Thread: Truely awesome razors

I don't like shaving, nor does my skin.
"So why do you mess with straight razors?" you may want to know.
Because I like the shave results with a straight best. I have tried everything under the sun.
Electric shavers: crappy alternative if you are in a hurry but a cartridge razor will get me a better result in about the same time. I never managed to get a really BBS facial skin with cartridge razors nor double edge safety razors. A fresh double edge blade leaves me with terrible razor burn.

I really like the BBS results with a straight that's why I mess with them. I love the challenge of honing, trying to get an even sharper edge than the last time I tried. My ultimate goal: a BBS face in a one-pass ATG shave even with a week's growth on my face.

Lately I have enjoyed a good many one-pass ATG BBS shaves with a Filarmonica 14 Doble Temple finished on my Ozuku Mizu Asagi from Tomonagura. I don't manage to get all my razors that sharp though.

So my question to you gents is: how do you define a truely awesome razor and do you have one or more of them?

I've got quite a few awesome razors: most of them are Bengalls or Rodgers and a couple of odd ball you've-never-heard-of-them blades, but I have to include my 1912 GEM SEs as well. The quality that makes them awesome is the ease with which they give great results. By great I don't necessarily mean BBS every time, just good easy shaves that are pleasurable rather than hard work. In essence: you feel better after the shave than you did before.

I have a few that I would say are above the rest. a couple modern, a couple vintage, and one vintage refurbished no-name that's earned its way into my rotation, it left me no choice.
for the newer ones, the prima klang that i got on the b/s/t here with the extra hollow grind has been an excellent performer, i can't say enough good things about it. I got a Boker Waldorf on sale as well, which I'm pretty sure is the same blade from some of their other models just modified slightly, and it outperforms all of my expectations as well. However it came very dull and took some time to set a good bevel so I understand their questionable reputation coming from the factory.
In regards to the old greats, Fili's are great blades and have never let me down. Also i've bought a few vintage Bismarks which take an edge and shave very nicely considering you dont spend an arm and a leg picking them up off the bay.
as for my no-name, one of my first refurb projects was this rescaled "london cut co" razor with about a half hollow grind and pretty thin spine. after refurbishing it and polishing it I put an edge on it that was incredible, and like i said that blade has made its way into my rotation just because it's such a great shaver. definitely not very pretty, but it reminds me that great blades can e found almost anywhere.
In short, an awesome razor to me is one that shaves great.

I have a lot of really great razors. They are from all over too. Spain, Germany, England, Sweden, USA, France. They are not all from the same era either. It is true that not all razors will take the perfect edge and deliver the perfect shave, add to the the variable of two hands. The one that hones the edge and the one that shaves the face. I think the last too factors are as important as the blade itself and the hones. An edge can be a very personal thing to those who seek the ultimate in shave comfort and performance.

@RezDog -- You said pretty much what I came here to say. I really don't have a favorite razor -- some are vintage, some are modern. Often my edges are less than ideal, so I take them back to the hones for next time and continue advancing my skills in that department. My shaves are superior to those from the venerable Braun electric, so I'm never let down really. It's such fun sport, and I'm still learning something new every week which keeps my interest piqued.

I do have a favorite and I do have several of the same razor. Wade and Butcher SPECIAL, for what ever reason I am attached to these. They take a great edge and easily IMO. And I get a great shave with them. I also have a Keen Kutter that I have been favoring lately which is right up there with my W&B. I have mostly W&B but have started acquiring a few different brands here and there and I enjoy them all.
So as far as what defines a truly awesome razor for me?? How does it take an edge, how long will the edge hold and of course looks. I feel I should enjoy looking at it if I am going to have it And of course how does it shave, if it does not deliver a good shave there is no need for me to have it.

I have several that I keep returning to in my rotation. Torrey, Shumate,& Waterville among the American flagged but my absolute favorites are my Taylor Eyewitness blades. I currently have 5 and am always looking for 2 more for a complete 7 day set. They are a mix of the "Hollow Ground" & "The 1000" etched blades. Smoothest shavers I have! Preferred above my Zowada and Robert Williams blades.

I own close to 40 straights and all but 4 are made with Swedish steel; I don't have one favorite. Swedish steel takes a beautiful edge and keeps it almost forever. Each of my Swedes has given me multiple bbs shaves, and that is what I expect from them.

I have 60+ (haven't counted in quite a while) of all types of steel. Spanish, English, French, Russian, German, Polish, Japanese, American, etc. Old and new. For some unknown reason the early 20th century extra hollow english blades fit my face best of all. They take a wicked edge and hold it for and extensive period. I rest my blades 7-10 days between shaves and use latigo and horsehide strops before & after each shave. I go to canvas & linen (unpasted) if it needs a touchup. They rarely touch a hone more than once a year.

Just my $0.02. YMMV as always