Thread: Trying an American straight

Originally Posted by KarloT

All I know is that the razor carries a Massachusetts stamp. perhaps one of the more knowledgeable guys here can say more about this brand.

Some information on this thread: http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...ristensen.html

http://straightrazorpalace.com/misce...ow-what-2.html

FWIW - my face can't tell the diff. between the feel of a Soligen blade or a US blade. 'Both quite satisfying.

Sheffield, US or Soligen, can anyone tell the difference in a blind test do you suppose?

Originally Posted by Pringr

Sheffield, US or Soligen, can anyone tell the difference in a blind test do you suppose?

I'll throw in Spanish, Swedish, Japanese and French to make it interesting and bet no you couldn't tell the difference in a blind test.

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

I'll throw in Spanish, Swedish, Japanese and French to make it interesting and bet no you couldn't tell the difference in a blind test.

Bob

Bob is right. A fine edge on good steel cuts well and generally gives about the same comfort on a shave. That's why so much on SRP is devoted to getting the right edge and maintaining it.

Among my favorite Sheffield and Solingen razors are several humble American made Torreys, Gencos, an H. M. Christensen, and even a couple Electric Cutlerys, just to name a few.

Where it starts feeling different is the blade size and configuration. Wedge vs Full Hollow, 5/8 vs 15/16, Spanish vs French point, smiling etc. I also notice a difference is steel manufacture obviously when honing. Carbon, Stainless, etc. These things start getting in to personal preference.

My bottom line is my favorite razor is a quality razor!

American razors are very under rated. One of the best shavers I ever had was a Shumate Ben Hur.

My genco grant, robeson shuredge, wester bros., and torrey shave as well as anything in my modest collection and better than most. American steel rocks!

Originally Posted by Pringr

Sheffield, US or Soligen, can anyone tell the difference in a blind test do you suppose?

Not so much the shave when well honed...

Some (me included) believe that older US steel and modern Thiers-Issard
blades are tempered a bit harder. This difference is a do not care once the edge
is correctly honed. Modern water stones have no trouble with either.
Some older hones did better with the softer steel. The better Belgian water
stones (Coticules) do well with either. Carborundum Company, Niagara Falls NY
hones also have no problem with hardness which may account for the
move to a slightly harder temper of US blades.

The very very hard tempered steel is brittle. In the old days tempering
was an art so variability gives overlap in old blades. So what you have
is what you have...

A honemaster might tell A from B with ease.

I told my dad about starting SR shaving. He gave me his father's SR. It says Dixie Blue Steel on one side of the tang. Dixie MFG Union City GA on the other. Does anyone have any info on this razor?