Thread: How long would one straight razor last you?

The thing I always tell myself is, look around at some of the 100+ year old razors in this forums, there are SO MANY. And most of them have been used for at least 1 "shaving lifetime" (original owner), if not more. Now think about what kind of technology and stuff ppl had in like 1890. Nowadays we have significantly better climate controls in our houses, better metallurgy and materiel science etc. I doubt criswilson10's story is rare, i.e. someone who got a razor from their grandparents in shaveable condition who's grandpa had used it everyday in his lifetime before giving it to them. Heck, I could go out and buy a vacuum sealed, climate controlled box specially made for keeping metal from encountering the usual elements nowadays. (You wouldn't, but you could).

Personally, I plan to use my razors for at least another 400 years myself ...then maybe give it to a future generation. Srsly though, I'm more likely to drop it and crack it, or lose it or smthg than actually have it wear out.

My Solingen 5/8 Test razor has already "Lasted a Lifetime" of honing and is still going strong...

A few of us have done Honing and Stropping Torture tests, and as long as the honing and stropping is done properly there is minimal steel loss to the razor

In real life I had my first two SR's for over 26 years before I finally dropped the second one and found this forum while searching the Interweb looking for SR's and info

Adding to the chorus of 'well beyond my lifetime'.

Especially since I prefer meaty old wedges.

10-15 years? come on be real, we have guys in this forum who have many more years than that on a razor. not in a drawer same as Chris, my grandfathers razor was used daily also till death then my dad used it till he decided to be a DE nd electric guy , so 10-15? maybe till its broke in then add another 200-500 years

My Grandfather started shaving in the 1890's. When his two oldest sons started to shave the three of them shared the same razor. Grampa shaved with it until 1956 when he finally got electricity. Fast forward to 1970 and I started using it. I used it exclusively until I started collecting razors. Never the less, Grampa's razor STILL comes up in my rotation. When I croak the undertaker may as well toss it in my casket because none of my relatives have the balls to use the damn thing.

I have and on occasion use my Great Grandfather's Wade and Butcher. He died in 1934 and I'm quite sure that as long as it's taken care of it'll be capable of shaving my great, great grandsons.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/custo...ered-horn.html

Originally Posted by tcrideshd

10-15 years? come on be real, we have guys in this forum who have many more years than that on a razor. not in a drawer same as Chris, my grandfathers razor was used daily also till death then my dad used it till he decided to be a DE nd electric guy , so 10-15? maybe till its broke in then add another 200-500 years

Well my only thing is I do see a lot of guys with straights lasting them forever BUT they also have like 10 razors in rotation (so in theory those 10 razors should easily last 10 lifetimes as a set). There is also the "look at all the old razors still around" but chances are a lot of those razors were sitting in drawers not getting used a lot of their lifetime. I wonder for every picture of a straight you see on the website that looks good, how many were trashed after they were used up (or bad condition). Although I will say my guess is the metal probably last a good bit more that what I was originally thinking. Also I don't think people were treating their straight razor with as much care as a collector would (thus shorter life). My guess is there were probably quite a few straights replaced before 10-20 years just from bad treatment (dropping the razor etc). I have a hard time going 2-3 years without dropping my phone haha. With good care though I do think 1 straight would last a lot longer than I originally though, thanks for the replies I appreciate it.