Thread: New Steel vs Vintage Steel

So for the last month, I've been trying a little experiment, and tonight, I think I came to a conclusion, at least for myself.

I've been swapping between using new blades, like a Revisor, new TI's, Dovo, against using vintage blades, old TI, W&B, Wilkinson, etc...and it seems to me, I get a far superior shave from the vintage steel in the older blades.

What settled it for me absolutely was my last two shaves, both razors had been recently professionally honed.

The vintage blade left my face feeling smooth as silk, and I went for a BBS shave, WTG, XTG and all over ATG. Face was like glass. 9/10

Today, I used a new production blade, did the same BBS shave routine, and while the shave is fine, comfort level was much lower, and the result was not consistent all over the face, could feel some stubbly areas where I couldn't with the vintage steel. I'd rate the shave 7.5/10.

This may be obvious to some members here, but would like to hear opinions and whether the manner of making the type of steel used in these vintage blades is truly lost, or what other factor, at least IMO, seems to be a significant difference in the shave of vintage vs new production razors?

Cheers!

Don't know a thing about different steels nor do I have many current manufacture razors, exactly one in a field of 30 odd vintage ones. Can't say I have felt any conclusive and significant difference between old and new. On any given day some shave better than others but there are too many variables for me to draw any conclusions.

Bob

All my razors are vintage too, so I cannot really compare.

I have both. At this point I'm on the fence because so much of it is mood dependent, I can shave two days in a row with the same blade and get a different effect each day. The difference between a very fine shave and a extra smooth shave is very small. It is close enough that I couldn't call it. Happy shaving!

Originally Posted by Phrank

So for the last month, I've been trying a little experiment, and tonight, I think I came to a conclusion, at least for myself.

I've been swapping between using new blades,...(and)...the vintage steel .... blades.
....snip...

Your personal shave test results are the result of a long list of things.
Your face, your whiskers, the way you strop, the way you lather....

The key is that what works for you is the right answer for you.

One important point is for a razor to have survived 100 years
multiple people needed to like it. If it was a stinker it would
be used to cut musket patches, leather, hammer nails... make
rusty red paint.

Some knife folk comment that old steel is often better
than new steel. Something about slow strain relief and
the fact that hardened steel is not stable at room temperature
and 100 years of room temperature lets the grain mellow.

Me I find good modern steel to be darn fine stuff.

Keep them all in rotation and refresh them on a modern
ultra fine waterstone (approx 10K) gently once a month
or so and they will all shine for you.

I also have only vintage, so I can't comment. But I'd like to stay tuned to this thread. very interesting.

Great post. I have been wondering the samething about old vs new. It will be interesting to see what others have to say. I can not chime in on this discussion since I have not acquired a vintage blade yet.

First thing I thought of was blade width and personal technique between the razors you listed. If you have honed a million razors I would think you may be able to tell the difference. But the shave test has too many variables to be able to feel the difference in my opinion. Psychological difference maybe, yes.

Steel does not equal steel.

The alloy compositions you are comparing might have significant differences. While time may be a factor, the hardness and composition combined with suitability of the honing techniques, may be far greater contributions to what you observe.

Just a speculation, but I'd guess that a great razor from 100 years ago has a better chance of surviving and finding a home in your rotation...are the new razors you are using "great razors"? Will they be recognized as such in 100 years?

This is a tough one for me. There are definite differences between some so my razors in how they feel but I don't know if the age of the steel has anything to do with it. And I probably wouldn't be on the fence if it were not for my Revisor 7/8. I've described it before as feeling like vintage steel. Mt two TIs are great but they feel somewhat different than my other vintage razors. Ok so the grind is heavier on the TIs but not heavier than my W&B FBU. Yet the FBU feels different. It's a mellowness that the new ones seem not to have....except for the Revisor 7/8. There may be a difference but I'm not sure that age is the factor.