Thread: Old Razors vs. New Razors

I voted vintage even if only 2 of my 22 razors are vintage. I think that i will create such a bond with the Jerry Starks damascus custom that i ordered. It is due next month, i hope. We will see.

To tell you the truth i really like my Ralph Aust, probably because it is in the first pic you see when you open SRD. BUT!, i REALLY love that 1850 (or so) Wade and Butcher that i break rotation for. The same happens with a Geneva Pyramid that sixguns restored. They make me think of Clint Eastwood, shaving with a bowie knife and a small mirror in his hand in the middle of the desert...

i like both. if i had to decide, it is vintage, with a hint of nostalgia...

Ah nostalgia. I have a soft spots for safety razors, and it is 100% nostalgia: when my brother and me were kids, grandpa used to take out the blade of whatever safety razor (with butterfly doors) he had and give it to us. He also gave us a can of gooo, and let us play with them. Ohhh... those were the best of times. we ´shaved´, pretending we were men... I bet that grandpa secretly had a ball, showing the way to his little boys. For that alone one day that i was in Walgreens, i saw a Van Der Hagen DE with butterfly doors, and bought it not interested in its price ($20) or its quality (it is actually a pretty good shaver). From then on i bought every and all high end machined stainless steel safety razor in the market (to shave my head, my face i shave with my straights). Don't worry, they are not that many. Everything has its story. That is why i voted vintage.

I say vintage for sure, I enjoy the history of them plus I always think when I use them. I wonder what was the guy that owned this 100+ yrs ago like, what was he thinking while using this razor, was he possibly famous? Just a lot of mystery to the old razors.
I have a couple new ones and they are nice but I prefer my old ones.

If we try to stay apart of historical or any emotional aspects, and concentrate just on a shaving quality along with ease of maintenance, would you go with an old razor or with a modern custom one?

Originally Posted by vmspb

If we try to stay apart of historical or any emotional aspects, and concentrate just on a shaving quality along with ease of maintenance, would you go with an old razor or with a modern custom one?

Again, either or. Both are equally good. You get great ones and sour ones in both categories.

I wouldn't have any idea what it is like to use a new SR. I'm retired and on a fixed income, so buying a razor of my desire ain't gonna happen for me'es. I would dearly love to but I figure at my age and paying $300 to $600 for a new SR doesn't have any long term benefit for me, so-o-o, it will be the really cheap antiques for me. Most I have paid for an old SR is about $25.00. I have three German made, Solingen blades that came from a seven day set. They are decorated and colored stain embossed on the steels and the edges have the days embossed on them.

Nice read. I empathize with your thoughts and feelings. I have been using SR's for nigh on 40 years. All those years, up into 2016 when I stumbled onto this site I was completely illiterate to SR's, and still am. Since being here I have improved my honing skills and restoration skills. The W&B I own, blade only as scales were trash, I have been working of getting it sharp, hasn't been easy. I have some deer horn I would like to manipulate to make scales for the W&B blade. I just need to discover how best to sharpen this thing. The cutting edge is straight as an arrow as if it had never been sharpened before and yet I have a rough time getting this thing to the proper cutting edge. I know, I know, send it off and have it done. Nah! Can't do that. Wanna do it myself. Stubborn ol goat. Yep. Thas me'es. I will get it. I am getting inspired to go get it and start. I am thinking start with 1000 Norton water stone. Been using nothing but 4000 and 8000. Oh well. I'll shut my yap an say guh da.

If your anecdotal statement is accurate this might be the very reason I am having a hard time getting an edge on my W&B. Come back with a thought!?

I would hate to spend $300 to $600 and get a sour blade. What recourse does one have when your get one like that?

This is a great point Adam G. Custom. Huh! Just never struck me when speaking of new. When I think of buying a new SR, I think of custom rather than machine manufactured. wonder how much real difference there is outside of personal bias.

Originally Posted by vmspb

If we try to stay apart of historical or any emotional aspects, and concentrate just on a shaving quality along with ease of maintenance, would you go with an old razor or with a modern custom one?

The ease of maintenance part belongs to the new ones. Carbon fiber and g-10 scales and more advanced steel (let alone finishes) are modern. They last longer and don't need that much attention.

Shaving quality? Well, a pro honer told me that vintage American steel is a lot better than vintage Sheffield, Solingen and Thiers. And better than common moderns. Customs? I don't know. I interpreted that to get that vintage American quality you have to get the very best moderns.

Does finer grain translates a better edges and and better edge retention? YES. That is why that Pensilvania vintage steel is the best. The iron ore was more pure, so they got finer grained steel to begin with.

Are we talking about straights? Jajaja. Safety razors? Stainless steel + Cnc machines = better razors.


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