Thread: Fili purchase advice

Originally Posted by azgabe

So full name not just "JMP"?

We us JMP as abbreviation for Jose Monsserat Pou
On the tang of a Filarmonica razor made during his years you'll see the full name stamped under "Filarmonica"

Originally Posted by Jlander

I have a "doble" 13 probably from the newer generation. "Made in Spain" in English, no name stamp, weak decoration on blade, but it seems to hold a good edge and shaves very well. Maybe I'm just lucky (it would be very unusual).

If it works for you, it's one of the good ones!

Seriously, I don't think I've seen anyone say that the later ones are all bad or mostly bad, just that there were QC issues with the later ones and bad ones slipped through. Since you're already shaving with it, you already know more than the QC department at any big razor maker! You know if it holds an edge, if the spine's true, if it's pinned right, if it's ground right -- and you don't have those issues, so I think pretty clearly yours is one of the good ones.

Not a lot of ways to hide quality issues in a straight razor. Not like a car that develops transmission problems at 50,000 miles.

Actually I guess cell rot is a long-term quality issue.

I knew none of this before I purchased my first or 2nd or 3rd Filarmonica. Wow! I guess I got lucky because my two #12s are as described above, however, my #13 is clearly a newer Filarmonica with "Made in Spain". It is out being honed so I'm not sure how it shaves. Additionally, I came across a NOS IBERIA 12 that is one of the superior razors in my collection, a lesser known Spanish razor manufacturer who knew what he was doing. I mention this because it seems to me that the sellers are completely unaware of this information; it shows in the pricing of their razors. It really means the buyer must be smarter than the seller and this information will help us all in that regard. Thank you.

I ended up going with this Fili from a felloew member here. I was very pleased with the shave. Any ideas as to what generation it is? From what I gather, if it says JMP it is 1st gen? This particular razor says Made in Spain on the other side.

I dunno, but it's a nice razor.

Everyone seems enamored with the 14's, but I like the larger-sized 13's myself.

Originally Posted by sharptonn

I dunno, but it's a nice razor.

Everyone seems enamored with the 14's, but I like the larger-sized 13's myself.

I agree. With that love, the 14's demand a nice price as well. I personally like the 13 size. It measures approx 13/16 which is a great size in my opinion. A 14 I assume would be closer to 7/8+ or even 15/16. This is too large in my opinion. Or at least thats what I keep telling myself to keep my SRAD under control.