Thread: A deeply personal question.

It seems to me that there are some people here with serious RAD issues.

I am prepared to help with that. Feel free to send any excess razors to me. My collection is only small so I think I can take the stress. I will let you know when to stop sending them. The thing is if you all reduce your collections, you can then go out and buy more razors. No need to thank me, I am just selfless like that.

Some really impressive collections here. I have razor envy!

I'm down to around 65-70 at the moment. I've got a core of 60 customs and collectables and I keep adding and subtracting depending on what I can find and what I really want to hang on to. A few years ago I was around 150-200 but I've reduced the quantity to focus more on quality. It's hard to beat the feeling when you can choose from something like a Thiers Issard Pierre Thiers hand hammered, a Gabor Buddel damascus custom with mammoth ivory scales, a historic Mappin Lancet Edge or perhaps a Juan Volmer Palmera 8/8. To me, that's what straight razor shaving is all about.

I see a lot of you are about quality, over quantity.
I have razors that look like total crap, no name to speak of ( Maker/ grinder ) that shave exceptionality well.!

So what I'm saying is, what is quality, compared to the hand doing the honing and wielding of a razor, with no matter to the brand, size and grind.

Originally Posted by MichaelS

Hi, I'm Michael and I'm an...............owner of 36................razor boxes!

Each box has a log with honing progression for the razors inside. I haven't counted the total.

All shave ready, I use them all but the rotation is obviously big......

I have another dozen or so razors currently in the workshop in various stages of restoration.




Here's what the box labels currently say (determined mainly by the size of the boxes and of my shelves):

Heljestrand NOS
Heljestrand hollow
Heljestrand half hollow
Heljestrand wedge
SSA
Swedish Bengall (Borlänge maskinaffair)
Berg
Swedish misc NOS
Swedish misc other

Henckels hollow
Henckels wedge
Henckels Friodur
Giesen & Forsthoff/Timor
Schulze
Dovo
Wacker
Puma
Solingen other NOS
Solingen other hollow
Solingen other wedge

Le Grelot
Le Grelot 7-day
Thiers Issard
France others NOS
France others hollow
France old wedges

Wostenholme 7-day
Gardiner 7-day
Sheffield NOS
Sheffield Tier 1
Sheffield other hollow
Sheffield other wedge

Japan

Belgium (mainly other countries for Belgian cutlery retailers)

Customs

Other countries (Spain, USA, Hungary, Poland - a future development area for me!)

Oh my goodness! I believe this puts you in the category of curator.

I'm with you here. My eternal favorite shaver is a pretty no-frills Henckels Friodur, and honestly I've not found much difference, all things considered, in shaving quality between most razors - I could be happy with just 2 or 3 of mine. I recognize that I'm in it 99% for the collecting, categorizing, and research aspects.

Originally Posted by outback

I see a lot of you are about quality, over quantity.
I have razors that look like total crap, no name to speak of ( Maker/ grinder ) that shave exceptionality well.!

So what I'm saying is, what is quality, compared to the hand doing the honing and wielding of a razor, with no matter to the brand, size and grind.

Exactly Mike. One of my best shavers happens to be the ugliest one in the rotation. Would I polish the patina off Big John and put a new set of shoes on him? NEVER. Even though he would still give a great shave things wouldn't be the same.

Originally Posted by outback

I see a lot of you are about quality, over quantity.
I have razors that look like total crap, no name to speak of ( Maker/ grinder ) that shave exceptionality well.!

So what I'm saying is, what is quality, compared to the hand doing the honing and wielding of a razor, with no matter to the brand, size and grind.

quality is obviously subjective. i can only speak for myself, but the quality i refer to is the razor's value to me. it doesn't necessarily have to be pristine or the prettiest. the ones i own are the ones that are keepers and get used regularly. i don't own any "unnecessary" razors so to speak.

it's awesome that many own hundreds and some even in the Ks, but it's not my style.

6 in rotation. 3 koraats, 2 filarmonicas, 1 DD. And that seems excessive.

Originally Posted by Deeter

6 in rotation. 3 koraats, 2 filarmonicas, 1 DD. And that seems excessive.

Agreed...3 Koraats does seem excessive. Wanna trade?

@MichaelS Are we talking hundreds of razors in each box or six to eight laid out in holders? Just curious. Nice setup and I love the way you have separated them in groups. Very nice file boxes.