Thread: I'm a simple man, looking for a top quality shaver - what razor?

Buying a new razor won't be so simple because you will have to get it honed, with decorations or not, unless you buy a set from Tony. Many people on this site have good shavers including myself. I have a few on Ebay, now.

As far as Steel, well, this is a real preference. I love my Bengall and TI Silver Steel which are Sheffield Steel, but my 6/8 Revisior, and my 6/8 Henckels which is German Steel hangs right with them.

To start, you need a razor that shaves. There are lots of nice shavers if they are honed. I developed a little test called the "Chin Test" Which I do before I put a razor on Ebay. Shaving with a razor is the only way to know it's shave ready.

There is a razor I put up this week that I have never shaved with before and it supprized the heck out of me. It's a Genco, made by Geneva Cutlery, NY.

Expensive, no. Fancy, no. Big name, no. Good shave, yes.

And I have a moustache test. If it can handle a wtg pass in that area with zero pulling, it will handle the rest of the shave nicely. If not, then I pull out the DE to finish up.

Thanks for your replies, gents. As I understand the consensus so far, most recommend a "vintage" razor because (1) if I buy from an established member here, it will arrive well-honed and (2) it will be less expensive than a similar new razor.

Do the vintage razors have better blades than modern TI-Sheffield or the pricier Dovo-Solingen razors? Since both are available through Classic, if I go that route, I'd have it sent to Lynn for honing, which removes one reason to go vintage.

Originally Posted by SteveS

Do the vintage razors have better blades than modern TI-Sheffield or the pricier Dovo-Solingen razors? Since both are available through Classic, if I go that route, I'd have it sent to Lynn for honing, which removes one reason to go vintage.

I wouldn't say that the new ones are better or worse than the old ones. Seems to me that there are a lot more choices if you go vintage. If you want a plain scale good shaver, go with the SRP razor as Izlat suggests or go with a Dovo Super Bismarck (about 50 bucks). The first can be had at classicshaving and the second at the Nashville Knive Shop. Do yourself a favor and send it in to Lynn if you do go new.
I'm not saying that you shouldn't try a vintage razor from one of the members here, just offering suggestions if you decide to go with a new blade.
Good Luck and please post your results!
-Fred

Or, you could do what I seem to be doing.....

















......get one of everything!

(...my wife just saw my PayPal account! ...)

-whatever

-Lou

Probably the ultimate expression of the "great blade/plain scales" motif is the Dubl Duck Wonderedge. Unfortunately, it's (a) extremely hollow ground (b) a cult classic (c) collectible.

The TI SRP is a great suggestion because it's readily available, a great shaver, and has plain boxwood scales to keep the cost down.

Also www.shaveshop.com has Henckels Friodurs with plain plastic scales, these are full hollow razors but are stainless, very stiff, and very hard. Somewhat harder to hone than carbon steel but keep the edge longer.

If you want a quiet razor, get the TI Super Gnome from Classicshaving and get Lynn to hone it. This is a half hollow razor with plain white or black scales, and like all TI's it's a great shaver.

I think you'll find that you become partial to your first razor, assuming it is decent, regardless of make/model. I am growing my new collection, and very often go back to the 5/8 Morley that was my first. It is 'comfortable'.

That said, one of the great things about straight razors is that older, antique collectible razors can shave every bit as well as the newest top of the line models. Just get it honed properly to new steel and you're good to go. Many of the folks on here sell refurbs which are in great shaving shape. - John

I just lucked out on my first one. It was a 6/8 3-pin Taylor's Eye Witness round point singer, with a bit of staining and close to zero hone wear. Its shaving performance turned out to be superior to anything else I own even though the Heartring, the Genco and the King Cutter come pretty close.

Originally Posted by scarface

Or, you could do what I seem to be doing.....

......get one of everything!

(...my wife just saw my PayPal account! ...)

-whatever

-Lou

Oh no Lou, um run...wait too late for that. Play dead.

On a more serious note, sometimes the ...more senior members post some good razors for sell. LX_emergency is one of them. Vintage vs. New is more of a personal choice I think. I do agree that there is more variety if you choose vintage. I only have one New razor that I got with my Tony Miller Kit and it is one of my staples. I also have a dorko that I sent with the others that I am selling to Lynn for Honing (your days are numbered, whiskers...you hear me...borrowed time!!!). Can't wait to get that one back for a shave.

I'd say a TI wold be a great choice. If you want to get a refurbished blade, Sheffield would remain my top choice, but there are other greats to from Solingen and Eskeltuna ...

X