Printable View
Just a quick one.
I would like peoples opinion on the damascus wacker... you know the one 6/8 buffalo horn.
I have only found old posts about this blade,and would like to know your current thoughts on said razor.
Any info would be much appreciated.
Cheers!
Would like to try one, maybe buy, but they are quit expensive to say the least.
I have shaved with one, but never sharpened one. Review with regards to sharpening/honing in the German forums are, diplomatically put, mixed.
My personal opinion: You will get a pretty looking razor for the price of three or more regular, also pretty looking, razors. Basically, you are paying a premium for the looks of pattern welded steel. Whether or not this gimmick is worth the entry price is obviously a so called YMMV thing.
The scales bear an uncanny resemblance to Thiers Issard scales, and offer high quality and good craftsmanship.
Would I buy one? Absolutely not.
I have found the QC on Wackers to be pretty inconsistent over the past year or so. Would definitely be worth to look at them in person rather than buy blind
It's been inconsistent for years. It's only got even worse lately. If you can buy one in a shop (good luck in finding one), sure, why not? Online? Never - unless you have absolute trust in the retailer. Which, for me, leaves Esbjerg...
Wacker were a welcome alternative 10 years or so ago. Since then, Ralf Aust and Revisor have put razors in the market that equal, or surpass, Wacker razors - and cost significantly less.
If you are lucky enough to find a Wacker actually made by Heribert Wacker from an NOS blank, and with functioning, well aligned scales, that's great. Otherwise, well, not so great. I have owned a few, and have been owning zero for several years.
I can't comment on a Damascus Wacker but I've owned two carbon steel Wackers and I was a little underwhelmed by them. Like RobinK, I know longer own one. I really couldn't find a spot for one in my collection.
Speak as you find - so the saying goes - although I can't speak for the damascus either, my razor goes back about 4 years and is a very nice quality in terms of grind - that's how I judge the workmanship. The original scales were horn and again, decent enough quality in terms of finish apart from the nails used instead of peened rod.
I changed the scales as you can see in the picture - but the razor itself is very much used and enjoyed.
http://i1270.photobucket.com/albums/...psguo9d8i6.jpg
Those are very unique scales, Rob. Any road, that is a "Bismarck" blade, ie a Herkenrath forged 6/8 blank. Yours has a French point and whatever Schorkopf is in English, which looks very nice.
But some people have been attributing mythical shaving capabilities to the Wacker steel, and they simply don't exist. It's all in the grind, and yours looks just great.
I should call it the black knight I suppose.Quote:
Originally Posted by RobinK
Thank you for the compliments - however I can't find a translation for Schorkopf - please enlighten me.
I always did like his scale choices. His horn esp. His black was pure black with no flaws or streaks and his blond horn was always top notch. Very old school. Must guys prefer mottled and streaked horn now
I've honed plenty of Damacus blades including Wacker blades the quality was good but no better than any other well made razor, there's absolutely no difference the way you hone them they behave the same way as any other razors once you put them on the stones.
I think no one's come up with a proper translation for Schorkopf yet. Here's an old thread: http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...ts-please.html
Jamie, did you never come across "Damascus" steel that worked worse than regular steel? There have been several reports of pattern welded steal becoming brittle, unfolding, or even breaking in the German forums (no, we're not talking about Asian blades; yes, these people are accomplished honers; yes, it happened across the entire range of razors, from Böker to Wacker and back again).
Robin I would say no they have been quite straight forward and very well behaved on the stones, the vast majority of Damascus razors I have honed over the last few months have mostly been Thiers Issard and a few Buddel and one or two Wackers and one Mastro Livi.
It's the bevelled part of where the point and spine meet, if that makes any sense. I call a Schorkopf a "sculpted nose", which is not a literal translation but seems to cover it quite well. If you are comfortable with the nose of the razor being situated just above the toe and attached to the spine.Quote:
Originally Posted by UKRob
They often go together with a sculpted spine, and I am a huge fan. I like the idea of the Chevalier (a full hollow shoulderless grind with a sculpted spine and nose and a French point), although its aesthetics are slightly overstated, in my opinion. Friedrich Herder 25's have a similar geometry but are more conservatively executed, aesthetically the type of blade I find most attractive.
I can't speak to the quality of the Wacker Damascus. I'm a big fan of the new generic Wacker razors. I own four of them and rate them very highly when compared to other new model German made S.R.