Thread: Older razors, are they better?

I have had three razors to date: Revisor 5/8 with thermoplastic scales(first blade, bought direct from Mfr), Cadman Bengall 6/8 with celluloid scales (Etsy purchase), Henckels 472 6/8 with celluloid scales (ebay purchase), and I am now about to take delivery of a new Dovo Encina 6/8.

I have only been straight shaving for 4-5 months and I know a real expert will get better results, and as always YMMV, but I feel comfortable enough to chart these as follows:

Ergonomics (balance, handling, control etc):

1st - Bengall (by a country mile)
2nd - Revisor
3rd - Henckels

Comfort of shave (problematic due it boiling down to it being my honing vs factory honing vs another's):

1st - Henckels
2nd - Bengall
3rd - Revisor

Build Quality:

1st - Henckels
2nd - Bengall (not much to call between the Henckels and Cadman here, both feel very sturdy, they possess heirloom quality)
3rd - Revisor (blade did not sit tight in scales, the scales themselves felt insubstantial, did not feel of heirloom quality, to be frank it felt cheap)


Now this is only a subjective comparison and one provided by a relative newcomer to straight shaving, but I have read comments from renovators - honers that suggest a preference for the old blades; one particular honer compared the new blades to being hard, rough to use, harder to hone than the older sheffields. All that being said I have, as mentioned, bought a new Dovo, and so the experiment goes on.

Does anybody have a particular opinion (dangerous question I know)?

One thing you need to keep in mind is variability condition on old blades vary a lot. I get the distinct feel that I get more bang for my buck with an older blade.

Gotta love the Bengalls

Well there are a lot of things that are personal preference. From my onto view the Heckles should always be first.

Older razors, are they better?


Yea. They are…

Just take a good look at the finish of some of the great razors, and compare to new.

I do have some quality new, but they don’t compare to quality vintage razors. There are some, turning out nice razors, but nothing like vintage.

And if you compare price, what you will pay for a quality new razor, you can often buy a pristine and sometimes two, vintage razors for the same price.

Preference on blades is a very YMMV thing. In 20 years, you might still disagree on razor preferences with me, Substance, Rami or anyone else in this forum. Now, none of my blades are new-new. Probably early '90's at the youngest, most with similar edges to them. My biggest deciding factor is simply weight of the blade, for which razor to use that day. Other than that, quality seems reasonably consistent, or I'm just not particular...

I would caution a careful eye with the celluloid scales, cell rot is a cruel mistress.

The tightness of the scales can be a decent range. Just enough not to flop around and not so tight that you can't open the razor. It is an easy fix to get it to your liking, though. A honer will probably tighten them up as they see fit.

I can not say which is the best old or new, but I would guess old because of pride and competition in those days. I have some Dubl Duck razors and the scale work could have been better, but you can hone them on a fogged up shower mirror. The blade is that good ! I am kidding about the mirror I have some new Bokers that seem really good as well .

Moving this from the honing forum to the razors forum.

I've got some new razors that I feel are as good or even better than some older razors, and vice versa. Overall I would say that IME the older razors were more consistent in terms of quality. I'd say the German, French and USA razor factories are putting out a quality product that is adequate for the intended purpose.

Your next move should be to acquire a shave ready, 7/8 Sheffield wedge like a Wade & Butcher, Frederick Reynolds, Joseph Rodgers or a George Wostenholm..... and those are just a few top names that I personally really like.

Not sure if they are better or not. You get good and bad in vintage as well as modern. I do think they were true craftsman in vintage times. There is too much automation today. Not enough hands on.
I personally prefer the vintage to the modern. They have proven themselves lasting decades and still have decades of life left in them if cared for. Besides it's the history and mystery behind them. Where have they been and who shaved with them. If they could only talk and give up their secrets.