Thread: Shops in London selling straights?

I just don't understand why anyone would expect to walk into a high street shop and get a decent choice of razors from one manufacturer let alone different manufacturers - it just doesn't work like that. All the main manufacturers are still nothing more than cottage industries that are reliant on the same few staff for whatever quality they turn out.

If you want choice, the internet is the only place you will find it - and even then no-one has the stock they would like. In my opinion, you are much better off buying something on the classified section of the various forums or a half decent blade from EBay or wherever and having it restored - and I'll bet the restorers are quoting a lead time as well.

Originally Posted by UKRob

I just don't understand why anyone would expect to walk into a high street shop and get a decent choice of razors from one manufacturer let alone different manufacturers - it just doesn't work like that. All the main manufacturers are still nothing more than cottage industries that are reliant on the same few staff for whatever quality they turn out.

If you want choice, the internet is the only place you will find it - and even then no-one has the stock they would like. In my opinion, you are much better off buying something on the classified section of the various forums or a half decent blade from EBay or wherever and having it restored - and I'll bet the restorers are quoting a lead time as well.

Excellent point! That's why I was saying aside from Revisor...it's just pure luck with any vendor having stock. Now to qualify that, there are new blades out there, just not popular models or sizes!! Currently, Revisor is pretty much you're only place for new blades...even then it's a wait.

And then you're right, there's E-Bay...and if you look carefully, there are some nice buys out there...I just grabbed a beautiful W&B 7/8 Celebrated Hollow Ground from E-Bay so less than half the cost of a new blade...was a gem, you just have to look!

I know you've been looking for a bricks and mortar store to actually see a razor that you want to buy but as previously mentioned here you will be severely restricting your choice.
Why not look at a couple of reputable online stores, particularly for maybe a really good vintage razor which will have its own bit of history.
The two I'd be happy to recommend would be Steve's Invisible Edge and Neil's the Strop Shop, they also give great advice and would be able to recommend a suitable starter razor for you.
Hope this helps

Originally Posted by UKRob

I just don't understand why anyone would expect to walk into a high street shop and get a decent choice of razors from one manufacturer let alone different manufacturers - it just doesn't work like that. All the main manufacturers are still nothing more than cottage industries that are reliant on the same few staff for whatever quality they turn out.

If you want choice, the internet is the only place you will find it - and even then no-one has the stock they would like. In my opinion, you are much better off buying something on the classified section of the various forums or a half decent blade from EBay or wherever and having it restored - and I'll bet the restorers are quoting a lead time as well.

Because I as yet do not know better

Originally Posted by Anthony1954

I know you've been looking for a bricks and mortar store to actually see a razor that you want to buy but as previously mentioned here you will be severely restricting your choice.
Why not look at a couple of reputable online stores, particularly for maybe a really good vintage razor which will have its own bit of history.
The two I'd be happy to recommend would be Steve's Invisible Edge and Neil's the Strop Shop, they also give great advice and would be able to recommend a suitable starter razor for you.
Hope this helps

Sorry guys it appears I haven't really made myself as clear as I thought i had.

I was after a bricks and mortar store

1. To see what it actually looks like in real life
2. Hold it in my hand
3. To feel weight differences
4. To see clearly the difference between a 5/8 a 6/8 a 13/16 etc etc etc
5. And to get an all round better idea for myself

That was my reason, as per previous posts I understand that the wonderful world wide web offers significantly greater choice and now have learned that there are significant wait times.

rowdi

I can well understand where you are coming from unfortunately that maybe nearly impossible to do. Physically seeing and handling a straight in a store may help a little in deciding on a razor but you never really know how it will feel in actual use even then.

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

rowdi

I can well understand where you are coming from unfortunately that maybe nearly impossible to do. Physically seeing and handling a straight in a store may help a little in deciding on a razor but you never really know how it will feel in actual use even then.

Bob

Thanks Bob

Originally Posted by rowdi

Sorry guys it appears I haven't really made myself as clear as I thought i had.

I was after a bricks and mortar store

1. To see what it actually looks like in real life
2. Hold it in my hand
3. To feel weight differences
4. To see clearly the difference between a 5/8 a 6/8 a 13/16 etc etc etc
5. And to get an all round better idea for myself

That was my reason, as per previous posts I understand that the wonderful world wide web offers significantly greater choice and now have learned that there are significant wait times.

Your welcome to pop around to my place (London N1) to have a browse.
I have razors from 4/8 upto 8/8. Near wedges to full hollow grinds. Barbers notch to square points.

Unfortunately, none are for sale but your welcome to browse

With the exception of custom razor makers and the US Hart razors, most of the current manufacturers that I can name are in Europe - Dovo, Revisor, Wacker, Thiers Issard etc. I'm deliberately leaving out the Chinese, Pakistan and Indian razors on the grounds of quality. Shaving with a straight is still very much a niche activity, consequently high street shops will not find it economical to have a wide selection of razors and those that they do carry tend to be from the same manufacturer as you found out.

I can understand your desire to see and feel before you buy but the range of possibilities is just so big that it's not going to happen. Consider just these variables - blade width, grind, toe shape, spine thickness, overall size, type of scales etc. and then ask the staff in the shops you looked in just how many razors they sell a week. I'd guess there's no way they stock everything.