Personal Preference

Anyone who has read any of my post before knows i dearly love my heavy Sheffield and have said so in many post. I feel i have to amend this statement. I just got through shaving with a #14 Henckel and received one of the closest and comfortable shave so far. But it was a Henckel and so far all the henckels I've used has acted in this way. I know everyone has a favorite razor whether it's the size, shape, or name brand and there's so many out there. It's a shame it is impossible to try them all. My advice is to always keep looking. You never know when your next love affair will happen.

I put this in the razor thread and don't know if this is where it belongs so the mods. can relocate I don't mind.

Yes, personal preference is what it is all about. There is no universal best only what works well for the individual.

Once you find something the works very well for you, be it a razor, brush or soap/cream, you have a decision to make. Do you "settle' for what works very well for you or do you go on a never ending search for the "holy grail" of razors, brushes or soaps/creams.

Most dedicated hobbyists are in the "holy grail" mode which is a lot more fun and interesting than just going for what works very well.

Bob

We few who use DE and Straight razors (compared to the world) are unique. we don't settle. If all it boiled down to is to scrap the face the cheap bic single edge throw away razor would do. but think of the fun we would miss. The comradeship that would be missed. The education on shaving we have gotten and most of all the friendships we've made. Ok let me get off my soap box.

I often will shave with sometimes 3 razors. 1 for each pass. And I do enjoy a nice DE shave once in a while. Outta control. Lol.

I recently honed a Henckels #80 for a friend and I was astonished by the shave. That was one of the smoothest, closest shaves I've had in a while. Just great quality steel, I guess really well matched with the coticule I was using and the hone delivered a very comfortbale edge.

Otherwise I prefer extra hollow ground razors. Over the course of several years, I found they deliver the most comfortable shaves for me. Heavy grinds are fun too, which is why I have a few of those as well ;)

I do use DEs as well, can't say which I like the most, but Gillette New types certainly shave me well, so do open combs in general, be it 2-3-piece, or TTOs. They are fun to try and good for travel. I'm on the road this week (with a bunch of straights to restore and hone) with a Hoffritz slant bar to shave with.

Chasing the grail? Never! A bunch of them chasing me though and I can't seem to ever escape....

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Originally Posted by rhensley

We few who use DE and Straight razors (compared to the world) are unique. we don't settle. If all it boiled down to is to scrap the face the cheap bic single edge throw away razor would do. but think of the fun we would miss. The comradeship that would be missed. The education on shaving we have gotten and most of all the friendships we've made. Ok let me get off my soap box.

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I don't know if "settle" is really the right word to use or not. I could easily shave for the rest of my life using Arko, a DE/SE/Straight razor, and an inexpensive Omega boar brush and easily get a consistently close, comfortable and long lasting shave. By spending the money to try a good number of different more expensive soaps/creams, brushes and razors I have gained a little in shave quality compared to money spent. It has been fun but in the end not all that totally necessary for me at least.

Bob

I like Theirs-Issard, old Puma, Robert Williams, Sheffield wedges and old USA wedges. Probably others, but that is what comes to mind. Scrtichy brushes and soaps that lather easily and well, even if they are cheap. Williams comes to mind. Wilhem Mandt and Fritz Bracht razors as well as FWE too. I'm going to quit now or the list will get longer. :)

Hm, I don't really have many favorite brands, but Henckels and Boker speak more to me than others, I like their vintage razors a lot. Bartmann is also nice, just a very nice name and logo.

But more important to me than the brand is that I really like shoulder-less blades. It's mostly a honing thing for me and they look good too.

I've been shaving with hollow grinds most, but lately I got a couple of near wedges and must say they're just bulldozers, I have yet to perfect their shave, but they just plow through everything.

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Originally Posted by rhensley

Anyone who has read any of my post before knows i dearly love my heavy Sheffield and have said so in many post. I feel i have to amend this statement. I just got through shaving with a #14 Henckel and received one of the closest and comfortable shave so far. But it was a Henckel and so far all the henckels I've used has acted in this way. I know everyone has a favorite razor whether it's the size, shape, or name brand and there's so many out there. It's a shame it is impossible to try them all. My advice is to always keep looking. You never know when your next love affair will happen.

I put this in the razor thread and don't know if this is where it belongs so the mods. can relocate I don't mind.

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It surely is personal preference and that is what makes this lifestyle so great. That said and if I at this moment with what I have experience with HAD to choose a brand............well it would be a tie with a Ralf Aust and Revisor! Both German beauties that are simplistic; well made; and most of all inexpensive!

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Originally Posted by Michael70

It surely is personal preference and that is what makes this lifestyle so great. That said and if I at this moment with what I have experience with HAD to choose a brand............well it would be a tie with a Ralf Aust and Revisor! Both German beauties that are simplistic; well made; and most of all inexpensive!

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I understand whole heartily. Never tried either though. I have been watching some of the razors from the Netherlands. Can't pronounce any of them but tempted to try one.

I think that the "Holy Grail" keeps changing.
It happens when you get to a point where the size and grind of a razor doesn't really matter and you get a great shave with everything as long as it has a killer edge.
Some days it's the Henckels 14. Others it's the Wade & Butcher FBU wedge, or a custom built, or a narrow barely 5/8 wide hollow ground...etc..etc.
The bottom line is that razors are like your kids.. all different but you love them all!!

Pete <:-}

Well I'm sure everyone has heard me say more than once, Henckles is my favorite brand. I also like the 14's and 17's carbon over stainless. I have a Henckles 11V that is stainless and a wedge that is pretty rockin. Preferences do wain but there are some constants too and I am with you Sheffield wedges and Henckles makes for the sweetest shaving.

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Originally Posted by rhensley

I understand whole heartily. Never tried either though. I have been watching some of the razors from the Netherlands. Can't pronounce any of them but tempted to try one.

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You will never know until you do...;)

I just tend to like the German razors best. Must be my heritage too. I would love to get a Thiers one day and see how they are.

I rotate current favorites almost as much as razors, soaps and brushes. Whatever I am currently using should be good enough for an awesome shave.

My current favorite of the 30 or so straights I rotate is a Dovo Bismarck 6/8. I bought this while waiting on a Wacker which is also very nice but this Bismarck has that something special.

When folks talk about their favorite or best razors they usually mention the grind and size and scales but what many forget about (and I think is the most important) is the feel of the razor and the way it fits in your hand. After-all, any razor can be honed and scales can be changed but overall dimensions are another thing.

Each one of us has hands of differing dimensions. If you ever experience a razor, that when you hold it seems to be almost an extension of your hand and can be effortlessly manipulated like a fine instrument you will realize what a great razor truly is.

I enjoy a little variety. I have some Sheffields, some heavy grinds, some extra hollow, round tips, square, French, Spanish. But that being said, I'm also content with what I have. I may buy something else down the line but I've also found that ever more variety just becomes noise. I've weeded out some of the ones that I didn't care for and kept the ones that I like most. And over time I may tweak that some. I like variety but I'm not looking for anymore of it. Soaps, aftershaves, balms? Same thing. I have a few options that I like. It gives me variety. But I only use a few selected varieties that work well for me. The hunt for the holy grail is off.

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Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Each one of us has hands of differing dimensions. If you ever experience a razor, that when you hold it seems to be almost an extension of your hand and can be effortlessly manipulated like a fine instrument you will realize what a great razor truly is.

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Exactly my thoughts. My favorites were ergonomically designed as shavers , whether it be a wedgy Sheffield or simple Red Imp, easy to strop and with good balance in the hand. I dislike thumb notches personally. They are ok while actually shaving ,but I tend to fumble with them while honing and especially stropping. Some of the customs , tend to place visual appeal over functionality and while attractive to the eye,become less appealing in use.

One thing I will add, I used to be into bigger blades 7/8, 6/8, not anymore

I find a 5/8 or there around to be much more to my preference, I like their agility and maneuverability, feels indeed good to my hands and I feel very comfortable honing, stropping and shaving with them
so, 5/8 shoulder-less blades are my go to, it's something I've come to liken more than anything else after years and years of collecting and shaving, it's pretty much all I ever use anymore

I have a fairly heavy & stiff beard that grows pretty fast. I tend to go towards larger blades. At the moment my go to razor is a 6/8" Pre 1881 Hollow ground with a nice smile. Second on the list is a 11/16" German made 133 Red Imp. Took a while to stop cutting my self on that sharp tip but I have it down pretty good. I find the workmanship on the Red Imp to be about the best I have seen on a production razor. I value that more than fancy & pretty myself I have several other straight's that go in & out of the rotation, United States, Germany & England all made fine razors & many other countries also.
Slawman