I tend to like razors with an all business look --- black or white scales, a nice square point or Spanish point blade and little else. I don't care for gold wash or elaborate ornamentation. So what say you -- what do you like?
Justin
Printable View
I tend to like razors with an all business look --- black or white scales, a nice square point or Spanish point blade and little else. I don't care for gold wash or elaborate ornamentation. So what say you -- what do you like?
Justin
I like a little bit more but not alot. Horn handles, file work is nice, rustic styling... High flash and shine does little for me...
Barbers notch or square point, black or horn scales. Ivory is nice too. No design on the handle except what is natural! The spine should have a slight curve to it. Plain blade or etching is OK but no gold wash!
No gold wash at all in any way shape or form. Minimal etching/decoration on blade if any at all, relatively plain scales. Some of mine have nice scales, but that is the farthest I will usually go in the way of aesthetics. Other than that, I am not really interested. I have to admit though, I have a really nice square point swedish steel blade that has plain black scales I am thinking of getting burled walnut scales put on it.
I never got gold wash either, I definitely prefer a clean blade. When it comes to scales I don't mind a design on it, for instance Traveller's embossed epoxy scales looked gorgeous.
i feel the same i think gold wash is pointless, other than that i like just about every size shape of razor available.
Some may call me crazy, but I just polished the graphics and gold washing off my brand new TI Pierre Thiers Limited Edition handforged razor last week. I think it looks better without, so out came the Dremel and it was gone in seconds.
I think it looks much better plain. :)
Talking of the TIPTLE, clearly many people like it and how it shaves, but I can't get around the fact that I think they looks ugly, as if something went wrong in the manufacturing process. I think it's because the edge looks straight but the spine doesn't.
Apart from my custom, I do prefer simplicity on the whole. I like mirror finishes on round or spike point, with simple scales (but a bit of colour never goes amiss).
I like them both. Either way, a nice razor is a nice razor.
Jordan
About blade shapes, I really love the look (and feel) of my Heljestrand No.31 with the thumb notch and the little "nick" between the notch and the shoulder.
Razor style? Smooth, shiny, and plain, and horn handles, or wood if it has gorgeous grain. I guess I diverged from plain there, but only a little;)
Bjorn -- I agree, the TIPTLE is perhaps the ugliest razor out there.:shrug: There may well be a reason they were stashed under Pierre's bench, unfinished; the good looking forgings got moved down the production line - not moved under the bench. I have one. I held it up to my mirror.:eek: I now have a new mirror. Frightened glass develops such an interesting crack pattern.
Bruce
Plain blade with a worked spine is my preference.
Minimal gold plating is ok but only in a very small amounts.
I don't like gold wash at all, but I don't mind a little decoration on the scales. I quite like the German plastic/celluloid scales with inlaid silver-colored decorations.
I guess I don't mind inlaid silver on the handles as long as it is minimal!
As most of my razors are not new, I have to do a certain amount of restoration on them, and therefore remove most of the etching/goldwash. I prefer only very deeply etched blades so you know it will last the restoration. I wouldn't buy a new razor unless it was a custom or plain. I don't see the point in the goldwash on the new blades - it only looks good in the shop and then it only gets worse each day.
Scales for me are open to having anything on, but again most of the razors I get need new ones, so they tend to be wood and plain, although I haven't outruled trying my hand at inlaying one day.
I prefer plain, no-nonsense razors. They can certainly be well-made and polished etc., but I can't see the point of gaudy and elaborate decoration on something which is essentially a tool, unless you plan on using it as a display piece. What makes me salivate are clean lines and functional looks.
That Heljestrand No.31 looks pretty good, btw.
I like elegance in any tool as long as its not over the top!
My preferences now run to plain with any decoration coming from the scales .Theres just something about nice plain steel.Paul
I prefer the plainer type razors as well - I've got a Bergischer Lowe that's all gold wash here and gold wash there and it's a beautiful looking razor, no doubt. But I get all paranoid with it trying to keep it minty and therefore don't use it as much as I'd like.
I really love the nice clean lines of the Heljis or the Rodgers etc. I prefer almost any other point than a round point (Lou point being the exception to this rule ;) ).
James.
Maybe someone needs to tell Dovo and TI this --- it appears so far that most like it simple and clean.
Justin
I like a good stout blade, file work, and bone scales, but I am becoming a fan of exotic wood scales.
I don't like any ornaments that can be messed up during normal use and maintenance. Blade preferably shiny, handle any material but metal, not heavy. No dirt catching corners.
http://straightrazorpalace.com/image...ny_MOP_002.jpg
I like this one and my MOP handled Maestro as well.......but then I like any great shaver usually............:D
Lynn
Lynn,
The blade has some interesting patina developing on it. Very chic, but how do you train patina to do curly queues? I also like the adjustme drive, adjustme reverse, and adjustme park buttons on the handle:tu.
;) Bruce
It is only now that I recognize what the buttons are used for: adjustme WTG, adjustme XTG, and adjustme ATG. Ah well, better to have realized now than never to have realized at all. --B
From what I have seen around the forums, I would have to say I prefer wooden scales, because they compliment the steel. I like the square points they look nice and gold wash doesn't improve the quality of shave therefore it is unnecessary.
Thats just going from pictures I seen here and not actual experience.
Simple razors for me too, please! But... simple and with a bit of personality...
The blade can be satin or mirror, with etching only if there's a strong reason (only if the design - and I mean the whole razor's design - calls for it), no gold wash at all if possible.
Handles - I'm surprised that I like plastic handles! I've got a small used Dovo Inox from a boutique while visiting Budapest that has a mirror finished blade and black scales (not the original scales though), only to be surprised that the current day counterpart has a gold patch on the blade (my razor is not sharp enough, so can't actually shave with it, it removes some beard but not all of it - but that's another story). Still, the new razor I ordered and I'm eagerly awaiting has black horn scales. Ornaments on the handle - a big no, with few exceptions (some limited edition TIs from CS look ok).
Pierre Thiers razor - I find it very good looking! If I had the $$ (and justifiable to my wife), I just might go for one (until it's too late). IMHO, It's not ugly at all, it's charm is exactly that it looks so rudimentary. But of course, without the golden oval patch!
The irony is that I was liking the Filarmonicas from CS a lot, and it sold out right before I was ready to order one :D (Still, I hope the TI I'm expecting will make up for the disappointment - well, no more off topics).
The all gold washed Dovos and Wackers remind me of the tastes of gypsies that live in my country (Romania) and to my personal taste, that's way over the limits of good taste.
Personally I like the TIPTLE. I just had RW put a set of Mammoth scales on mine. The gold wash I can take or leave. I think it looks good, and really don't care if it wears off, unless I buy it for a collectable. In which case it would be on display not in the bathroom. I like the history and quality in my hand with razors like the TIPTLE, or an old restored razor. If I can still see the markings that set it apart, so much the better.
Very interesting and surprising - turns out many people like plain razors and hate gold wash (concur, in general). I often de-gold razors if I intend to keep them for myself (vs. sell later - then it's better to keep the gold wash). I was under the impression that most guys here go for fancy stuff...
However, I must admit that I may like razors, which are a bit over the top too - depending on the razor. For example, I like the horrible faux bamboo scales on one of my best shavers, as well as some of the artsy scales - some patterns (like the ones Gary reproduced), couple of naked ladies, etc. And for the life of me I cannot make myself take the gold off my Novodur! Yet...
One thing about which I vaccilate: MOP and / or abalone scales and details; often I think they are ridiculous, other times I think it may be nice to have something like this - even if just for the gaudy kitsch appeal... You know, what was the General's quote about such trim on pistols, "New Orleans' pimp" style... I think MOP and abalone are visually fascinating, and great for women's stuff - not so much for guys' things, though. Funny - I would sometimes wear stuff that's pretty peacock, but clothes come and go, and a razor stays, so I haven't made the jump to these scales yet
In my book, it's hard to beat the class and elegance of ivory for scales, even though some woods may give it a run for the money.
Cheers
Ivo
Variety, gentlemen, is the spice of life. I have some very plain blades and some fancy. As long as they shave well, I appreciate them all. A little gold wash here, some etching or engraving there, and then some nice, plain, shiny Sheffield steel. Any blade that accurately reflects its history is fine by me. I'm not crazy about rope scales or those in the shape of naked ladies, however.
I agree with Ivo that it all has to do with the overall look of the razor. For me a 19th-c. English razor should have horn or ivory scales, or bone. I know a lot of guys here like to bring their sheffields up to a mirror polish and put on some exotic wood scales, but to me that doesn't look right. It looks like wearing a frock coat with cowboy boots.
I understand how everyone feels about gold wash but sometimes...as Ivo says there are certain razors with kitsch appeal. I don't go in for ducks but all you that do must recognize a thing or two about kitsch. For me the ultimate cool kitsch razor is a vintage Filly with fancy-plastic colored translucent scales, swayed scimitar blade profile, fancy box and gold wash. Fillys were made in Barcelona, a city that knew a thing or two about color and kitsch.
Please don't go scraping the gold off your novodur, Ivo. Telling a filly it can't wear a little gold is like telling James Brown he should button up his shirt and lose the fro.
This thread is trying to make me regret just ordering the 6/8 bone-handled Bismarck. But I won't! Most of my razors are rather plain, and it will provide a nice look.
You're telling me that as a fourth-generation Texan, you wear frock coats?
Forgive my ignorance, but I've never heard of this before. When George Bush hosted the queen of England, the story was that only serious arm-twisting from Laura could get him to even consider wearing tails.
Frock coats/tails seem to me quintessentially English. I picture Oscar Wilde. You don't even see frock coats in New York City or Los Angeles. Forgive me if you do seem them in Dallas!:o
I fear that Jay may have taken it as a dig against cowboy boots, or people wearing cowboy boots with formal wear. I hope not!:o . Cowboy boots and a suit – excellent. The point was I can't see anybody wearing cowboy boots and one of these:
Quote:
A frock coat (also: Prince Albert frock) is a man's coat characterised by knee-length skirts all around the base, unlike the tail coat and the morning coat. The frock coat is fitted, long-sleeved, of knee-length, with a collar and lapels (revers), a centre vent, and a waist seam for optimal waist suppression. As formal wear the frock coat always is double-breasted with peaked lapels. As informal wear, the single-breasted frock coat often sported the notched lapel (hence its informality), and was more common in the early nineteenth century than the formal model.