Thread: Vintage Straight Rozor versus Gold Dollar Shave ready

Much of the chatter in forums is comparing razors, or other gear. If you own two straights, and both are really shave ready, you can have an informed opinion. I've heard GD's vary in quality, but can be honed into shape, mostly. The gear sold by members has a better chance of being acceptable quality, because of Peer Review.
Good luck with your new to you razor!

Use whatever makes you happy and what you can afford.

Truth is that properly honed a GD or a vintage is capable of giving you a great shaving edge. I have both as well as expensive modern and pristine restored 170 YO razors and each gives me satisfaction to use.

If you have the budget: use the GD to learn to hone yourself and pick up another, shave ready, blade. The steel on mine holds an edge well once I get it there and the chunky grind (~half hollow) is relatively stable if you use too much pressure honing.

I started with the exact same kit. It was OK but once I got a good razor and strop and brush my enjoyment level rose.

You'll find this out.

My vote = Vintage Straight

I would keep the GD to practice your honing skills when you start doing that. I would not send it out for honing.

Learning to hone on a Gold Dollar is like learning to drive with a car missing a tire.

Learn on a razor with proper geometry and HT, aka a vintage in decent shape, and you will save yourself a lot of unneeded stress.

I'd say learning to hone with a Gold Dollar is more akin to learning how to repair a car starting with a 15 year old clunker (like I'm sure most of us did). Which is good because you'll need practice, and that razor will give you lots of it.

That said, I have a Gold Dollar, and a vintage. I will probably buy more vintage razors, I will never buy another Gold Dollar.