Thread: stainless steel razors

I own a few Henckels Friodur stainless steel razors and one stainless steel Aust.

There is no difference in shave between the Friodurs and my carbon steel razors significant enough to mention, but the Friodurs took more time to make them shave-ready when they arrived.

One of the late production Friodurs that (unlike all the others) I bought new old stock, took an inordinate amount of time to take a sharp and smooth edge.
I was almost ready to give up, when on the umpteenth attempt it finally became right.\
Once they are properly honed, Friodurs are lovely razors though.


In a conversation with Mr. Aust, he once mentioned that he prefers carbon steel, and I suspect that the cult status of Friodurs may be explained with the ice-hardening that these blades went through and that gave them (literally) an edge over other stainless steel razor.

The stainless steel Aust is also a good razor, but not as smooth as the other Austs and at ⅝ not my favourite size. It is a great razor to take along on overnight trips though when I don't need to be quite as careful after the shave with drying and Ballistol applicator.


My current preference: carbon steel unless I can get a Friodur



B.

Originally Posted by beluga

In a conversation with Mr. Aust, he once mentioned that he prefers carbon steel, and I suspect that the cult status of Friodurs may be explained with the ice-hardening that these blades went through and that gave them (literally) an edge over other stainless steel razor.

B.

Of the vintage Solingen made stainless steel razors that I have, all iirc correctly say somewhere on them ice hardened/eis hartung. The only Vintage stainless that I have that is not so marked is an English George Ibberson marked Firth Stainless. I have no idea if current made stainless blades are ice hardened though.

Bob

My 1¢
I have and shave with stainless razors by HESS, WAPI, Wapicopy, Aesculap, British, no name, medical, and a Friodor.
Some are military from field dressing kits.

All, of them, when properly honed, take as good an edge as a carbon steel blade. It required extra time to hone them but it was worth it.
Developments in Cryogenic hardening have reduced grain size also.
YMMV but honing it the answer!
~Richard