I'd like to treat myself to a new American made straight, does anyone have experience of either, or both of these brands, and if so what are your opinions of them?
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I'd like to treat myself to a new American made straight, does anyone have experience of either, or both of these brands, and if so what are your opinions of them?
Ok, I should have run a search for PRC (would that have brought up the People's Republic...?), nobody has to answer this as I am awash with info. Sorry.
American made, you have some great choices,, Tim Zowda, Brian Brown, Butch Harner, Max Sprecher,, all of these choices are quality, American made. Tc
Yes, I have both brands and like both brands with a slight bias towards PRC due to my perception of their value.
I have a Portland Leviathan on order, so no firsthand experience with them yet. I am concerned that I will not like their thick tail, but we will see. Price point for the production razor was worth the risk imo.
I do have two Hart Steel razors from their custom line, no sure if that line is still made. The fit and finish is lacking on Hart razors when compared to other makers at a similar price point. The cocobolo scales are poorly finished (gain not filled in) on my 5/8 Rounded long tail shorty and the etching is inconsistent on the makers name. My square point thinned paddle tang has slightly better finish on the scales, but the company name is etched on the blade crooked. The makers name also suffers from inconsistent light to dark etching. I would not buy a third Hart Steel razor.
I have one of Brian Brown's semi-custom 7/8 razors on the way.
Theres a similar thread going on another shaving forum. You might want to poke around for it as well.
Good luck.
My brother and I ( I hope that's good English?) have quite a few Hart blades.
Their customer service is excellent and their 01 steel can be brought to deadly level of sharpness.
Plus you can design your own to a certain extent..
Hmm, I'm undecided between a new 1/4 grind and a vintage Brooksbank wedge, I just want to try a heavier blade to see how they compare with a full hollow.
I have no experience with PRC but can endorse Hart wholeheartedly (as it were:D ). The quality of their finishing honing is right at the top and I say that after having shaved with razors honed by the acknowledged best. The edge holding seems very good too.
I was reading a book - by the copy editor of the New York Times - who gave a good example of whether you are correct in using 'I' rather than 'me'. She suggested turning the phrase round - in which case you would never think of saying 'I and my brother', therefore you should use, 'my brother and me'.
I own both a razor from Hart and Portland. The Portland came shave ready and has yet to be touched up after about 30 shaves. It holds it edge very well.
The Hart holds its edge very well too but did not come shave ready and was finicky when getting to a good edge. The steel is hard on both. Once I got the Hart shaving it quickly became one of my favorites as did the Portland. I enjoy the 1/4 hollow heavy blade but mostly in addition to the added weight they are well balanced and easy to maneuver.
If given the choice I would buy another Portland even though Hart recently was 50% off.
I have a 7/8 hydra. I love me a Spanish point.
Attachment 246674
Here is the Hart 6/8 round point
Attachment 246675
Very nice indeed sir, is the Portland more of a mirror finish than the Hart?
I remember seeing from another member (Orville?) one issue on arrivla with his Portland, I think his was a Hydra, the tang was quite scratched up and the etchings obscured as a result, have you had any finish issues with yours?
They are both a satin finish. I received the Hart in need of honing though classic claimed shave ready. The Portland was a custom size at the time and I wanted more normal scales but was delivered these. Both a great shavers and I look forward to them. Both sets of scales leave something to be desired. I ended up sanding and sealing the Hart scales as there was very little if any finish. The Portland scales are finished but not to what you'd find on other makers razors.
Have owned both and currently still have the Hart. Both were roughly the same quality and shaved similarly. The Hart edge seemed to last longer and bevel was narrower. Hart feels more utilitarian, but I like the rugged simplicity.
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It's not necessarily that simple. The pronoun 'I' is subjective: My mother and I had tea together; whereas the pronoun 'me' is objective: The tea was too hot for me. In the first example the pronoun forms the subject of the verb, so 'I' is correct, in the second he forms the object, so 'me' is correct.
No offense, but whatever book you read is wrong.
My brother and I (are the subject nouns of the sentence) where "have" is the verb and razors the word "razors" is the object. I is the subjective, me is the objective; therefore, "the teacher corrected my brother and me" would be right. My brother and I told her to buzz off" would also be correct....not nice, but correct.
This is a really bad discussion for us (not we) to have on a shaving forum. :beer2:
Yours is the better explanation, and yes we should just stick to razors.
I love my Hart razors. I bought a second one to have both a round point and a straight point Hart. They hold their edges beautifully, each lasting for 4 or 5 months of solo use with basic stropping before needing a honing. I am a fan of the 1/4 grind and these, my Le Grelot and my 1/4 ground Wade & Butchers are the razors I would take to a desert island, assuming there was a way to make great soap there. The Harts are utilitarian, without quite the cosmetic perfection of some. The shaves I get from my Hart razors are sublime. I wouldn't part with mine.
I think that comes across in everything I've read, people that love what they're doing and working hard to make a fantastic product, you have to support that (at least that's my excuse for buying a razor and a strop!), I just wish there was somebody here in the UK trying to revive - even just a small part of - what was such a great industry.
I have two Hart Steel 6/8 Western Kamisoris, both made by Bruce Gregory, and they have been great. With care, I only have to send them out once a year for honing. Having said that, I'm excited to try a Portland, so I can give you a proper comparison. In the meantime, my Hart experience has been thumbs up!
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..
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.
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.
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.
Attachment 247045
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.
Attachment 247048
Attachment 247049
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!!!