Thread: Woo hoo! Boker Elite is here!

Originally Posted by Ecl

I recall that Smallflower used to have a huge range of straights, and they're down now to a handful: 7 Dovo Grenadilles on their Amazon storefront, who knows what else is in the store. It looks like they're another victim of the Great Razor Embargo. I'm surprised Boker broke ranks and actually shipped some razors into the US market.

The Boker's factory edge was about 8/10, so it'll get a little face time with the Jnats and go into the rotation. I'm not wild about the nail-pins, but it'll be a long while before that works its way up to the highest priority item on my list.

The he only razor that I bought new that actually seemed shave ready was my TI. But it didn't come that way from TI. It was whipped into shape by the vendor. I'm assuming that this one will need a complete honing. It'll be a game time decision as to how it gets finished, Jnat or synthetic. I usually like to put the full hollows on my Jnat and the bigger grinds or tougher steels on the synthetic. I'm surprised to hear the you gave the edge 8/10. That's impressive for a new razor. Should be fun. My only wish is that it came in a straight point too. But Boker doesn't like the straight point much.

Even though Glenn pulled off the modification with success, it still makes me sad to see a spanish point on that razor...

Originally Posted by TwistedOak

Even though Glenn pulled off the modification with success, it still makes me sad to see a spanish point on that razor...

Oh man, that's just twisted!

rs,
Tack

#22 arrived today. I'm surprised that the edge seems so good. Looking forward to shaving with it. Under a microscope, it looks like it was finished on a natural stone based on the scratches.

Originally Posted by OCDshaver

#22 arrived today. I'm surprised that the edge seems so good. Looking forward to shaving with it. Under a microscope, it looks like it was finished on a natural stone based on the scratches.

I have heard that Boker finishes on an Escher. The actual edge quality seems to vary with the tech who did the final work though.

rs,
Tack

Wow. Sure is perty!

ps-I find it laughable when searching through "Boker Elite" search results and finding many product descriptions listing straight razors as "Folding Knives"

That's always ticked me.

Originally Posted by Tack

I have heard that Boker finishes on an Escher. The actual edge quality seems to vary with the tech who did the final work though.

rs,
Tack

Interesting you mention this, Valery, at Gentleman's Den, acquired an Escher...I'm very used to his finely skilled honing abilities, and when I'd received another 9/8 Celebrated, FBU, I noticed how smooth and unusually nice the blade was. Made mention of this to him, and his instant response was that was the first blade I'd tried done on his Escher! From my POV, I could really tell that the blade had been finished differently, and gained an appreciation as to why the Escher stones are so highly regarded.

Cheers!

A friend asked to see this so I thought I'd post it here too.

Very nice looking razor! Congrats. I have a new model Silver Steel coming to me at some point in the next month (once the vendor gets stock in.)

I received my "ELITE" yesterday (#215). I was expecting a very high quality product. I opened the razor and found that the quality was lacking. I have other Boker razors that are very well made and expected the same from an "ELITE" model at the cost of $270.00 msrp.
The razor is a beautiful piece of work, in idea. However, the scales were misaligned with the liners, by 1/2mm, and I had to remove two inches of glue from the scales, top and bottom.
The etching on the blade is nicely done with a good depth instead of the normal surface etch, again the edges of the etch are very rough, and feels like it could cut the skin when you rub across the surface. They need to be smoothed out to make a better finished product.
I cleaned the blade removed the glue, stroped and got a good shave. So it was shave ready out of the box.
If they had added jimps on the tang it could be worth the $270 msrp.
I don't think Boker has done justice to a, once remarkable razor.
Hope they improve the finished quality in the future.