Thread: Not Sharp or Just Not Very Good?

Hello- I received a new Ralf Aust 6/8 Spanish tip this week for Father's Day. This is only my second razor as I only started shaving with a straight six months ago.

My other razor is a Cattaraugus Cutlery Barber's Friend that was my wife's grandfather's. I had it honed here in Munich by someone I think knows what they're doing. I haven't had any major problems, but since this is the only razor I've used I didn't have much for comparison-until now.

I was blown away by how much better the new razor shaves than my old one. Smoother I guess is the best way to describe it. Is this because the new razor is that much better or is my old razor just not sharp enough? I guess what I'm asking is it worth it to send the old one out to have it honed by someone I know will do a good job or is it just not a great razor? Thanks in advance, -Troy

Definitely have the old one honed. If the blade is in good shape you should get years of use out of it.

We often say to have one professionally honed as a base to judge other honing on. It is fortunate yours shaves but may have been smoother when you started, you just don't remember.

Send it out for honing.

I agree with the above, you must have the other razor honed. Maybe the Ralf Aust is a better razor, maybe it isn't, but for a fair comparison, the other should be honed. Glad you enjoy them.

Cattaraugus Cutlery is a blade favored by many. I would expect that you will find it a completely different shave after having it honed. I have no idea how long you have shaved with it before now, also new users tend to be a little hard on edges. It does take a bit to get on top of your technique. I would have it honed and take another run at it. It is possible that the old blade had encountered something in it's life that left it incapable of holding a shaving edge, but it is so worth trying to have it fixed.

Something else you might consider is the stropping. When I was first starting out (and sometimes even now) I didn't have a good stropping technique developed, tended to have too much pressure and over-used the linen. This caused my edges to deteriorate quickly and made me think it was a bad blade or wasn't honed right. So, yes you should get it honed then check if stropping has anything to do with it. Good luck, keep at it.

Have it honed. There should not be any other reason it will not give a nice comfortable shave. It all comes down to the edge.

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I agree with all the replies. Send it out and get it honed. You have a piece of family history there that is worth the effort and expense. It might surprise you how it shaves once it has been honed by a pro. I am guilty of stropping the edge off of a good razor. Watch some videos and keep asking questions. Either way Enjoy The Shave!

Just for reference if you could post a photo of the blade on the Cattaraugus I'd like to see the condition before recommending the pro honing. That is a well regarded brand, so it should be a good shaver. Uneven hone wear could be an issue.

Thanks. It's good to know its a decent razor. I don't know much about them and I don't see them discussed much. I'll send it out and see how it compares after I know there's a good edge on it.