Thread: Best Straight Razor in the $250 price bracket?

Originally Posted by barberann

Well some brilliant advice, thanks for all the feedback, trouble is, now I'm really torn about which one to go far as there has been so many suggestions. Seems like I don't need to spend crazy money and I can go lower than my original budget but still get a great blade. I'm going to have a proper look down all the responses and check out the suggestions properly. I would like something that looks good but it is mainly about the quality of the shave. I think I'd want something for keeps too and am happy to spend that bit more to get one that's going to satisfy me for a few years to come. Pretty sure my cousin offers straight blade shaves at his barbers shop so I should ask him what he uses. Can't imagine he's spent loads of cash on one but it would have to be half decent.

More than likely he does use something cheap, a shavette with the most reasonable blades he can find, he has to change them every customer. You can find a keeper without spending a lot, save the money for after you get a hang of what works best for you. Good luck. Tc

Any Japanese razor, you can get NOS condition ones in that range.

Originally Posted by tcrideshd

More than likely he does use something cheap, a shavette with the most reasonable blades he can find, he has to change them every customer. You can find a keeper without spending a lot, save the money for after you get a hang of what works best for you. Good luck. Tc

Yeah I messaged him, that's pretty much what he said, should have realized that really. He said he has a couple of different types. One that he uses for some of his regulars which takes better blades made by 'Feather' and then a cheaper alternative for regular use. He's just revamping his shop actually so he's rethinking his design layout and getting some new bits of equipment.

My cousin has a Thiers-Issard 5/8″ straight for home but he said it cost him a fair bit. Its going to last but there's cheaper ones I could buy. He said a Dovo is good for beginners and gives a nice close shave, won't cost an arm and a leg either for the classic one but they do pricier ones for more advanced users. He can get razors honed professionally for me so that solves that issue.

Originally Posted by barberann

My cousin has a Thiers-Issard 5/8″ straight for home but he said it cost him a fair bit. Its going to last but there's cheaper ones I could buy. He said a Dovo is good for beginners and gives a nice close shave, won't cost an arm and a leg either for the classic one but they do pricier ones for more advanced users. He can get razors honed professionally for me so that solves that issue.

The pricier ones are not for more advanced users, ones with deeper pockets maybe, as the blades are made all the same.

Bob

In the $250 range, I would look no further than Brian Brown or Jerry Stark. Both handcrafted razors the makers will stand 100% behind.

I have purchased vintage blades off eBay for 20-50 dollars that shave as well or better than some of my more expensive razors.

Must admit, some of the Brian Brown custom ones looked mint, really nice designs. They are probably the ones I've most liked the look of out of the brands I've looked at so far and the reviews I've read are very positive. Not sure whether I still want to go that high based on everything else that has been said here but I'm considering BB for sure.

Originally Posted by barberann

My cousin has a Thiers-Issard 5/8″ straight for home but he said it cost him a fair bit. Its going to last but there's cheaper ones I could buy. He said a Dovo is good for beginners and gives a nice close shave, won't cost an arm and a leg either for the classic one but they do pricier ones for more advanced users. He can get razors honed professionally for me so that solves that issue.

My cousins just asked me what I think of a few old used vintage barber chairs at this auction site he's looking at. He's after one or two for his new look shop. He's seriously considering spending well over $1,000 dollars just on one as a centrepiece. I've told him that i'll be visiting with my new razor once I've decided on one so I can have an authentic shave in an old-skool chair.

I think I'm going with a Brian Brown razor, just got to decide on a design.