Thread: help a newbie pick a new razor

I currently have a good dollar razor and I've been working on it but with all the bad things I hear about gold dollar on this site I think it's about time to do an upgrade because I may not know what a real straight razor shave is yet lol... I have three brand choices and I want what's best for my dollar and I dunno if one brand is easier to hone than others or if it's just all the same. He two brands three razors I'm deciding from, the brands are Boker and A.P Donovan... I'm going to post pictures of all three razors, I just want some experts to let me know what you would buy! Please keep price in mind

Also what is extra hollow ground

Originally Posted by Dafonz6987

Also what is extra hollow ground

Hi - I'ma newbie too. I bought my first SR from amazon (Dovo Astrale) - the biggest problem was that it did not come properly honed. No matter how much I stropped, I could not get it sharp enough. I'm sending it out for professional honing (The founder of this website, Lynn Abrams). I just bought a second razor from Straight Razor Designs (an Aust), which will come professionally honed and stropped. I guess I'm jut saying you have to keep in mind the extra cost and time when you buy from amazon. I found it to be a oain in the butt. On your question on the brand, I'm not experienced enough to comment.

Originally Posted by Dafonz6987

I currently have a good dollar razor and I've been working on it but with all the bad things I hear about gold dollar on this site I think it's about time to do an upgrade because I may not know what a real straight razor shave is yet lol... I have three brand choices and I want what's best for my dollar and I dunno if one brand is easier to hone than others or if it's just all the same. He two brands three razors I'm deciding from, the brands are Boker and A.P Donovan...

May be it's best to avoid rebranded gold dollars then. As far as grinds take a look at the basic information on razors The straight razor - Straight Razor Place Library and keep in mind that not every label on a product is correct.

I think the price tells a story.
although I've never heard of A P Donavon .
In my mind £100+ buys you a good razor.
I'm sure you will get better advise here than I've given you

You would be best off buying from a reputable online vendor, or from a member via the classifieds.

Boker or Aust.

Don't look on amazon or ebay. I would suggest the same as prodigy. Reputable vendor or classifieds. The only modern razors i have all came from SRD. Better value if you buy with the strop as a set. If money is an issue, have heard good thing about whippeddog sight unseen razors.

I second the above recommendation about avoiding eBay and Amazon! You need your first razor to be completely shave ready, so I also would recommend the classified section here or straight razor designs. I bought a set from them that came with everything you need for a great price. Remember that a strop is a necessity! Since you are still learning, I would go with a round point for certain. As for makers Boker, Ralf Aust, and Dovo are all quality blades that won't break the bank.
Have fun!
Edit to add: take a look at the $45 Geneva for sale now. They are great shavers and that is a good price for a ready to go blade for you!

If their price is right Amazon is great for some shaving products: brand name soaps, after shave, brushes, etc. However for razors and razor blades and other "tools", I wouldn't use them. For instance, I think you can buy that Boker you pictured at several of the vendors that advertise here, really "shave-ready" for about the same price. Buy it from Amazon and you're going to spend $30 to $40 mailing it back and forth to a honer and paying for their skills.

Extra Hollow Ground means very thin blade profile, often called a "singing" blade because of the audible feedback you get when shaving.