Thread: Razor Quality

Hello -- I inherited my great-grandfather's straight razor (a "Gebruder" brand made in Solingen) that someone restored/honed for me a couple years back when I first began straight-razor shaving. I also have a Boker "King Cutter" that I had the same person hone (to ensure it was shave ready), and a cheap used razor -- again, honed by the same person. Based on the 50 or so shaves I've done (I don't straight-razor shave every day), the other razors are nowhere close to the quality of my great-grandfather's razor. I didn't expect much from the cheap razor, but am especially disappointed with the shave I get from the Boker given that it's also from Solingen. I've got to make multiple passes with it and the shave is still nowhere near as smooth as my great-grandfather's. I paid $100 for the Boker and I'm not sure why it's so inferior -- welcome thoughts from anyone on their experience with Bokers, and on other razors I should look at that are most likely to give me a shave appreciable to the one I get from the older Gebruder.

As far as the vintage razors, Bokers included, go that I have used, I can't say that there was/is a huge variance in the way they shave. That is if they have been honed all to the same sharpness. All these vintage razors were made at a time when everyone used one and any sub par makers simply did not survive.

Bob

Im with Bob. Ive got a few Bokers and find then great shaves and all made at different times. Could be you damaged the edge while stropping and now it not as good as it could be. When learning this way to shave it takes a while before you can keep from being rough on the edge. It dont take much to take life away from an edge.

At 50 shaves in you are still very new. As a new shaver your edges are subject to damage more frequently than a more experienced shaver. It is very possible that the edge of that one razor got damaged from stropping. The fact that one razor shaves smooth leads me to believe they were both well honed. The brands are both known brands from known areas. A shave ready edge is very delicate.

Vintage and antique straights were a product of a time when folks were proud of their work and all razors left the factory shave ready. If any made it through dull that was a serious defect and the merchant would have been severely dressed down by the customer for selling a defective razor.

Most straights made in Solingen were made in a small area probably a few blocks square and most razor makers bought blanks and scales and did minimal fabrication. So, whether the it's a well known brand like boker or Puma or an unknown brand the quality as it left the factory was the same as far as shaving goes. Maybe one razor was bigger or thicker or had more fancywork on it or nicer scales but the shave quality was the same.

Of course these razors are many many years old now and in most cases you have no knowledge as to the care it received or condition it was once in so it's hard to compare shave quality now.

I think, on this forum we have seen all kinds of abuses heaped on razors so unless you have a sample of each still sealed in it's coffin factory fresh you can't compare them and even then they can deteriorate seemingly sealed up depending on storage conditions.

My thoughts are that the difference is in the honing.

Regardless that the same person honed all of these blades.

Each blade is different with a different geometry and I'm referring to the warps n twists.

Maybe your grandfathers blade was just honed to perfection?

You are correct about the stropping process. I had to get a new Ralf Aust rehoned after I stopped it a few times because it didn’t shave as well as a new Boker. After it was honed, the shaves were virtually the same.

FYI. Great grandfather's razor's name is "Gebruder Rau(h) ? Rau(m)?"
Gebruder wth 2 dots on the u (umlaut) is German for "brothers"
Nice wooden case, many years ago pen & pencil cases were similar.

That's a fantastic set! So many of us wish that we had heirloom razors from family members past.

Although new to shaving myself, I've found it helpful to view the edge of the blade under magnification. A jewlers loop works great for this purpose.

I have a similar issue with one razor working great, and another (honed by the same person as the first) that is pulling badly. I used a loop to compare the two blades and it seems my "reputable honemeister" (not from this forum) won't be getting any more of my business.

Best of luck!