Do you own one or more special razors?

Hi guys,

first of all, I hope this hasn't been asked before. If so, feel free to hit me against the head. (Not too hard pls)
And second I hope the question won't blow up in my face.
Being a beginner, I only own 1 razor, ok I admit, also 2 cheaper ones to practice honing when I get to the point.
I don't have RAD yet, but I do have the intention to get a few razors, just a few ones. :p
I'm very curious to see some of the special razors owned by you guys.
The reason a blade is special for you is personal and to me it doesn't matter if the blade is very rare and costs a lot or maybe the scales are made out of the bone from an arm you lost, a gift from someone dear to you,...
Beautiful razor or beautiful story, all the same to me.
I do realize that those with 100 razors might have 20 special ones then I would like to see them all 20 :D

Why this question? I just want to learn a bit more about rare and special razors, you never know what you'll find at a flea market :)

I hope you all are willing to show the special ones. A bit of information and why it is special would be very much appreciated. IMO, all posts without pics are worthless :bow

Once I get a special razor, I'll be sure to post it. My Dovo silversteel doesn't really fit...

Great question, Yves. I'm very keen to see what gems get posted here.

My first "Straight" was a Parker Shavette, I don't really use it much now, but I won't part with it. It comes travelling but thats it use wise, however I consider it my first straight razor. (Ok I know it's a shavette)

I also have a beaten up Greco 5/8 which I got from Larry at Whipped Dog, it was my first real straight. It's a bit rougher then my favourite but it still gets an outing. I won't part with that either. Definatel my first real straight.

I then have my favourite which is a 6/8 Dovo Bismarch, buttery smooth and fantastic to use. My wife and kids bought it for me for Christmas this year, so it's a keeper too.

I am also getting very familiar with a Gotta 6/8 extra hollow ground which was recently lent to me by a friend I met here. He didn't really like the Gotta, but I love it and the way it flexes and cuts. It's every bit as nice to use as my Bismarch. In fact I rotate it daily with the Bismarch. I really do love it.

So I don't have a "beautiful" razor as such, but I love shaving with them all. Some maybe not everyday I love them all. So I guess they are all special razors to me.

Like children, they are all special. ;)

Bob

I've gone a bit overboard with the collection...

Several TIs, several Tuckmars, a really pretty Louper (will post pics), several Dorkos, a Revisor, Hart Steel, Dovos, and a whole slew of other antique blades most of which are in outstanding condition.

I shave with and maintain all of them myself - right now I'm using the Hart Steel that I just honed up to perfection on my Shaptons... Great razor.

Unlike most, I have no favorite style - as long as the edge is good I can get a wonderful shave whether is a full hollow 6/8 or a thicker grind or narrower blade.

Now I need to break out the DSLR and my macro lens...

John

Buddel, Livi, Brian Brown x2, Robert Williams, Butch Harner, Joe Chandler and Charlie Lewis in customs. Mappin Lancet Edge, Revisor 8/8, Bengall 8/8, John Barber, Dovo MOP, Hart, LeGrelot Lord Barber, Wostenholm frameback and a few others.

My best one as of now is probably a Pal Waldmin razor made in the 1920s and scaled in pre-ban ivory. It's aged very well, and so the scales have turned a creamy yellow/ amber.

There are so many; In no particular order:

http://straightrazorpalace.com/membe...about-1910.jpg
Mastro Livi 8/8 Bergam Damascus

The razor that Josh Earl built for me.

The one that Bob Allman built for me.

The W&B that Glen restored.

The Genco Army & Navy that Max did “Army all the way”.

And a whole bunch of others.

Just my Palmeras,all in Ivory.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b3.../palmseven.jpg

[QUOTE=pixelfixed;1279251]Just my Palmeras,all in Ivory.

There's a misconception in the UK that Americans don't do satire. I never tire of seeing this picture.

[QUOTE=UKRob;1279260]

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Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Just my Palmeras,all in Ivory.

There's a misconception in the UK that Americans don't do satire. I never tire of seeing this picture.

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Quite the contrary - I think the American sense of humor is very similar to the British. After all, Eric Idle from Monty Python was a writer for Saturday Night Live in the 70's - many of those old SNL skits with Dan Akroyd and John Belushi were his work.

john

My customs are special to me.

Max Sprecher 8/8
Attachment 153796

Max Sprecher 10/8
Attachment 153797

Kenny Powell 8/8
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and the pair that still gives me chills when i hold them
John Weiss 33 strand Made betwin 1811 and 1823 with orginal coffin and scales in real t-shell. In new condition
Attachment 153794


and all my Swedish razors :D

I am so happy to share!!
These are the three 'special razors' that I have (I own 4 razors total).
I got all three from a true gentleman on this site...he knows who he is. That in and of itself makes each one VERY special.
The first is a Wade & Butcher near wedge that was practically given to me. I had Glen (gssixgun) restore it for me and she shaves better than she looks...and that's saying something since all can see she is gorgeous Special to me b/c it was my first experience with a wedge, a razor I now favor highly for its performance.
The second is a 6/8 Fontana 25 (see the Fountain). This razor is special to me b/c Fontana is a somewhat rare brand and it is the first razor used that broke the 5/8 barrier. I like the larger blades I do.
The third is a F & G Haag and Co near wedge 13/16 "Extra" (did I tell you I like them wedges big??). Special to me b/c the scales are tortoise shell (imitation?? not sure, but it sure looks slick). From this razor I've learned it doesn't need to be a "Name Brand" to perform well.
Thanks for letting me share my babies with you!
Attachment 153881
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All my razors are special. Some more than others..... simply put of course.

Let's see,

My F. Stuart Apps because it was more than likely owned by a Canadian Officer in WWI and I spent 12 years as a Canadian officer, recently retired for medical reasons. Also special because it took a lot of work to get shiny and pretty and shave ready.
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps13afc01d.jpg

This vintage King Cutter was the first straight razor I bought, learned to hone on and then learn to shave with. I do things backwards most of the time...
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps1b43f5d2.jpg

This W&B is just cool and I haven't seen one with engraving like it before, plus it is a phenomenal shaver.
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...pse5f7a363.jpg

This King Cutter had the factory edge on it when I found with zero hone wear, it was completely untouched. Been on the 4k/8k hone once to freshen up and finished with some CRox. Closest thing to a new vintage blade I have found.
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...psf442a3f1.jpg

I could probably keep going, they really are all special for different reasons.

There really is no such thing as RAD-lite... Haha!

As has been said, they're all special to me; like children. I have 7 razors at the moment and they all have a special place; however my Klas Törnblom is probably my most special; it was, until just recently, reserved for my Sunday shaves (now taken over by my Joseph Elliot). It has excellent Swedish steel and very nice very thin ivory scales.

Attachment 154088

Just this one, Swedish, one of my first of some years back and a great edge holder.

http://i756.photobucket.com/albums/x...e/DSCF0571.jpg
And, yes, those are one piece MOP scales.

~Richard

I have a I BARBAR that has been reconditioned. a H & J W King that has been reconditioned. both were basically given to me and I had them reconditioned. shaved with the barber but not the king yet. just like looking at them. the one I think the most of is the boker red injun 100. it was sent to me to practice honing and it actually shaves the best but because it was given to me money couldn't buy it. the rest of my razors are just RAD. saw them bought them now well it's like you buy a kid a toy for Xmas and he plays with the box.

A couple of my FAVORITES:

The first restore I did that I actually thought looked GOOD:

Round Point
Attachment 154116

The companion to the First, Square Point:
Attachment 154117

And this one is just plain SEXY:
Attachment 154115

The more I see them, the more I want to come across one, those Dubl Ducks are nice.

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Originally Posted by Chevhead

..And this one is just plain SEXY:...

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Yeah, love the curves on that...

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Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider

Yeah, love the curves on that...

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Thought the same.

Special because it was the very first I ever restored/rescaled...

Attachment 154129

Special because they are Custom Just for Me :)...

Attachment 154134

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My Great-Grandfather's Genco Grant. I never knew him but I have his razor. I always meant to send it to a honemeister when I was new but I'm glad I didn't because I honed it myself and think it's all the more special because of it.

Thanks Otto,
I particularly like to Maestro Livi and the Bob Allman.

A few. Out of all the ones that have been through my hands, I have a razor from each grandfather (a Joseph Rodgers and an unknown), my first razor that was a gift (Henckels), and a couple that I got a long time ago while flea marketing with my dad. Nothing special, but they mean a lot to me.

Ehhm Ehhm (throat clearing) C'mon guys, we all know the saying around here...without pics they don't exist...so lets see em :)

Here are a few of my favourites, but I could certainly add a few more to the family in the future.

Fon Golden Star full hollow 13/16

http://i713.photobucket.com/albums/w...5.jpg~original


Ryujin Tamahagane Dragon God 6/8

http://i713.photobucket.com/albums/w...7.jpg~original

Eiko YSK2 Yasuki steel full hollow 13/16

http://i713.photobucket.com/albums/w...6.jpg~original

Jose Monserrat Pau Filarmonica 14 full hollow 8/8

http://i713.photobucket.com/albums/w...8.jpg~original

Jose Monserrat Pau Filarmonica 14 Novodur Para Professional full hollow 8/8

http://i713.photobucket.com/albums/w...8.jpg~original

Max Sprecher quarter hollow 8/8

http://i713.photobucket.com/albums/w...5.jpg~original

Feather Artist club DX

http://i713.photobucket.com/albums/w...7.jpg~original

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Originally Posted by celticcrusader

Here are a few of my favourites, but I could certainly add a few more to the family in the future....

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I was almost going to say I'd give a finger for several of those razors, but then quickly realized I wouldn't be able to shave anymore...very, very nice collection there.

Three in particular... I have about a dozen razors that one of them are more expensive than all of these razors combined but these are my favorite.

Dovo bismarck: the first rescale job I did that I was really really proud of

Attachment 154158

Attachment 154159

DPRK (North Korea) razor: I'm korean and wanted a razor with korean lettering on it... Btw if anybody has another one of these and willing to sell it... Please pm me

Attachment 154160

Cheapie Chinese razor I reground, blued, then rescaled I felt like I made it all by myself.. (But really just extensively modified it)

Attachment 154161

I have and use three that I am very fond of. Once again I am sure I will get beat up for this but I love my cheepies, First and foremost is one of my Gold Dollars, this one cuts sweet and stays sharp. Second is A Wade and Butcher, not enough O's in smooth to describe it. And third, another Gold Dollar, this one took a lot of work on the hones to get it right but it does perform. I have others that need Honorable mentions. Believe it or not, my first razor, A cheep Pakistani. I honed it on my oil stones and it shaved very nice, holds an edge and makes a wonderful ringing sound as it shaves. It is kind of magical. another one I am fond of is a Keen Kutter. I got this one for about six bucks at a thrift store. None of the razors in my top 5 cost me more then 10 bucks, but did need a little effort to make them into something I like, love.

My daily shaver is my great-grandfather's razor... Nothing fancy, but it delivers a dependable shave.
The ivory-scaled Heljestrand given to me by my grandfather 30 years ago was stolen after ten years of wonderful shaves.
I also would love to get my hands on my father's Puma, given to him by his brother in 1946... beautiful blade and golden blond scales... no one seems to know where it went.

I just got this one from my father... It's never been used, never been honed, but for some reason he kept it for the past 20 years or so.
Now I should learn how to hone and see if I can fix it.
Attachment 154262Attachment 154263

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Originally Posted by Eco82

I just got this one from my father... It's never been used, never been honed, ...snip...
Now I should learn how to hone and see if I can fix it.
Attachment 154262

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Please have it honed by a person with a long and good track record!! That one is too nice to leave to chance. A new razor is a whole different barrel o' fish than a used one. I had one honed by a self styled expert, and the person had a problem and I got it back with years of hone wear.
Your razor is top shelf, please keep it that way!
Thanks
~Richard