Please tell me it doesn't matter

I have enough razors and experience to know they're not all created equal. But I am not a wealthy man by any means. I like a large blade. I see pics posted here of some razors that look like pure artwork. Gorgeous! Please someone tell me that these many hundreds of dollar razors are just beauty queens and don't shave well at all. Don't get me wrong - I love the razors I have. They shave well considering my limited skill. I just hate the idea of one day going to my grave thinking I could've had that big beast of a razor that looked like it belonged in a museum. Anyway, enough whining... :soapbox:

A razor that shaves well can look like a million bucks or an old worn pitted mess. The looks and size are nice but the shave is what matters.

You can buy a vintage/used razor that will shave like a million bucks for around $60 or less. Check out our own forum for a great selection.

If you want new you are probably looking at $150 minimum for a quality piece.

It doesn't matter. Check out some of the razor club threads, for example. I have some custom razors that cost lots, but my go-to is still, and probably always will be, a 40 dollar Bengall by Cadman. Things don't have to be flashy to be functional. Hell, they don't even have to be shiny to be functional. 3/4 of my collection are covered in patina and black rust and they all shave beautifully.

All that matters is that a razor has good steel and has been honed properly. The rest is personal preference and aesthetics (and depth of pockets...).

James.

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I have a range of widths, and grinds, ranging from the late 1700s, to modern age. I've got down right ugly, to very attractive razors.

They all shave great.! But some, feel better on the skin.

A quote from the movie..Conan The Barbarian. And the riddle of steel.

Flesh is strong...what is steel, compared to the hand that wields it.

So weather its 3/8ths or 10/8ths, looks cool or not, it doesn't matter. If it shaves well.

But then its nice to treat ourselves to something nice, every now and then. Its only money... Can't take it with you in the end, might as well enjoy it while you can.

lol! That's a monster! Do you use it often?

James.

It only matters if it matters to you.

Bob

I'm gonna be honest - that big one looks like a meat cleaver. Yet, I'd shave with it.

I appreciate the sentiments. And I feel the same. But sometimes I do see a nice looking custom.

It's kind of like if I was driving a pinto and saw a ferrari...

well there is only one way to find out but be prepared to be disappointed but like what has been said some of them old razors take some beating

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Originally Posted by 5G62

I appreciate the sentiments. And I feel the same. But sometimes I do see a nice looking custom.

It's kind of like if I was driving a pinto and saw a ferrari...

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I’ll let you into a little secret. (Whisper) Customs are in no way better than a vintage razor.

Check out this thread https://sharprazorpalace.com/shaving...-50-shave.html

One thing about an expensive custom or even NOS rarer vintage razor is that you expect them to be perfect. The least little imperfect would drive me nuts. Not so with a decent condition vintage razor, for me at least. This is probably why I have been more disappointed with expensive shave gear than with good middle of the road stuff. It's a matter of expectations.

Bob

NOS begs the question why... If a razor has hone wear it is probably because it shaved very well.

There are ugly razors that shave beautifully. There are beautiful razors that shave ugly. The beautiful razors that shave beautifully are worth a lot to some people.

PS: Don’t get into jnats.

They are spinning lies, I can assure you that the more fancy, magnificent, and mouth watering they are the worse they shave and the more miserable they make the owner. Rest easy my friend, rest easy.

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Originally Posted by Jimbo

lol! That's a monster! Do you use it often?

James.

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Actually used it the other day. Just didn't post a SOTD, with it.

Its a 10/8ths RigaRazor, in tungsten steel. It feels like the steel, of an old Sheffield. Real smooth...buttery like.

The 8/8ths Riga, in carbon steel, ain't no joke either. Popped both my earlobes with this one. Gotta watch that toe, it likes to hide in the lather.

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I agree that looks don't really matter all that much. Okay yeah I can admire a work of art, but I'm all about the shave, for me. I don't have a single custom or what you would call an artisan razor. My most expensive razors are Dovo Bismarcks. Vintage Bismarcks and my own modified Gold Dollars, modified specifically to suit my tastes, are my favorite razors, followed by Dovo and other makers' takes on this great design. Nothing wrong with a thing of beauty if it also shaves well, it just isn't worth the money to me to pay so much extra for a display quality piece.

You know what...

I have had vintage razors that shaved absolutely marvelously. Both fugly and gorgeous ones.
And I have a modern custom one that I never use because it shaves... MEH

Well my signature will say the rest

As said, it comes down to personal preference. I get to shave with all sizes, brands and quality of razors, test shaves.

There is a lot more to a good shaving razor, than just blade size, but blade size can make a difference. I do not like razors wider than 8/8ths they are just too unwieldly. Scales play a big part in how a razor feels in the hand, thickness, scale material and finish all contribute to how a razor performs while honing, stropping, and shaving.

For me a good 5/8 -6/8 is a preferred width, with thin scales, Ivory or horn. It is the best of both worlds, width, weight, and handling ability. I prefer vintage, just because, Good old things have been good old thing so much longer. And have survived, were cared for, because they were good.

Makers lavished attention to detail as a matter of course back in the day and craftsman were skilled and dedicated to craft. While there are still craftsman out there turning out quality work, for razors it is not the norm.

I prefer, vintage Sheffield, from the smaller houses, Japanese and early 1900’s American, Little Valley razors.

If it is something that you really think you are missing, save some money and shop around. Nice customs often come up in various auction for much less than original price. Usually a few hundred dollars, it is not like buying a vintage sports car, and if it really makes you happy, the cost and the hunt will have been worth it. If not, you could probably sell it for what you invested.

Each person likes what fits their hands. Marty likes his for that reason.
Modine, a big guy, likes 1/2 blades.

I like 7/8 or 8/8 blades with heavy scales. I have more control and comfort. Having had 10 hand surgeries may be the reason.

You will gravitate to what feels best.

My way of thinking is a razor is a cutting edge. What's attached to that cutting edge doesn't matter because your face only sees the edge not the rest of the blade or the scales. If it's proper sharp any razor will give an equally good shave no matter the size, shape or grind or age.

Does that mean YOU will get the same shave from every razor? No, because all those other factors involve you and the way you interact with the razor. Add to that just personal factors and daily changes in your mood and health.

It doesn't matter

The Function always beats Form with SRs


I only wish that more companies and makers paid more attention to stropping than how pretty the razor is .... I dare to dream

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Originally Posted by gssixgun

It doesn't matter

The Function always beats Form with SRs


I only wish that more companies and makers paid more attention to stropping than how pretty the razor is .... I dare to dream

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Yes I totally agree Glen. Not only more attention in terms of making people aware of it but also in the geometry and balance of the blades themselves - some razors, especially the big boys, are freaking impossible to strop smoothly or easily by rolling between your fingers - they are a cut strop waiting to happen in the wrong hands.

James

As I'm not a wealthy man too... I can just buy cheap & old razors (almost all between 5 - 20€) apart for a couple of more expensive ones... but, often I'm lucky and, when honed, they perform very well.

So, since last May (when I started using SRs) the best shave I got came from an almost NOS vintage Dovo Tennis 20... a 5/8" FH.
Well, I got it for 15€! :rock:

You can check it here: https://sharprazorpalace.com/honing/...ml#post1926091

It's small but performs like a champ! Just to say that "dimension doesn't matter" :rofl2: :)

It don’t matter

Oh and do what you want, my most used razor is a 5/8 Kinfolks. And I have a dozen customs from 10/8 to 6/8. The edge is the only thing that cuts the rest is window dressing, I love a pretty custom, hence why I’ve bought a bunch over the years but I shave with my Kinfolks or my Charlie Lewis most of the time. They are Polar opposites, the Kinfolks is 5/8 and traditional hollow grind, my Lewis is 8/8 chopper 1/4 grind(love this razor). So it’s all about what you want and can afford

Those biguns are unwieldy. I prefer 6/8 to 7/8.

I love my big'uns from the old Sheffield makers like Wade and Butcher, Wostenholm and Sons, etc., but they can get pricey real quick. Any vintage Sheffield chopper over about 7/8" in decent shape on Ebay, say an 8/8" WB FBU or similar, can go for hundreds at times. And the demand for the super behemoths will almost always drive bidding up fast. I love the whole experience of shaving with them, but as others have said, they don't necessarily shave better; they're just sexier.

So unless you're rich, you have to get creative. Like Outback Mike's spies, you can get people to keep an eye out for you in antique shops. And sometimes you just stumble on to great deals. For example, back in '14 we went to Smokey Mountain Knife Works in Sevierville, TN. I wandered over to the military and antique section, and they had a display case full of dozens of vintage classics from an estate sale for 25 bucks apiece, or 5 for a hundred (including the aforementioned 8/8" WB FBU in mint condition that, yes, I paid 20 bucks for!)-not sure they knew what they had. That one trip really jump-started my vintage razor collection. Keep your eyes peeled.

And Mike, that huge RigaRazor is one sexy beast! If I were to buy a custom, it would probably be one like that.

I have a mixed message. I am an avid fine tea drinker. It doesn't scare me to pay $500/lb for the right tea. BUT, I won't drink that tea every day. I have others that I do drink every day though. People ask me about what is good or how they should drink tea. I tell them this: just because it's expensive doesn't mean it's good. Just because it's cheap doesn't mean it's bad. On what is good: what you like is good. Like it because you like it and don't let some snob, know it all tell you what to like. Like it because you like it and thoroughly enjoy it because it's your mouth that's drinking it, not theirs.

On the other hand. Chevrolet made 2 vettes. They made the Corvette. They also made the Chevette. They were NOT the same thing and they didn't cost the same. Would both get you from point A to point B? Of course they would...but man the ride is not the same. I don't have as many as some of these guys but I still have 140-160 razors (haven't counted for a while) and my 2 favorites (that are in shaving condition) are an old Westby Leicester circa 1840s and a Henry Sears Queen 7/8 #740 both are great big honkers and fancy as hell. However, I don't shave with them often but when I do, BOY is it great!
Back to the vettes: if I had both I would probably drive the Chevette more but while I was driving it I would be dreaming about the day when I drove the Corvette.

Edit: So in answer to your question. Does it matter? Of course it does, but it's not the be all end all. Treat yourself to a fancy one you can afford but do it carefully and methodically and preferably pick it out by hand rather than ordering it from an auction site. Oh yeah, and cherish the hell out of it.

The looks, size, or price don't say good or bad. But whether it's comfortable or not to shave is what matters :)