Thread: Razor personalities

I have been wet shaving for 50 years and over the years I have used SE, DE, Shavettes and now straights. There has always been a favorite because it felt good in my hand and shaved better then the rest. I have been using straights for 11 months and found after watching untold amounts of videos on techniques, bevel, honing stropping and care as well as the different types of straights, straights have a distinct personality. The metal, grind, spine, weight, scale, blade width etc all factor into the way the straight performs and the feel it has in your hand. I have tried Boker's, Dovo' Ontario's, Genco's, Aust's and now a Mastro Livi and found the Aust to be a really great razor with a worked spine for me. The cost and quality are top's. Last week I won a Mastro Livi 6/8 on eBay. I had to hone it from a Shapton 4k, 16k and 30 k but it took an edge like no other razor. It has a Spanish Point which I had reservations about but it turned out to be the perfect point for me. When I shaved with it I found it wanted to shave. It laid on my face at the perfect angle whereas other razors I needed to find and keep the right angle. It shaved incredibly smooth with no irritation. It glided along conforming to my face with no effort of mine. Nothing short of a religious experience. I wanted to say to it: Was it as good for you as it was for me? The razor I won was half the cost of a new one and I said I would have to be crazy to spend the money for a new one. Well I am crazy and just ordered another. This razor just says I was made by a real artist and craftsman and will not let Mastro Livi down when shaving. I read you should rest a razor but I find I just want to use this 3 times a day. Do you have a true love razor?

I have lots of razors that I really enjoy, but haven't found that one special razor just yet. Of course, maybe that's because I haven't tried a Mastro...

Had I not found the one on eBay I would not have had the opportunity either. The workmanship and quality are beyond belief. I never thought I'd get so worked up over a razor.

That Livi looks and sounds like a great razor. Congrats on your good fortune!

Originally Posted by Ernie1980

I have lots of razors that I really enjoy, but haven't found that one special razor just yet. Of course, maybe that's because I haven't tried a Mastro...

I also have lots of razor and use them occasionally. Congratulations on such a convincing post but my personal opinion is that the current market has a lot of razors that are quality side by side with Macro Livi ........ it's all a matter of taste.

Jack, thanks for sharing your thoughts on your razors. You are right about Livi's. I think they are unique among straights and are always great shavers. Getting one at about half the price is just the frosting on the cake.

Agree with your sentiments exactly, I feel the same way about Wade and Butcher razors, they just have a feel and personality that no other razor conveys, which I thoroughly enjoy. The Filarmonica's and #14 types razors are also very distinctive IMO, as are my other favorites, the smaller frame back razors - razors for every mood and every occasion, what could be better when paired with a nice bush and a luxurious soap.

There are many custom and limited edition razors that exude the same amount of quality and shave the same. They are out there. I have several Livi's and have sold some too. They are unique because of the rustic quality of them which some interpret as a workmanship issue but in fact once you have one you realize that's the positive of it.

Yep, on the general subject of razor personalities, that are some that match with mine and some that don't quite as well. I can shave with them, but it isn't a "special" experience.

I have two that are my special ones now, a 6/8 W&B smiler with ivory scales that is absolutely my favorite. Every time I touch it to my face I get a great shave, and it feels good in my hand. In second place, but also special for me is a 7/8 Robert Williams that just glides over my face and makes it shed whiskers. It's completely different from the W&B but fits my shaving style and skill almost as well. Right now I'm leaning toward those heavier ones, because they have shaving personalities that I love.

On the other hand, every one of the SRs I have is special for some reason, although I may be moving them on to new owners soon to make room for another heavy blade or two.