Thread: Portland and Hart

Originally Posted by JOB15

You still need to pay a few bucks for them to put an amazing edge on there for you. Even though they have honed mine up for free once.
Several years ago I sent them 3 for honing . Two of them were a complete fail (bare in mind I had bread knifed the bevels off) the third was very special,, a top class Escher finish..

Hart or PRC?

Originally Posted by TomP30

Hart or PRC?

You shouldn't need to with either. The Portland I received was honed well and is still shaving without me doing so much as a touch up.

My Hart I honed after the first shave. It is my custom to shave with a razor if a shave ready claim had been made. Hart/Classic Shave claims shave ready, I shaved with it. Not the worst claim (I have attempted far less worthy claims) but still not truly shave ready.

Originally Posted by JTmke

You shouldn't need to with either. The Portland I received was honed well and is still shaving without me doing so much as a touch up.

My Hart I honed after the first shave. It is my custom to shave with a razor if a shave ready claim had been made. Hart/Classic Shave claims shave ready, I shaved with it. Not the worst claim (I have attempted far less worthy claims) but still not truly shave ready.

I can say I have only ever received one razor that arrived shave ready, that was a vintage Henckels from a collector that sells on the bay, the new Revisor I purchased as my 'trainer' was nothing like as sharp, and a new Dovo stainless I bought several months later was less sharp still. I suppose this is an entirely subjective point however.

Originally Posted by TomP30

I can say I have only ever received one razor that arrived shave ready, that was a vintage Henckels from a collector that sells on the bay, the new Revisor I purchased as my 'trainer' was nothing like as sharp, and a new Dovo stainless I bought several months later was less sharp still. I suppose this is an entirely subjective point however.

I am over 1 year into my first PRC. It came quite shave ready and I have needed to hone it once due to an error on my behalf (I dinged it on the sink and nicked the edge a wee bit). I did a full reset to remove metal, but there was no need for me to have honed it otherwise, the edge was still in great shaving condition.

My second PRC also came in perfect shaving condition, and I have not had to touch this one yet, about 7 months now.

Almost all of what I get from the 'bay (vintage) I have to hone to get to the feel I personally like.

New production razors from makers I get perfect edges from:
Brian Brown
Nate's Straights (Zowada)
Portland Razor Co.
Mastro Livi
Robert Williams

Just about everything else I have touched up.

Originally Posted by Denvernoob

I am over 1 year into my first PRC. It came quite shave ready and I have needed to hone it once due to an error on my behalf (I dinged it on the sink and nicked the edge a wee bit). I did a full reset to remove metal, but there was no need for me to have honed it otherwise, the edge was still in great shaving condition.

My second PRC also came in perfect shaving condition, and I have not had to touch this one yet, about 7 months now.

Almost all of what I get from the 'bay (vintage) I have to hone to get to the feel I personally like.

New production razors from makers I get perfect edges from:
Brian Brown
Nate's Straights (Zowada)
Portland Razor Co.
Mastro Livi
Robert Williams

Just about everything else I have touched up.

That is quite a collection of high quality razors!

Originally Posted by TomP30

That is quite a collection of high quality razors!

It's a problem....but no, really, it is....

Originally Posted by Denvernoob

It's a problem....but no, really, it is....

Have you a Koraat in your collection yet, if so what do you think about it?

Originally Posted by TomP30

Have you a Koraat in your collection yet, if so what do you think about it?

I do have a Koraat, however, I purchased it used from the original owner and put my own edge on it when it arrived (which is why I didn't mention it above). I have never heard of someone disliking the edge that ships from Koraat, and I will tell you the bevel is flawless and set perfectly. I only needed to do a 8k/12k touch-up on it to make it perfect again.

It is HEAVY in 8/8 form but feels great in the hand and shaves fantastically.

Better late than never.

I know nothing of Portland razors. I do have a Hart 7/8 and although it is a nice enough razor, there are better choices. You gotta go a long way to beat a Brian Brown razor. Also you may consider a Jerry Stark; mucho blade for the buck, excellent fit and finish.

If price is no real concern, Zowada and Robert Williams should be looked into.




Here are a few examples.
Left-(top to bottom)
Brian Brown 13/16
Brian Brown 7/8
Tim Zowada Carbon Series 6/8

Right
All Jerry Stark 7/8

Top photo
Hart Steel 7/8 (L)
Jerry Stark Custom 7/8 w/D2 steel blade (R)
Arkansas Translucent stone (Center)

Some serious RAD being demonstrated here!!!