Thread: Help with Next Razor Acquisition: Aust, Nate's, Koraat, B. Brown

Brian Brown can REALLY grind well his scales are well constructed also, with proper fit and balance to make the razor strop very easily

The RA is a no brainer they are a solid choice at a good price..

Thanks everyone for the input! It will be a hard decision, but I'll really start paying attention to my current razors, their grinds, weight, fit and finish to see what exactly it is that I prefer. Good to know that that I can't pick a bad one out of the three.

Honestly I've no experience with any but the Ralf Aust, and I would highly recommend him. If I'm not mistaken he is such a small operation that it is basically a custom razor. Anyway, call it what you will, his stuff is first rate and probably more reasonably priced than the others. Lotta bang for the buck.

I have Aust and Koorat and honestly the Koorat is in a entirely different class than the Aust and the Aust is a very fine razor. With the Koorat you are essentially getting a custom made razor at a bargain price.

For me I find the Koorat to be the perfect razor.

To throw my 2cents worth in.... I have an Aust and if I had to do it again, I would be going with a Koorat. The Aust is nice, but I just don't like those bellied, paper thin razors that make a racket while shaving. I also don't like wedges, as I find them too heavy. The Koorat in in the (I think it's 3/4 hollow) should be just about perfect for me. Light weight, but a stiff, firm blade.

My particular Aust was purchased directly from Aust and it does have some very minor issues I have to deal with. While minor, I feel they should have been caught by the maker and so that is another reason for me to look elsewhere. Had I purchased from SRD, I'm confident they would have either corrected the issues or sent it back and selected a different razor for me. As it stands, it's not worth it to me to send it back for these minor issues and I will simply correct them myself.

I've played with the customizer at Koorat and I keep getting a very drool worthy razor. That said, my vintage razors are giving me such good shaves that I honestly don't think I'll spend more money. In fact, I need to reduce the number of razors in my stable, now that I have retired. I don't want these razors to end up on the $2 table in a garage sale if I pass on before the Mrs.

In the past year, I've spent my money on Jnats and I've just had one of the best shaves ever, with a vintage Boker...The razor was in pretty sad shape with I got it off ebay, but with my friend Bekk fixing the scales I broke, and after a very nice shave off his hone job, I decided to see if I could tweak it just a bit more and my last Jnat purchase took it to that next level.... Durn near the same as a new Feather Pro Super blade. Silent and deadly sharp!

Regards

Christian

I've had 3 Aust's and now have 2. They shave great, hold an amazing edge and they are affordable.

My Aust is my favorite razor. I have a rotation, but I'm often inclined to touch it up before I work through other blades in my rotation, which shows my preference.

I have a very nice Aust and recommend them. With that said a Koraat would be mine if I didn't have some other things to purchase like food and water... [emoji12]

I don't know much about the others. I have been straight shaving 10 months. Got the Aust Xmas and decided i love straight shaving so I picked up 3 vintage razors and started a rotation less than two weeks ago. I still love the Aust fit and finish and am missing it since it went to Lynn for the free hone....

Have a great day...

Originally Posted by jseitz

I've got RAD, bad, but not enough coin or good will with the Mrs. to purchase everything I spy. .

I hear you on that one. I would be very interested in what you go for. I have been looking at some Austs, but now I have to go and check out these others too.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

I have Aust and Koorat and honestly the Koorat is in a entirely different class than the Aust and the Aust is a very fine razor. With the Koorat you are essentially getting a custom made razor at a bargain price.

I am sorry to have to disagree here, Nelson, but here goes... Aust and Koraat are one man operations. Unless something has changed recently, both use Herkenrath blanks (which, by the way, is a very big plus in my book, because it means absolutely consistent quality). The Koraat designs are a too beaucoup for my taste, and I do not fancy really big, heavy blades. If you do, Ulrik makes fantastic razors - and with absolutely consistent quality from having looked at about fifty of them. So, you're getting "a custom razor" from both, and consistent quality. I like the look, feel, and handling of Aust razors, better, and would recommend them to anyone looking for daily shaver. Horses for courses, so to speak, and YMMV. Either way, you cannot go wrong with either in my experience.

[Edit] Here is a longish review of my Esbjerg by Koraat Straight Razor 8/8 Bog Oak With American Head and here is one of some of my Aust razors.