The difference between shefields and german

Now this is my way of thinking . I recently got two razors off eBay. one is a Henkel 11/16 platinum and the other is a Bengal 6/8. I honed both last night. this morning I showed and prepped . I used the Henkel on one side of my face and neck and the Bengal on the other. Now I haven't shaved in 3 days so there was a good growth to cut. now I got a good shave with both but the Bengal was a little more comfortable. it seemed to cut through the beard easier and I guess it was due to the difference in weight and not so flexible. I know when I go on bike ride for a week or so the full wedge is what I go to. anyway that's what it seems to me I was wondering what others think. I do know that a friend once told me that he thought that between the 3 country's that made razors that he thought each had it's own different feel. I know compared to a lot of you guys i'm still a beginner but so far I've used blades from Germany England and USA. sizes from 8/8-4/8.

As the saying goes, ask this to 9 different people and you will get 10 different answers. Composition of the steel and processing techniques were certainly varied so you will get different material characteristics.

I am guessing the grind would make more of a difference in how the razor felt while shaving than where it was made.

Bob

Yes, I believe it was the same answer regarding new production steel vs. vintage steel, which was superior...the answer was the same, ask 9 different people get 10 different answers.

But interesting question nonetheless, and in my opinion, I prefer the Sheffield steel every time...next for me, since getting two Filarmonica's would be the steel in those blades, they truly are incredible razors, the fabled Toledo steel I believe...but the Filly razor would be the closest I've come to a very similar shave to a Sheffield, and if someone was to say to me they much preferred the Filly steel, I simply wouldn't disagree, could easily see that viewpoint.

My two cents....YMMV.

I'm sure there are differences between the steel and different grinds feel different when you use them but one shaving better than the other just means the one that doesn't shave as well hasn't been honed to it's potential. Also because one razor might be larger or heavier or shave a bit different might cause you to use it a tad differently which is why one may shave better.

I think if you were being shaved by a competent barber and he kept switching blades on you, you would notice the difference but in the end the shave would be the same.

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Originally Posted by thebigspendur

I'm sure there are differences between the steel and different grinds feel different when you use them but one shaving better than the other just means the one that doesn't shave as well hasn't been honed to it's potential. Also because one razor might be larger or heavier or shave a bit different might cause you to use it a tad differently which is why one may shave better.

I think if you were being shaved by a competent barber and he kept switching blades on you, you would notice the difference but in the end the shave would be the same.

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Now I wasn't saying the shave wasn't good but I could feel the difference between the blades. now it might have been because of the weight or grind I don't know but the Bengal did feel better. as far as honing I think I did one as good as the other but maybe not. I do know that the heavier the beard the more I like the heavier razor and when the beard is several days old I reach for the wedge with a smile. Now all this might just be in my head lord knows some thing needs to be.

for a true difference in steel perspective, you would need all other peramiters the same eg same size, grind, scales, hone finish etc
so the only difference was steel & I doulbt that I would be able tell the difference from each but you never know

Just to confuse the issue even more:

1). Some german razors were made with Sheffield steel ingots.
2). Some english razors were ground in Germany.
3). Both english and german razors used swedish iron ore to make the steel they used.

On top of that to establish anything meaningful you would have to adhere to at least some scientific methods, eg a meaningful number of users giving a large and varied cross sample, blind testing, using razors of similar weight, width and grind.

Other things that would have to be allowed for are what a person has already been told or read about and even the honing. E.g., would one person hone all the razors?

Anything falling short of these less than rigorous standards only has validity to the individual concerned, what he likes or prefers. This is of course valid as we buy to pander to our own likes, but in no way can such a stand be mistaken as an incontrovertible truth.

Regards,
Neil

There are two key differences between Sheffield and Solingen razors.

1. I don't speak or read German, so it's vastly easier for me to research Sheffield razors.
2. You'll find precious few Solingen razors made before 1860, but older Sheffields are plentiful.

I think I owned an 'incontrovertible' around 1977. It was a '65 VW bug with a sun roof. The sun roof blew off on a freeway and once I made sure it blew all the way off the road and would not present a hazard for other drivers, I kept on going with my kids shouting to me to go back and get it....I would not. From that day forward I was driving a VW incontrovertible rain or shine.

On a more serious response to this interesting thread I believe there is a one word answer: VARIABLES

Most subjective thing ever. Even if you had two of the exact same razor, two different people would probably have differing opinions on them.

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Originally Posted by kwlfca

Most subjective thing ever. Even if you had two of the exact same razor, two different people would probably have differing opinions on them.

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Also because, at least for vintage Sheffield and Solingen razors, most likely they were at least ground by different people.

I've held back on this one so far out of loyalty to both country's blades :shrug: But at the end of the day I think the Solingen blades have the edge, if only for their superior fit and finish. The 3 pin set-up of the scales, plus the consistency of grind puts me into the Solingen camp. That said, I have way more Sheffields than Solingens, and I'm a particular fan of Invictas and Bengalls. Although I have to say I haven't seen two Bengalls with exactly the same grind - I guess that's what makes them interesting.

I think what we're dealing with here is the difference between the manufacturing techniques: the Brits allowed their craftsmen to make razors to suit themselves while the Germans set a standard that their guys had to meet. Maybe that's why there are still some German razor manufacturers left and there aren't any British ones. I know there are other cultural differences here as well: after WWII Germany was broken and impoverished and nobody could afford Gillette razors and throw away blades, so perhaps they stuck to their tradition of straight razors as a result. The British on the other hand, while being broke at the end of the war, had already been introduced to the Gillette system and were keen to adopt it as a symbol of modernisation as prosperity returned.

The end result was no-one wanted to know about straights in England by the 1960s while German men were still buying them - as they are today.

Just my 2c worth.

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Originally Posted by rhensley

I do know that the heavier the beard the more I like the heavier razor and when the beard is several days old I reach for the wedge with a smile. Now all this might just be in my head lord knows some thing needs to be.

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You are not the first person to note this preference for a wedgier blade when shaving the first time for several days. The same comment has been made about people with particularly heavy beards. Try the same experiment with just one days growth and see if the outcome is the same.