Thread: What are the main difference between Vintage and modern steels?

I know this has been discussed a lot before but I still have some questions and can't find an answer in the forums...

I've been honing modern day Dovos, Bokers, Wackers, and they get an edge very quickly. Very easy to hone. Never had any problem whatsoever getting them shave ready.

Vintage blades that I've honed, some have been easier others not so much. A vintage Wacker was more of a challenge than a new Wacker Jungmeister very recently; especially at the point.

Also a Vintage Boker King Cutter was a bit finicky at the tip. A Robert Klaas was a little bit challenging too but not too much. Vintage blades that I could get shave ready very quickly include a C-Mon Cadillac and very recently I could reset the bevel VERY quickly and easily on 2 Henckels and a Filarmonica 14 Doble Temple. There's also a Vintage Dovo Special with a French point that was very easy to set a good bevel.

The steel on the Vintage Dovo Special, seems to be of better quality but I don't know if it's the hardness or heat treatment or the grind. It produces a nice sound when flexed. The modern Dovo Bismarck, Dovo Astrale and Inox don't even make any sound when flexed I wonder if it's the grind... Not as full hollow as the vintage one.

The steel on the vintage Boker King Cutter also makes this sound when flex and it's very polished. The modern day Boker Celebrated doesn't flex much, even though marketed as extra hollow. My modern dar Boker Edelweiss, however, does make a nice sound when flexed. My modern day Wacker Jungmeister also makes a really nice and LOUD sound when flexed. The Vintage Wacker I honed recently makes this sound too.

So, my 2 questions are...

1) Is vintage Solingen steel, generally speaking, harder than modern-day Solingen steel? (let's put TI C135 aside because it's a completely different story). I know the worn-out condition of some vintage blades add to the feeling that it's harder to hone but I'd like to know if there's something else such as hardness or heat treatment...
2) Was the heat treatment deeper/better back in the old days?

Here are some pictures of the razors I'm speaking about.

Thanks a lot for any feedback...


Vintage Dovo Special, Friodur Inox, Henckels 426, Boker King Cutter, Filarmonica 14 Doble Temple


C-Mon Cadillac, Robert Klaas and Wacker 13. The point of that Wacker was finicky to get an edge.


Moder-day Boker The Celebrated. Piece of cake to get shave-ready.


Modern-day Dovo Astrale Half Hollow. Very easy to hone too. Wonder if the steel is soft or something.


Modern-day Dovo Bismarck. Another razor which I find easy to hone.