Thread: Expensive mastro Livi vs cheap shavette..

I'm probably going to get killed for even asking this one!!!

But what really is the difference? Fair enough, you get fancy rare materials and nicely decorated scales/blades and whatever, but if its down to blade quality surely there is nothing sharper than a replacable factory sharpened blade? ..... Just wondering...

A Livi razor is a very good straight razor and a shavette is not a straight razor. The difference is that the straight razor evolved over hundreds of years to provide the perfect shave. A shavette shaves but it was not designed to provide a perfect shave, it was designed to use disposable blades for health reasons and handle like a straight. The disposable blade was not designed to give the perfect shave, it was designed to be a functional and economical disposable blade. King Gilette, the inventor of the disposable blade, wanted a product that would be used and thrown away so that the customer would always have to buy more. Why is shaving with a straight better than with a disposable blade. IMO it has to do with the stiffness and weight of the straight versus the flexibility and lightness of the Shavette. You can shave with a Shavette but it is more difficult and more irritating.

well put. great post

Would you ask if there is any difference between a Ferrari Enzo and a Austin Metro?...

if i could change the comparison a bit, and say a livi vs. a 150 yr old W&B. to me this is where i wanted a livi to see what the difference is. to get a blade honed by the great mastro, the beautiful work of art that it is and compare that to my $5 antique store restore.

let me just say i have learned that my honing shaves me just as well as his. i get just as good a shave from all of my other razors, and i paid a whole lot less for them. with that being said, i love my livi. it is a work of art and a great shaver. the man is a true master at his craft and i am priviliged to own one of his razors. however if you just want to get rid of some facial hair, you can do it a whole lot cheaper.

my thoughts.

good luck.

vgod

Originally Posted by fpessanha

Would you ask if there is any difference between a Ferrari Enzo and a Austin Metro?...

About $500,000 USD

VERY WELL DESCRIBED Chimensch!!

A Shavette will perform the task-its unforgiving, but will get the job done. A Livi, or ANY quality made Str8,once properly honed will also get the job done,and your face will let you know why we prefer just about ANY other razor than those disposable blade creations.

Shave with one of each, then re-ask your question.

THEN, we can atalk about the extra "value" of those rare materials, etc.
If Livi made a razor with plastic scales, and no adornment, the razor would surely be much less expensive than his current offerings. It would still be quite pricey. I happen to be one that will pay for beauty (form) as long as the thing still funtions impeccably.

Originally Posted by vgod

i love my livi. it is a work of art and a great shaver. the man is a true master at his craft and i am priviliged to own one of his razors. however if you just want to get rid of some facial hair, you can do it a whole lot cheaper.

+1! My Livi has soul ! I love shaving with the thing and he is one of the best makers there is or was. IMHO.

Originally Posted by smokelaw1

Shave with one of each, then re-ask your question.

THEN, we can atalk about the extra "value" of those rare materials, etc.
If Livi made a razor with plastic scales, and no adornment, the razor would surely be much less expensive than his current offerings. It would still be quite pricey. I happen to be one that will pay for beauty (form) as long as the thing still funtions impeccably.

At some point you're paying for a name too.

American (I say that because that is where I'm from) consumers have moved from an emphasis on quality to an emphasis on convenience, and their immediate price point. And that is what Gillette is pursuing, or pushing.