Thread: Is it me or does Hart Steel seem to barely be in production these days?

About three years ago, if you went to Hart Steel's online retailer, Classic Shaving, there was a robust amount of different Hart Steel branded razors that were available. You could get standard line economy razors and more expensive artisanal razors by designers like Bruce Gregory, etc. And there used to be a significant turnaround in their stock, plus a huge line of gorgeous, creatively designed razors.

This last year or two it seems sales, except for the lower tier offerings, are sluggish at best with razors just sitting there for months or years and all the good stuff has been loooong sold out. And guys like Bruce Gregory don't appear to be in the razor business anymore. Classic Shaving in general seems to have scaled back it's operations with many products sold out or not restocked.

Anyone know the story with Hart Steel? Are they still a player in the straight razor game?

Thanks!

New owners. Qc and CS has went down the crapper. Most of the original grinders have went off on their own me thinks

Classic Shaving sold, and the old company carried quality products. They made the Cobra and the King Cobra SE's, but many people are complaining about poor quality control of the razors now being produced as well as poor customer service. Bruce Gregory is still making excellent knives and razors, and you can order one from his website. Classic Shaving isn't what is used to be. I'm not sure what has happened to Hart Steel. I know that one of their razor makers, Bruce Gregory, has sold some of his razors under his own name on other sites.

Classic Shaving has been part of The Grooming Network for a while now. Whereas Classic Shaving owned Hart Steel, TGN owned Grim Blades. Classic Shaving had a great reputation, TGN and Grim Blades, not so much.

After TGN purchased Classic Shaving, it appears that they have been trying to liquidate the Hart inventory and maintain the Grim Blades name.

Most of the better quality Hart blades are sold out. The only ones remaining appear to be the satin finished blades. I purchased one of those satin finished razors. It is one of only two razors in my collection I regret purchasing. I finally got it to shave by honing a double bevel, but it is still one of my least favorite shavers. That is a real shame as people who purchased Hart razors from their heyday reported that they were great shavers.

Originally Posted by RayClem

Classic Shaving has been part of The Grooming Network for a while now. Whereas Classic Shaving owned Hart Steel, TGN owned Grim Blades. Classic Shaving had a great reputation, TGN and Grim Blades, not so much.

The Grooming Network! The Clear Channel of shaving. That makes sense. That's a shame. I guess I grabbed a couple of Hart blades a few years ago just before they turned. Oh well. I wish TGN and Grim the best of luck. Douchebags gotta pay the rent too.

Originally Posted by evnpar

Bruce Gregory is still making excellent knives and razors, and you can order one from his website.

I went to check out his website, but couldn't come up with anything beyond an abandoned Etsy page. Do you have a link to his site? Thanks!

I honed several of the early Hart razors and they were well made, very utilitarian but well made and honed pretty well from Hart, now in my opinion you are better to spend your $$ on say a Ralf Aust or similar as the Hart razor quaility has gone way down hill.

Agreed. The Harts from 2013 or so and earlier were nice. Today? Well.... A Ralf Aust or Brian Brown razor are by far and large the best bang for the buck.

I managed to get a Hart razor from CS last year, its a chunky razor to say the least, the edge was very toothy when I got I, but as I hone my own not a problem, for me its a great shaver, feels a tad awkward when stropping due to its chunkiness imho, scales a little ugly but for me the shave was very good.