Thread: Stainless or Carbon

Hi all. I have been wondering the difference between stainless and carbon steel. What i am wondering about is the quality of the shave? Is there a big difference? I'm new to this, I just now am shaving regularly without having to touch up with DE. Thanks.

Don't own a stainless. Carbon works great for me.

Even my pocket knives are carbon steel. GOt some stainless knives. They work too, but carbon steel is my preference.

My Colt Commander that I carry every day is stainless.

Let me preface with I do not own a SS razor, but I have heard there is not a major difference feel wise. SS on the other hand is more corrosion resistant and will also take a few more strokes to hone up vs carbon steel. As for edge retention I honestly don't know. I have read arguments that say SS holds an edge better but others that say either steel will have same edge retention. I am sure its far more complicated than just SS vs. Carbon for edge retention; things like tempering and steel type variants come into play there as well. I am sure an expert will weigh in shortly. I hope to grab a SS blade soon, but it is not something seen often in cheap vintage razors.

I would say there is a somewhat distinctive feel, having had one of the Dovos & now loving the Friodur. Just from the variety of different preferences, certainly some will not like the feel, but I do. The Dovo actually made me want the Friodur, which I bought from a member here. I'd do it again - and will likely get another.

I have and use both types of razors. In use I don't find a whole lot of difference between the two types. They hone up very similarly too for me. Stainless is a little more rust resistant and that can be a benefit in humid environments. That said I do like my stainless blades for some unknown reason.

Bob

Just my take, back in the '60s and '70s stainless pocket knives were harder to sharpen, did not hold an edge as well IME. So I developed a dislike for stainless. Razors from that era seemed to be a different animal, not displaying those characteristics. Fast forward a couple of decades and stainless pocket knives dominate the scene, and have vastly improved in their edge holding ability.

Whether vintage or current, I've had nothing but good luck with a variety of stainless razors. I still have mostly carbon, but the half dozen or so stainless razors I've got all shave equally well. I think if it is from a known quality maker, honed and maintained properly, one is as good as the other.

I have both types. I can't say that one is better than the other. Nor can I say stainless feels differently from carbon. All of my blades feel differently. I think this depends on a host of factors, including the grind, the thickness of the spine, the width of the blade, the type of steel and the tempering/forging. Anyhoo, I don't focus on stainless vs. carbon when I buy because you can get a great shave from either.

Like Jimmy said and the others have stated, the newer stainless steels are as good as any carbon steel for edge retention and they're not prone to rusting or staining. That is the up side to stainless.

I've got a Buck 110 pocket knife that I carried in Nam. It was made in '71. That thing will wear a carburundum hone. It's got some HARD steel in it. I've cut the edges off several of my friends knives with it. It's made from 440A. Most makers use 440C now or variations of 154CM. I own knives made from all 3. They're all great knives and I see no reason why that stuff won't make a great razor.

Only reason I have no stainless razors is primarily that all of my razors are vintage. I prefer it that way. IF perhaps someday I run across a stainless blade that way under priced, I might grab it just to have one in the mix.

Only difference I find is in the honing. The stainless steels are a bit tougher than the carbon and usually take a few, to many more strokes on a hone at each later level. If they are not very sharp at 1K you will play hell getting an edge at all on later hones. Do not depend on later hones to remove any material at the edge as we often do on carbon steel blades. They do hold nice and pleasant edges though. HESS, Wapi, Böker are good, in my experiences.
A good razor is a good razor!
~Richard

Yea I'm with the others. I find no difference shave wise with stainless. if I was blindfolded I couldn't tell the difference.

It might take a few extra passes on the hone but I've had carbon steel razors that took way more passes than any stainless.