Thread: Why is one straight Razor better than others?

Well, there’s your problem… the perfect shave is more about technique, shaving and maintenance than the razor itself, though the razor always gets the blame. Both will improve with time and experience.

All the brands you mentioned are good razors of similar quality that will hold an edge and shave well, with exception of the GD and even that can be made to shave. For most, vintage have more attention to detail, are aesthetically nicer finished and a better value. But all will shave and for the novice, the difference in performance will be minimal or nonexistent.

I own several hundred razors and shave with all brands, grinds, shapes, styles and sizes that cross my bench, really they all shave about the same. How they look and feel in the hand is a whole other matter that you will just have to experience. Three of the razors in your collection should be excellent shavers, capable of a “perfect shave”.

Originally Posted by Euclid440

Well, there’s your problem… the perfect shave is more about technique, shaving and maintenance than the razor itself, though the razor always gets the blame. Both will improve with time and experience.

All the brands you mentioned are good razors of similar quality that will hold an edge and shave well, with exception of the GD and even that can be made to shave. For most, vintage have more attention to detail, are aesthetically nicer finished and a better value. But all will shave and for the novice, the difference in performance will be minimal or nonexistent.

I own several hundred razors and shave with all brands, grinds, shapes, styles and sizes that cross my bench, really they all shave about the same. How they look and feel in the hand is a whole other matter that you will just have to experience. Three of the razors in your collection should be excellent shavers, capable of a “perfect shave”.

I agree with Euclid440's post, but would like to add that it should be no surprise that razors made of the best material by the best craftsmen shave better than those makers who cut some corners for whatever reason. My examples of razors that shave better than most are my between-the-wars Bokers and Le Grelots, and my '60s and early '70s vintage Japanese razors, especially the Tanifujis. That said, are they worth more based solely on shaving performance? YMMV, the difference is discernible to me but maybe not to others.

Cheers, Steve

If you are talking vintage German for instance most outfits bought the steel and blanks from just a handful of outfits and in fact bought the scales the same way so there isn't much difference there. It may be the final assembly process or the way that razor suits you. There are many variables at play.

There are a class of razors that cut across all brands and grinds and they are uber superb shavers way above the rest. They are rare, very rare and many think they have one but really don't. Talk to the experienced guys here who know. Why those razor are like that is a mystery. Probably perfection from beginning to end of the fabrication.

I have noticed a few, for whatever reason, hone exceptionally well and the rest are high quality. I'm not sure if it's the steel, attention to detail, craftsmanship, ect. I just know that a handful have been a tick above the rest.

Like elucid said all those brands are quality but I have had seven or eight Winchesters and all have been dead on "geometry wise". Of course, I'm partial to American made.

I tend to shave with my older Wade & Butchers & Genco's more that any of my other razors. I like the bigger W&B's the best. The Genco's are just as good but I like the feel of the W&B's better.

Slawman

I started out with hollow ground razors. good names and honed well. My tec. however lacked some. the more I shave the better I got. angle was the main culprit. But after saying that I need to say this. each person has there favorite. I like the stiffer blades. wedges, near wedges, 1/4 hollow and so on. for me the extra hollow seems to skip . I believe that if the angle is not right the blade flex's and there is the problem. So on your journey to shaving bliss try them all if possible. A friend of mine once told me he had many favorites all for different reasons.

Some of the answers in this thread are, unintentionally, hilarious. Suffice it to say that quality of steel has never been a problem with Solingen razors, and that it took an apprentice four years to learn just to properly polish a razor back then. For the chuckles, ask your favourite search engine about "Hugo Herkenrath".

Seriously, guys, you crack me up sometimes.

Originally Posted by rhensley

I started out with hollow ground razors. good names and honed well. My tec. however lacked some. the more I shave the better I got. angle was the main culprit. But after saying that I need to say this. each person has there favorite. I like the stiffer blades. wedges, near wedges, 1/4 hollow and so on. for me the extra hollow seems to skip . I believe that if the angle is not right the blade flex's and there is the problem. So on your journey to shaving bliss try them all if possible. A friend of mine once told me he had many favorites all for different reasons.

I'm the exact same way. I started out with extra hollow German razors. Every shave was full of skipping blades followed by countless cuts.

Once I switched to heavier stiffer blades, the shaves actually became smooth and enjoyable.

The steel Scottish facial hair may have something to do with it though.

I would venture to say that aside from razor shaped objects, Any properly honed razor is capable of giving you a great shave more so than your ability to repeat the exact conditions of a shave with any other razor you imagine superior.

In other words, the razors are better than our ability to use them.

Back to the original question: are you asking to understand differences between razors of a single brand or razors across brands?

Much of the difference between brands will play into the employees skill/care & the aesthetic styles of individual brands.

Outside of TI's C135 steel which gets a rep for being exceptionally hard: the steel is likely very similar between them.