buy razors that I wouldn't give a second look to six months into it. Now the three things I look at in a 'vintage' razor are, condition, condition and condition. The diamond doesn't have to be 'perfect' but it has to be real close. :beer2:

I'll politely disagree, most razors are not restored to look like new. For one thing a lot of us do not know what a razor looked like coming out of the factory in the 19th century. I do agree that they can be made to perform as good as new. Once you have lost a crisp edge (not the cutting edge) anywhere on the razor you are never going to get close to new again.

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Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Not a good comparison because a razor can be restored to look like new (most of the time) and perform that way.
A big cheap diamond is just a chunk of carbon full of imperfections and you can't do anything about that.

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For me, I prefer my 9/8 Greaves more then the dozen or so smaller ones in my collection. Don't get me wrong, some of the smaller ones not as perfect shave amazing as well, that's why I kept them.

At the end of the day though, the Greaves would be the last man standing if the ship went down :)

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Originally Posted by ZeroCool

For me, I prefer my 9/8 Greaves more then the dozen or so smaller ones in my collection. Don't get me wrong, some of the smaller ones not as perfect shave amazing as well, that's why I kept them.

At the end of the day though, the Greaves would be the last man standing if the ship went down :)

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i dont think the point is the size of the razor. i have only just got my first nos razor a week ago which if i had to chose between owning all my others or that one, i would have to keep my nos feon 13/16 square point.

That's true Bombay. Although my Greaves isn't nos, it was restored to what I feel better then original (or so I guess since I haven't seen a nos greaves). That and the way it shaves puts it at the top of my list.

I'd love to get my hands on a quality nos anything one day to see what it would have been like.

Interesting question. I have a couple of Gold Dollars to modify and play with, but I am selling them off and will probably be buying a 8/8 Revisor with the money.

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Originally Posted by WW243

I'll politely disagree, most razors are not restored to look like new. For one thing a lot of us do not know what a razor looked like coming out of the factory in the 19th century. I do agree that they can be made to perform as good as new. Once you have lost a crisp edge (not the cutting edge) anywhere on the razor you are never going to get close to new again.

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Notice I said most razors and "can be".

Most of the razors in use are not 19th century wedges but are pieces from various parts of the 20th century and you can pretty much tell what they looked like when new. Many of the old catalogs are available. The question is do you have the skill and equipment and inclination to take them back to look new.

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Originally Posted by ZeroCool

That's true Bombay. Although my Greaves isn't nos, it was restored to what I feel better then original (or so I guess since I haven't seen a nos greaves). That and the way it shaves puts it at the top of my list.

I'd love to get my hands on a quality nos anything one day to see what it would have been like.

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Look no further ..... not one, but two in the coveted double case ! The bottom one with the slight spiderweb on the blade has been honed by me, and is a wonderful shaver. The other appears to be NOS and may never have seen water since it was quenched at the Sheaf Works. :chapeau

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Great looking pair of Greaves Jimmy, give me NOS everyday, there's something so satisfying about honing something and shaving with something for the very first time knowing you are the only one to do so a great feeling for me.

I prefer to get high quality and grade blades in good unrestored condition. They need not have fancy gold wash etc. decoration. Light restoration is OK as long as it does not look restored. The blades can have some minor wear but no abuse issues unless a rare desirable razor, such as my 7/8 Torrey which shows some light pitting only on the back of the spine.

Heavily buffed blades showing rounded edges and pitting I pass on, although they may shave well if the geometry and blade edge are OK. They may be good razors for noobys on a tight budget who are learning to hone. Persons committed to SR use may get more satisfaction from fewer, but higher quality razors. Take your time, be selective, and enjoy the journey. Quality has no regrets.

I prefer to use newly made or close to mint vintage razors. I do not use vintage NOS because I would feel badly about putting wear on and marring a piece of history. I mostly leave NOS for collectors.

HTH

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Originally Posted by celticcrusader

Great looking pair of Greaves Jimmy, give me NOS everyday, there's something so satisfying about honing something and shaving with something for the very first time knowing you are the only one to do so a great feeling for me.

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see i get a great feeling thinking what kind of man used the same razor i am holding in my hands now, but when i see the perfect hairline bevel on my nos razor, thats what ultimately does it for me

I'm new and on a reasonable budget. I have the equipment to restore and make scales etc. So I buy Ebay razors and provided I didn't mess up the purchase and get a dud (Yes I've done that) I restore them. I like shaving, I like a comfortable shave, but since I only have one face and I can't shave more than once a day the restoration gives me something to do, it relaxes me and I get great satisfaction bringing something back to life. I also agree with Bombay in that when I shave with a razor that was obvioulsy used by others I get a great sense of nostolgia. I'd go with the 12 less than perfect razors.