Thread: But i digress.

Hello to all. This is my first post here but i have been lurking around for awhile. I have been using a straight for about 18 years but have never discussed using a straight razor with anyone before. This site is a wealth of info and i have been mesmerized by it all..

I have been shaving with the same Dubl Duck Satinedge 5/8 for the last 18 years and i think its time to give it a rest. I have an itching for a Sheffield steel razor. As a carpenter / boat builder/ cabinetmaker i have over the years gathered a collection of fine chisels from around the world. I have become partial to 19th century English and American "crucible" or "cast" steel. From a good maker it is both very hard and tough... not too brittle. I also really enjoy using a 150 year old tool ... it has a soul of its own. Sooooo.... im looking for the same in a razor.

Finally a question!.... Of English razor makers, who are considered the best makers that are reasonable available on Ebay. ...... same question for American made. Did anyone use the terms "Crucible" or "warranted cast" on there blades? And last but not least, my favorite English chisel/ plane blade maker is.... James Howarth. And my favorite American maker...... L & I J White. Anyone know if ether of these tool makers made razors?

Thanks ... and i won't be so wordy in my next post!!

Welcome to SRP! It will be cool to hear the perspective of an man shaving with straights as long as you have. I collected old Sheffields from the late 1700s to the early 1800s before I ever started shaving with straights.

Many of the early ones were marked "Cast Steel" or "Warrented". My personal favorite makers are Wade & Butcher and Joseph Rodgers & Sons but there were many more. I haven't seen razors by the names you mentioned but I am not an expert. There is a razor club here with blades from that period.

Love! those older razors... I didn't see one in the wiki's but is there a tutorial or reference to gauge the age of an old razor?

I wish i had something profound to say about shaving with a straight. I learned threw trial and error threw lousy hones, bad stropping technique, super sensitive skin, never having any one else to talk to about using a straight, and a 20 stitch slash to my thigh.... Now my hone routine is Bester 1200 (if needed), natural Aoto, Kitayama (love it) , stropped with CrO2 on hard strop and clean leather strop. Its nice to see that threw trail and error i arrived in a place similar to others. If anything i over hone. My razor has the ware it should when Im 90 not with under 20 years of use. I just love to hone.... its like meditating. I think the answer to this issue is more razors! I have no complaints about my DD razor ..but i haven't tried anything else...: ' )