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I decided to pull the trigger and buy a Wapi. Then I find out that there are two different wapis. The Wapi with metal scales and a french point and the Wapi II with plastic scales and a rounded point.
The question is... Is one better than the other? I am posting the links to two different sites selling the razors.
RupRazor - Wapencia II
5/8 Shave Ready Wapienica razor (Wapi's)
All advice is appreciated.
Well I can't comment on the razors themselves as I have neigther, but........
The Well Honed Razor is selling the origional and stated as shave ready for $10 less to boot.
As for RupRazor, well, no insult to them but I wouldn't buy a razor from someone who can't spell steel correctly when talking about blades.
I do believe they are both members here so I'm pretty sure they are both ok but on such mistakes we must base our decisions.
I know nothing of the Wapi II's but make no mistake, Ken at RupRazor is a great guy. Call him or email him and ask him about them.
True! But Tim made a valid point which I hope kenrup will take to heart and make the appropriate corrections!Quote:
Originally Posted by Aquanin
I don't want to point to the obvious, but looking at the pics from both sites, the Wapi has a single shoulder cut, and is close to a 1/4 hollow (IMHO), where the Wapi II has a double shoulder cut and is even listed as a Full Hollow Grind by Kenrup so there might be a different feel to the razor....
I am wondering where the detailed review is??????
What's more important, that he hones well, or that he spells well?Quote:
Originally Posted by Wildtim
When newbies, or for that matter, anyone who does not already know kenrups reputation, will have nothing to go on except the first initial impression that his site gives! I believe that was Tims point! It is certainly my point!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Utopian
I received my Wapi from Mike over at the well honed razor yesterday. Im very happy with it. great edge, gave it a few strokes on my strop and was good to go. A decent price too.
Personally i like the French tip and stainless scales on this one. Im not a big fan of rounds, my first razor was a spike and have always used them until this one. I have sideburns and what not, so its easy to see over the edge of the blade when shavin around these parts.
I have already started to work on it. I have given the scales a mirror finsh, well as much as i can, looks really nice.
I can't believe I used the wrong spelling of steel :gaah:.Quote:
Originally Posted by Wildtim
I guess the points to be made re spelling mistakes on a sales site are mainly these - 'first impressions count' and 'you are what you appear to be'.
BTW anyone finding any howlers on my sites do PM me!!!:w
It is a valid point, but many places (*cough*straightrazordesigns*cough*) get away with it and do fine. Would it affect my choice of vendor? Not if I knew the guys. But if I didn't- good point.Quote:
Originally Posted by JMS
Back to the original discussion??
I doubt enough people have tried the Wapi II's to have detailed reviews up yet.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wildtim
:roflmao
Sorry I had too.
I'm the mastor of speling misstakes round hear :w
neigther, neither. DOH!!!:gaah:Quote:
Originally Posted by littlesilverbladefromwale
Honestly I would have e-mailed you first had I remembered exactly who's site it was.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kenrup
BUT
I often get E-mails from people asking me whether to do business various dog breeders. Sometimes the only information I have to go on is what they show the public on their website (though with a few contacts you can learn a lot;) ) And little things like proper spellings of "technical" terms can tell you something about the depth of knowledge a person has available to them and how much thought they put into things. While this is rarely in my experience a solid reason TO do business with someone it can be a clue as to why NOT TO do business with them.
I don't shop in dirty unorganized stores either.
And ............................By now I'm guessing that anyone reading this thread and following the links has no idea what I'm talking about because it probably fixed.:nj
Well... I guess all this is quite interesting BUT how about the Wapi II? I mean... how is it? How does it shave? We know that Wapi I are usualy NOS but are the Wapi II new manufacture? Is SFK producing the Wapi again?
That would be great! Boker is back in business and, as I understood from other threads here, so is Puma.
Kenrup is selling the Wapis II, right? I guess he can comment on it's shaving performance and history, right?
:hmmm:
By the way... how's my spelling? :D
They're two totally different razors. The so called Wapi II, could be a little brother (5/8") of the chinese Double Arrow, and the chineese have a proven record to be able to clone almost anything.
I doubt very much that the original factory will start making razors again after so many years.
I'm glad the price of the Wapis keeps going up, pretty soon I'l have my two original ones for sale, one the price hits $100.
Wow! Those look great! I had never seen the original boxes before! Plus the certificate of autenticity! Nice! Very nice! I love my Wapi... it's a great razor. By the way... my brother will get one for Xmas this year. I converted him to DE shaving and now I'll get him to convert to straight shaving... neat! :) All I have to do now is a nice custom made strop for him and get him a nice brush and soon the world will be enrichd by another real shaver! :) :rock:Quote:
Originally Posted by Navaja
Back to topic... do you really think that the Wapi II is chinese made? Not a chance that the original factory is making the Wapi again? That's sad... I was getting all worked up on these. But again... how do they shave?
These razors are made by the original maker in Poland. When I first received the shipment from Poland, I broke one out and TPT tested it. I ran it over a chrome ox strop, stropped and shaved with it. I can't really call it shave ready out of the box, but it was better then most. I was very pleased with the results. I then honed it, checking it under a microscope at each step, I was pleased with the quality of steel. It is a step up from the Double Arrows but not the same steel as the original. I test shaved with it again and it did great. If feels like a sports car compared to the originals sedan feel. The balance is great and I found it very nimble. The ones I have already sold are in the hands of the buyers by now. I would expect to see some posts about them soon. They do cost less then the original. Therefore I can sell them for less and still include shipping to address in the US. Every razor I sell I guarantee. I also warranty the edge as I do for the other razors I sell. It's a three month warranty, for WHATEVER reason the blade becomes too dull to shave, for the cost of return postage, I will re-hone it. I specifically gear this towards the beginners. We all know how easy it is to mess up an edge when learning to strop.Quote:
Originally Posted by fpessanha
Here is the Wapi II with its box and certificate.
http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/i...ificatesml.jpg
Here is an original Wapi and the Wapi II.
http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/i...andWapisml.jpg
Thanks fo the information Kenrup! Great to know that the original makers are up and running again. It's a good thing that big names are making razors again. All we need now is for the Shefield makers to resurect and also for the great american brands to be back in the game. Straight shaving is gaining popularity, I guess... too bad that the expertise from yesteryears is lacking a bit. but if things keep up, I guess that things can only improve provided that this continues to be a niche... otherwise the straight razor will be no more than a fancy crooked knife. Let's hope not! Of course the increasing popularity makes the prices go up... but the good thing is... we won't be so geeky any more! :) We'll be the cool guys on the block again! :pQuote:
Originally Posted by Kenrup
Guys thanks for getting back on topic.
Geeky?!?!?!? Not a chance. Chicks may not be impressed but dudes definitely are. I casualy mentioned to one guy at work several years ago that I use a straight and guys are still asking me about my straight. The cool factor for a straight is off the chart in my experience.
Girls do like the resulting feel of a straightbut they are not wowed like men.
I'm not even sure that's a good thing! :pQuote:
Originally Posted by CraigJ
i'd go the original wapi, the scales being a major factor in the decision out of the two.
I love the original Wapi, it’s the ¼ hollow grind that first grabbed me… reminiscent of those old Sheffield wedgies and the heft. It’s a very unusual little razor with a “funny” shape… and IMHO better stain resistance than most.
A few questions… and comments...
Does the Wapi II use the same Swedish steel?
If the original factory is making the Wapi II (probably because of demand), didn’t anyone tell them the Wapi is… “The Wapi”… in a class by itself and there is no other? Why manufacture a razor that looks like a rebranded Chinese Double Arrow?
Shouldn’t they be making it like the original Wapi (you know… like an upgrade)?
What they are doing now is simply competing with every other hollow ground razor. This doesn’t make good business sense to me.
I haven't got a Wapi yet, but as the gentleman above says I think they should make their classic and not worry about making new shapes.
Who's found they can't spell "whose"? :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Wildtim