Thread: First straight razor, Ralf Aust or Revisor

Originally Posted by RobinK

So, lack of shave readiness. The German forums have come to the conclusion that a distinction between "shave readiness" and "connoisseur sharpness" makes sense, and reduces the stress level otherwise present in the ensuing discussions. Yes, almost any "factory" (calling Aust and Revisor that is slightly silly, though, they really are artisans, trained by or making use of the craftsmen who made a lot of the razors everyone is still waxing lyrical about) can be further enhanced. However, connoisseur sharpness is not required to shave. It is a pastime that some find entertaining. Me, I have never liked that level of sharpness. Many others don't, either. If I were making razors, I would try to cater to the needs of the majority of my customers. And it would seem that the majority of customers gets by with "factory edges". Putting a connoisseur edge on a razor would also, by the way, increase prices for razors from the EU drastically.

I don't know but "connoisseur sharpness" seems like a dismissive excuse for a lousy edge. Perhaps one shaver prefers the feel of one edge (natural vs. synthetic) over another. But in Utopians vid you can clearly see spots where the bevel is ruined or not fully established. In any case, its hardly consistent or clean. I get why it comes this way. Each razor would need the same additional care and attention that we put into it before it leaves the shop. That's a lot of man power if you're producing in any quantity. But, in my eyes, unless you hone a razor like the one in the vid, you're not seeing the true potential that razor offers. If my standards were that low I'd still be using a drug store disposable.

Originally Posted by Utopian

Both Revisors were direct from Revisor and they were far from shave ready. I have not honed one of them yet so I will try to take photos of the factory edge some time soon.

This is my original declaration that this razor came direct from the factory. I have never done anything to the edge other than to observe it under a microscope. I set it aside with the intention of using it for honing video.

Originally Posted by RobinK

Remarkable. Lack of shave readiness is a non issue in the German forums. It is a major issue here. Incidentally the German forums have no honing services industry. True, there are a few people who offer honing, but they are few and far between.

That is not to say that the edge on that particular Revisor looks not too good. Then again, I have learned to never believe what I see on the Internet until it has been corroborated. Did that razor come straight from the maker? Maybe it did. Maybe it did not. For me, there is no way of telling. However, I have owned several Revisor razors, none of which had any issues. I know the people who make them, and I find it very, very hard to believe that this razor slipped thorough their QA process. Not impossible, of course. People make mistakes. But highly unlikely.

So, lack of shave readiness. The German forums have come to the conclusion that a distinction between "shave readiness" and "connoisseur sharpness" makes sense, and reduces the stress level otherwise present in the ensuing discussions. Yes, almost any "factory" (calling Aust and Revisor that is slightly silly, though, they really are artisans, trained by or making use of the craftsmen who made a lot of the razors everyone is still waxing lyrical about) can be further enhanced. However, connoisseur sharpness is not required to shave. It is a pastime that some find entertaining. Me, I have never liked that level of sharpness. Many others don't, either. If I were making razors, I would try to cater to the needs of the majority of my customers. And it would seem that the majority of customers gets by with "factory edges". Putting a connoisseur edge on a razor would also, by the way, increase prices for razors from the EU drastically.

I am not a liar. To suggest otherwise might be considered libelous.

Lack of shave readiness is not an issue for most people who know how to hone. I don't care what the German forums have to say about shave readiness. A major part of the intention of THIS forum is helping new people who have NO experience with straight razors and getting stuck with a new razor that cannot shave is not helpful for them.

There is a bit of a leap between "shave readiness" and "connoisseur sharpness." I would at least expect a shave ready edge to be straight and not to be folded over. The video showed that mine was neither.

Originally Posted by OCDshaver

I don't know but "connoisseur sharpness" seems like a dismissive excuse for a lousy edge. Perhaps one shaver prefers the feel of one edge (natural vs. synthetic) over another. But in Utopians vid you can clearly see spots where the bevel is ruined or not fully established. In any case, its hardly consistent or clean. I get why it comes this way. Each razor would need the same additional care and attention that we put into it before it leaves the shop. That's a lot of man power if you're producing in any quantity. But, in my eyes, unless you hone a razor like the one in the vid, you're not seeing the true potential that razor offers. If my standards were that low I'd still be using a drug store disposable.

Agreed.

Originally Posted by RobinK

I don't think anyone is arguing that the edge in the video has a lot of potential. So why make that an issue? And who knows, maybe it did come from the "factory" like that.

Connoisseur sharpness is nothing more than an additional level of sharpness not required for shaving but appreciated by a fraction of users. For the chuckles, I let a beginner try stropping a few blades with connoisseur edges (synthetic and natural) . He brought them back to "dull but shaves" within a few strokes.

I cannot, and will not, speak for Thomas. Personally, however, I find your disposable analogy libellous. You ought to be ashamed of yourself.

Why make it an issue?

Because beginners, like the one who started this thread asked for OPINIONS. In some of our opinions we stated that a truly shave ready (connoisseur or not) razor might be a better start for a beginner. Potential is not an issue. If we go by potential, then I could advertise a razor for sale and if Bruno or Spazola bought it I could get away with sending them a chunk of steel. It has the potential to be a shave ready razor. (In Mike Blue's case I could just send dirt.) Shave Ready, at least for the perspective of a beginner here in this forum, in my opinion should mean ready to shave.

To the OP modaresi,
I forgot to address your other question that I don't think has been addressed quite as extensively.

The Timber Tools thuringian (it ain't an Escher if it did come not from the Escher company) has been reviewed here and elsewhere. You may want to do a bit of searching to come up with your own opinion on that one.

Originally Posted by Utopian

Why make it an issue?

Because beginners, like the one who started this thread asked for OPINIONS. In some of our opinions we stated that a truly shave ready (connoisseur or not) razor might be a better start for a beginner. Potential is not an issue. If we go by potential, then I could advertise a razor for sale and if Bruno or Spazola bought it I could get away with sending them a chunk of steel. It has the potential to be a shave ready razor. (In Mike Blue's case I could just send dirt.) Shave Ready, at least for the perspective of a beginner here in this forum, in my opinion should mean ready to shave.

There is just a bit of truth to that and humourously put too.

Oh no - another bit of jargon I hate - 'connoisseur edge' - totally unnecessary, in my humble opinion.

I shall just have to shelve it in my 'mental' bin along with 'artisanal' and all the other awkward looking/sounding bits of twaddle that have been coined by people with too much time on their hands...

Regards,
Neil

Originally Posted by Neil Miller

Oh no - another bit of jargon I hate - 'connoisseur edge' - totally unnecessary, in my humble opinion.

I shall just have to shelve it in my 'mental' bin along with 'artisanal' and all the other awkward looking/sounding bits of twaddle that have been coined by people with too much time on their hands...

Regards,
Neil

I have to admit that the term 'artisinal' has lost any meaning since the day I saw a segment on TV about artisinal TOAST at $4/slice. If you live long enough you get to see everything I guess.

I think the spirit of this or any shaving forum should help a newcomer get the best possible experience from this hobby. It goes without saying that a shave ready razor should be "Shave Tested" its the only test that can truly quantify whether a new blade can really shave in acceptable manner. The overstressed producers of today have no way of injecting the amount of effort or time to make sure of this. Yes they all seem to have tests where they cleave some synthetic fibers and if it cuts it gets boxed and out it goes. I could get razor to pass a test like that off of a 1k stone but I wouldn't even think of shaving with it.
So I think it is important that a new straight razor user doesn't have the experience I had when going to a major shaving retail store purchasing a very nice dovo or thiers issard taking it home lathering my face in great anticipation and then having the blade pull painfully hard mid cheek until my eyes teared. That's enough for some folks to say this was all a silly experiment and go back to a mach 3. So it is a good thing that some vendors take the time to prepare these blades for the end user that they have a nice experience and are inspired to continue.