Thread: Getting ready to purchase my second razor

So, I've been shaving with a T-I Evide Sonnant 5/8 for the last 5 months or so. I learned how to shave with it and, despite a steep learning curve, find it shaves me very well, especially as my technique improves.

However, in those five months I haven't had it touched up or honed, and today I dinged the edge of the blade on my faucet -- ouch -- so I've decided that it's high-time I bought a second blade. I'm not quite ready to get into honing just yet, so I'm planning to send it back to him to get it touched up. The ding isn't very serious and is on the very far tip of the blade, so I figure I can continue to use it until my backup arrives, at which point I can send it off to get fixed up.

I know, I know ... rationalization and denial that I have a problem, tell-tale signs of RAD

Anyway, I think that despite being completely satisfied with my T-I, I'd like to purchase a different brand this time around, just to mix it up. I've also been thinking that it might be fun to buy a 7/8, also just to do something different.

I was wondering, do any of you have any thoughts on razor brands, and how does it feel to shave with a heavier, wider blade?

Does anyone have any experiencing purchasing a vintage blade from classicshaving.com? In particular, do any of the 7/8" blades on Vintage Blades look ok? Any brands you'd recommend?

Is "Solingen" different from Dovo?

Thanks in advance for your advice!

Originally Posted by atpinak

So, I've been shaving with a T-I Evide Sonnant 5/8 for the last 5 months or so. I learned how to shave with it and, despite a steep learning curve, find it shaves me very well, especially as my technique improves.

However, in those five months I haven't had it touched up or honed, and today I dinged the edge of the blade on my faucet -- ouch -- so I've decided that it's high-time I bought a second blade. I'm not quite ready to get into honing just yet, so I'm planning to send it back to him to get it touched up. The ding isn't very serious and is on the very far tip of the blade, so I figure I can continue to use it until my backup arrives, at which point I can send it off to get fixed up.

I know, I know ... rationalization and denial that I have a problem, tell-tale signs of RAD

Anyway, I think that despite being completely satisfied with my T-I, I'd like to purchase a different brand this time around, just to mix it up. I've also been thinking that it might be fun to buy a 7/8, also just to do something different.

I was wondering, do any of you have any thoughts on razor brands, and how does it feel to shave with a heavier, wider blade?

Does anyone have any experiencing purchasing a vintage blade from classicshaving.com? In particular, do any of the 7/8" blades on Vintage Blades look ok? Any brands you'd recommend?

Is "Solingen" different from Dovo?

Thanks in advance for your advice!

I haven't purchased any razors from classicshaving, but they seems to have a good reputation here, if you don't mind the "plain jane" look, you should consider the Filarmonica Doble Temple 7/8
as it has a good reputation. I don't have one my self, but it's one I'd really like to get.

IIRC Solingen is a town in Germany where the many of the German cutlery firms where/are located.

To the best of my knowledge, Solingen is a place in Germany where a fine grade of steel was produced. Many 'Solingen' razors, however, were produced in different areas of the world, the U.S. for example. To the best of my knowledge the Solingen mark refers to the steel, not where the razor was actually made.

If it were me, however, I'd go with a Sheffield steel blade. So long as it's an older blade (pre WW2) which really shouldn't be hard to get, I think Sheffield steel was superior to Solingen's. That's just y two cents, though.

During the period after WWl to WWll Solingen Germany was the cutlery capitol of the world. You could walk from block to block and there was nothing but cutlery makers of all kinds. The steel they used was either swedish or silver steel for the most part.

If you are looking for a second razor you just need to look around and get what you like. There are so many choices its hard to make a recommendation without knowing more about you. Just get a quality blade and you will be OK.