Oh, Sweet Edelweiss

Gentlemen,

I received my new Boker Edelweiss 5/8 with bone handle from Straight Razor Designs yesterday and shaved with it today.

Now I am singing "Oh, Sweet Edelweiss . . . "

Lynn had said this was fine razor and a good shave. Oddly enough, when I first saw the razor's photo and the short description, I agreed with him, although my conclusion was more a gut feeling than an expert's evaluation.

There is a West African proverb that says: "Without a song the bush knife is dull." (From the book "Obie's Opus" by Obie Yadgar.)

The one way I can apply that quote is in the song in the razor from the first stroke. It is a crsip and high-pitched scraping song that reminds me of Pavarotti flying on a High C. The music never stops until the last stroke. Lynn says that's probably because the blade, a singing hollow, is quite delicate and a notch beyond full hollow.

I'd say you can write a symphony around the song the razor makes while shaving.

Thanks to Lynn's honing, the razor is exceptionally sharp and smooth. The fittings, from what I can see, are perfect. I am also impressed by the razor's balance and the solid way it sits in the hands.

This is my first Boker, of the new series. If this is an indication of what the old Bokers must have been like, so much the richer, then, for my modest straight razor collection.

"Oh, sweet Edelweiss . . ."

Regards,

Obie

Have you settled into this razor yet? What are your thoughts about it several shaves later?

My dear hoglahoo:

My sweet "Edelweiss" is as sweet as she was on the first shave. I still like the balance. Love the white bone scales. Nothing is loose or warped. The high-pitched scraping music still plays when I shave. And, oh, the razor is as sharp and as smooth as ever.

If I had to do it over again, would I introduce myself to my sweet "Edelweiss"? Yes, I would.

Interestingly enough, hoglahoo, I also have the "King Cutter," which is the same razor, really, but with plastic scales, and it is nowhere near as sweet as my "Edelweiss." In all fairness, though, I bought this razor from another vendor, since Lynn was out of it, and realize it's missing Lynn's honing. Lynn is in charge of all my razors, and I think I will send it to him to hone.

Regards,
Obie

Hi Obie,

I love my Edelweisse as well, its a really great razor! I got mine from Lynn as well and its got a killer edge on it.

I hadn't used it for a few days until yesterday and I'd forgotten how good the edge is. Frankly, I probably could have gotten away with not shaving today as I was still mostly BBS from using it yesterday..!

Yes, the Edelweisse is a really great razor and a sweet shaver. And you can't deny that those bone scales really set the blade off well..!

All the best,

Stuart

I'm pretty sure this is the razor I'm going to pick up based on mrbhagwan's reveiw and the comments here by Obie and Stubear, as well as the others in that New Boker Edelweiss at SRD thread.

One thing that someone brought up was keeping the bone scales clean. What do people recommend for that? Keep in mind, I'm new, so I don't know the dos and don'ts of looking after scales. My intention is to use this razor and make it last as long as I possibly can.