Ralf Aust at Shaving Shack

Hi, I'm going to upgrade to either a vintage NOS razor or a good quality new razor. In the new category, Ralf Aust was recommended, and I found this at Shaving Shack: Ralf Aust 5/8 Carbon Steel Olive Wood Open Razor :: Straight Razors & Cut-Throat Razors :: Razors :: The Shaving Shack

My query is, how does Ralf Aust measure up to other new razors (not sure my budget could stretch to Dovo etc. :P ), and if I bought from Shack, does it come properly shave ready, or is it worth sending it off for a final honing first?

Thanks.

Ralph Austins are good quality razors. I don't own one, but have heard and read good things about them.

As to the Shack selling them truly "shave ready" I can not help there

Good luck and enjoy your new razor

I have two Ralf Aust razors, one 6/8" and one 7/8". They are both well made, attractive razors that take and hold a nice edge. I got mine from Straight Razor Designs, and they came shave ready.

I have no idea what Shaving Shack does about honing.

I believe Ralf Aust razors come close to shave ready from the factory, but they may or may not meet your own standards.

Dovo claims their razors are shave ready from the factory. Some folks agree, I did not find that to be the case with mine. I had to hone it before my first shave.

I have two and love them both! Great shavers and beautifully crafted pieces. You can't go wrong with one.

I'm not an expert by any means as I went to straight only about six months ago. I only have four razors but of the four my Ralf Aust is the best shaver. I also acquired mine from Straight Razor Design and it was shave ready. You need to get a response from someone who has actually purchased a rarazor from Shaving Shack to find out how shave ready they are.

My first straight razor was an Aust from Straight Razor Designs. I think it's a great razor. Austs are a good deal and I'd prefer an Aust over a Dovo.

I have an early 6/8ths. I can say, I have had few, if any, of vintage great blades that have surpassed it.
Again, shave ready is a much abused term in commerce. If it does not meet your standards, a few bucks to one of the noted (reliable) hone persons here, while adding to your cost, will pay back in comfort.
~Richard

I looked at the ad and it clearly says that it has the factory edge. Some of the people who manufacture do have shave ready edges on all of their, now if Aust is one of them or now I do not know. My Ralf Aust came to me hand honed after the factory. There is a member in the UK that hones as a business. You could buy it and arrange to have it sent directly to him for honing and then on to you. Celticcrusader is his screen name.

Celticcrusader is the chap who put me on to the Ralf Aust! I might ask him about that, I've never sent anything away yet, didn't know you could cut out a step like that!

I have quite a few Austs and bought most of them directly from him.
Razors do leave his workshop in a shave-ready condition and I also agree with others that Ralf Aust makes excellent razors for an attractive price.

Thus I would hold back with sending the razor for honing and save the money for later.
If you need to get your razor honed eventually, you could also send it straight to Ralf Aust, as he offers this kind of service.

One consideration; Olive wood may be quite hard and has been used since ages for razor scales, but is not the densest of his wood scales. That honour goes to some African or South American hardwoods and you may find after some time that, around the area where the scales are pinned, olive wood absorbs minute amounts of the oil (e.g. Ballistol) that you may use for conservation and that the olive wood starts to darken there, although it is not a big problem by any means.


B.

Beluga, I hadn't considered scales other than that they looked nice, do you need to oil and maintain wood scales?

I think the decision is made to go with Ralf Aust, I'd still really like to hear from anyone who has purchased from Shaving Shack, can you comment on the readiness of the shave?

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Originally Posted by AMarsReject

Beluga, I hadn't considered scales other than that they looked nice, do you need to oil and maintain wood scales?

I think the decision is made to go with Ralf Aust, I'd still really like to hear from anyone who has purchased from Shaving Shack, can you comment on the readiness of the shave?

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Never bought from Shaving Shack, so unfortunately I can’t comment.

Generally, hardwood scales don‘t need much care, but some African or South American hardwood (e.g. African blackwood, cocobolo, or bocote) might work better for your first Aust razor. You can always try olive wood later, it is nice but not quite as dense and hard.



B

The woods Beluga has mentioned are excellent woods for scales. The African Blackwood is awesome, very dense, hard, and naturally oily. If sanded to a fine grt., it will polish up on its own, without the use of a sealer/ top coat.

A very attractive wood.
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Quote:

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Originally Posted by outback

The woods Beluga has mentioned are excellent woods for scales. The African Blackwood is awesome, very dense, hard, and naturally oily. If sanded to a fine grt., it will polish up on its own, without the use of a sealer/ top coat.

A very attractive wood.
Attachment 281159

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As for some woods, a once a year light coat of teak oil wouldn't hurt, if their not a sealed wood. Too much, and you'll never get the proper tension at the pivot. I've also used bees wax n orange oil with good success.
Attachment 281160
Some Murphy's oil soap would work too.

Interesting points! Sadly, the blade design I like is only in Olive wood or plastic scales, think I'd rather go with the olive wood. I'll have a look around, are there other UK vendors I should look into for Ralf Aust?

Brexit hasn’t come to pass yet, so there is no duty or tax, and you could order from Ralf Aust directly and ask him to mail the razor to you.

https://rasiermesser-manufaktur.de/en/razor/

I do not live in the UK, but I have been doing this with most of my Austs and it worked very well.


BV.

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I have six...all 6/8 or 7/8
Each is a truly fine razor. All were pretty much shave ready right out of the box. I believe Ralf Aust makes the finest production razor on the market.

PS. Herr Aust will custom make about any blade style and scale shape/material you like. He is a great guy with whom to do business. No extra “custom” fees either..

I hadn't considered that... What exactly does serated edge mean on a SR, is that just the jimps on the tang for a better grip? And what difference does a Schorkopf grind make?

I have 3 Austs all bought several years ago and they have been variable as to shave ready condition. One was absolutely shave ready out of the box. Another just needed a light touch-up and the third needed some serious work.

Once shave ready they are all quality razors.

Jimps (serrations)-pretty much individual preference. I prefer them over a smooth shank.
Schorkopf-kind of a beveled toe. Sort of like this:
Attachment 281168

Again...mostly aesthetics and individual preference

Quote:

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Originally Posted by AMarsReject

Hi, I'm going to upgrade to either a vintage NOS razor or a good quality new razor. In the new category, Ralf Aust was recommended, and I found this at Shaving Shack: Ralf Aust 5/8 Carbon Steel Olive Wood Open Razor :: Straight Razors & Cut-Throat Razors :: Razors :: The Shaving Shack

My query is, how does Ralf Aust measure up to other new razors (not sure my budget could stretch to Dovo etc. :P ), and if I bought from Shack, does it come properly shave ready, or is it worth sending it off for a final honing first?

Thanks.

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Your link has an answer: ""Please note: As with all of our open razors, whilst this razor is factory honed and deemed "shave ready"
by the manufacturer, that's not to say it can't be made sharper by getting it honed professionally which is down to personal preference.""

My guess from this statement is it will arrive ready to shave for most of us but not all.
You may wish to hunt a honemaster but not need one for a while.

I had seen that, but being inexperienced in shave ready (this will only be my second razor, and the Gold Dollar isn't going to be much of a comparison!) I wanted to get an idea of other people's experiences in Ralf Austs from SS.

Looking at Ralf's site, he offers the razors in Stainless Steel or not stainless steel, what's the difference, in terms of quality of razor?

I love the Ralf Aust just buy direct from ralf I did and was very happy as others have said there good qaulity.

Where about s are you in Nottingham?

PMed you, Gary

My first razor was purchased from SRD and had an amazing edge. I have owned 5 but am down to 2 6/8. One of those I still own was bought directly from Ralf Aust. It came shave ready. I stropped it and it was ready to shave. Excellent shave and all hold their edges. Usually when I get a new razor, I have to hone it, some with more honing others with less.

I had three and the first was shave ready. The second needed minor touchup and the third need heavy touchup more like true honing. I got mine at SRD.