shocked and stunned. have you ever

I bought this off eBay for the priceley sum of $6.79 VINTAGE CUT THROAT RAZOR / NORTON SPECIAL 1401 | eBay after giving it a new suit, which was really an experiment more than anything it turned out like this http://straightrazorpalace.com/custo...al-1401-a.html but that isn't really what this is about.

I finally got round to honing it over the past couple of nights and had a shave with it tonight and WOW just WOW!!

The blade is super skinny (I've not measured it, maybe someone with more knowledge will know what size it is) and I really was not expecting much and the only reason I used it was to see if it was shave ready before I put it back on the bay.........it won't be going back on the bay.

I started the usual way from my sideburns to the jaw and that first stroke was just wonderfull, the dam thing was just so so smooth I was completely shocked and just stared at it. Now my other razors are also nice to shave with (I only actually have 3 working razors, 4 now. One of which is pro honed and I enjoy them all but obviously I'm still a baby in this game) but this thing was something else. I finished the shave and the little skinny, almost lady like blade sliced through those whiskers like a laser leaving my face BBS and no razor burn what so ever.

I'm still in the learning process so I do normally have a bit of razor burn and I know its my technique that is at fault and not the razors. Maybe this blade just suits me for the stage I'm at in learning this fine art but I am absoulotley stunned and wasn't expecting this at all.

So have any of you also had this type of experience where you have been stunned at how nice a blade has performed when you were expecting it to be poor or just so?

Please share your shockingly good but unexpected razors :D

I looked at that razor and was interested, but then I saw they didn't post to the States. Congrats on finding a sleeper among the comatose and bringing it back to be among the living.

My most unexpected razor is the one I shaved with this morning. It was an eBay cheapie in reasonable shape with absolutely no markings anywhere on the blade or the scales. Had it honed 10 months ago and have only done linen/leather on it. Each time is so close to the first honed shave that I am still doing second looks at it. Almost a one pass shave each time.

I am wondering why you are shocked at the great shave it does say right there on the razor plain as day "SPECIAL" :p

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Originally Posted by gssixgun

I am wondering why you are shocked at the great shave it does say right there on the razor plain as day "SPECIAL" :p

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Lol my mother used to teach "special" children so when I see something that's "special" I think of them :y

Its a sad sad sad SAD day for me today. My unexpected joy had been replaced by unexpected sadness.

I went to grab this razor this morning to have a quick one pass shave just to confirm I wasn't imaging things and disaster struck. I left the blade open on a towel last night and when I picked it up this morning it must have snagged somehow on the towel. It didn't feel like anything significant but when I looked at the blade there it was..............a 1-2cm crack running from the toe.

To say I'm gutted is an understatement and as soon as I can wipe the tears away from my eyes I'll post a PIC of this horrendous accident :gth

Needles to say i m sure it will still be used but INA shorter form. Does shortening a blade change the whole character of a blade, are there any major drawbacks ?

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The only thing I have noticed when shortening a blade is it takes more passes to finish but it allows for a more delicate touch in the tricky areas. Just be careful when shortening it to keep the temperature down or you will alter the hardness of the blade. If you get the rainbow effect you humped the monkey.

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Originally Posted by Mastershake

The only thing I have noticed when shortening a blade is it takes more passes to finish but it allows for a more delicate touch in the tricky areas. Just be careful when shortening it to keep the temperature down or you will alter the hardness of the blade. If you get the rainbow effect you humped the monkey.

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I have cut the blade down, I think it hurt me more than the razor. I used a dremel with diamond blade to cut the blade down. I didn't want to take any chances with the HT and i really want to save what's left so I cut it held under cold water.

I need to shape it with a file now :(

The blade cracked from snagging on a towel? My guess is that the crack was already there and the unseen crack snagged on the towel and opened. There is not much on a round toe razor that can snag a towel.

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Originally Posted by Mastershake

you humped the monkey.

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Lol.... never heard that one!

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Originally Posted by ace

The blade cracked from snagging on a towel? My guess is that the crack was already there and the unseen crack snagged on the towel and opened. There is not much on a round toe razor that can snag a towel.

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Its possible, I certainly haven't noticed any cracks while restoring it though. It is a thin (and now much shorter), delicate blade so it wouldn't take much abuse. It did feel just like a slight tug when I picked it up off the towel so I was very surprised to find the massive crack !

I've been looking at mini blades on eBay so on the bright side I have one now, not quite how I would have liked to acquire a mini blade but I just have to make the best of a bad situation :(

Scales look silly now so its another suit as well lol

Chop the scales to match and run with it. It looks like a 4/8 and they never cease to surprise me. I mean I have a few in collection status but every once in awhile I pull one out to give it a spin. I remember they shave well is why I pull one but always surprised at why I don't use one more often.
Try to lighten up on the amount of pressure you use and see if that doesn't stop the razor burn. No matter the angle you want to cut the hair at the skin not below it :<0)

Shake, does that monkey have a football ? I hear he and his friends........never mind can't be the same.

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Originally Posted by 10Pups

Chop the scales to match and run with it. It looks like a 4/8 and they never cease to surprise me. I mean I have a few in collection status but every once in awhile I pull one out to give it a spin. I remember they shave well is why I pull one but always surprised at why I don't use one more often.
Try to lighten up on the amount of pressure you use and see if that doesn't stop the razor burn. No matter the angle you want to cut the hair at the skin not below it :<0)

Shake, does that monkey have a football ? I hear he and his friends........never mind can't be the same.

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Actually he does have a football, thanks for asking. lol

I picked up an old Can't-Be-Beat razor that had been sitting in a shed for 35 years and it destroyed the 2 month beard I was sprouting. Very nice :)