Thread: HART Razor

So a good friend (Lynn) sent me his Hart razor to try out still with the factory honing on it, just a few laps on .50 CrOx to smooth it down is what he told me...

First impressions, I have a few Black Rifles this is a Black Razor,, totally for use, no pretty at all...
Measured out to 14.267 for the bare steel angle
The blade has a slight smile to it however it is not even, there is a very, very, slight center spot if it were mine my OCD would kick in...

Nice even bevel, nice sharp edge....
The first shave was last night, I took my time and relaxed, the razor performed exactly as I would expect from a 1/4 hollow, a nice clean no nonsense shave 3 passes WTG XTG and ATG same amount of irritation as any other stiff blade for me....


Looking close at the grind shows a very slight imbalance between sides not bad though, the finish is straight off a buffer or looks that way, might be off a grinder belt too, looks to me to be about the same as a 400 grit greaseless compound finsh...
The spine thickness is dead even BTW I measured it.. The tang could use some special work from Seraphim, in fact my first impression was Double Arrow, no fuss, no muss shavers...

So those are my impressions of the razor, a very utilitarian razor,,

BTW what is wrong with peened pins???? do you custom/small company guys really think we like having to tighten our razors everyday???? JMHO those TORX screws etc: suck for razors, they are either to tight, or to loose, and honestly do any of you guys really take your razor apart to clean it???

Originally Posted by gssixgun

So a good friend (Lynn) sent me his Hart razor to try out still with the factory honing on it, just a few laps on .50 CrOx to smooth it down is what he told me...

First impressions, I have a few Black Rifles this is a Black Razor,, totally for use, no pretty at all...
Measured out to 14.267 for the bare steel angle
The blade has a slight smile to it however it is not even, there is a very, very, slight center spot if it were mine my OCD would kick in...

Nice even bevel, nice sharp edge....
The first shave was last night, I took my time and relaxed, the razor performed exactly as I would expect from a 1/4 hollow, a nice clean no nonsense shave 3 passes WTG XTG and ATG same amount of irritation as any other stiff blade for me....


Looking close at the grind shows a very slight imbalance between sides not bad though, the finish is straight off a buffer or looks that way, might be off a grinder belt too, looks to me to be about the same as a 400 grit greaseless compound finsh...
The spine thickness is dead even BTW I measured it.. The tang could use some special work from Seraphim, in fact my first impression was Double Arrow, no fuss, no muss shavers...

So those are my impressions of the razor, a very utilitarian razor,,

BTW what is wrong with peened pins???? do you custom/small company guys really think we like having to tighten our razors everyday???? JMHO those TORX screws etc: suck for razors, they are either to tight, or to loose, and honestly do any of you guys really take your razor apart to clean it???

I like this review. To the point. Here is what I see. Here is what it does. Here is my impression.

Thank you.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

BTW what is wrong with peened pins???? do you custom/small company guys really think we like having to tighten our razors everyday???? JMHO those TORX screws etc: suck for razors, they are either to tight, or to loose, and honestly do any of you guys really take your razor apart to clean it???

The most stable pivot screw system I've seen yet is the one that Feather uses. Too bad it's also the ugliest.

Well, it's about a month later and this newbie has been shaving with the Hart razor a lot. It provided my first BBS shave and still delivers each and every time. I *like* the scales. I haven't needed to tighten the pin, and have it adjusted to just the right "action" of the scales. With routine stropping on a latigo hanging strop, the edge is holding up great and delivering comfortable shaves, and I am no stropping expert. Because I prefer it, I am using it three or four times a week, and ignoring others in my rotation.

I've gone to straight shaving every day without resorting to a DE for touch up, and the Hart gave me the impetus/confidence to do this.

I am planning on buying a second one soon. I love the Hart.

Disclaimer: Rank beginner, no knowledge of edge angles, etc. etc.

Now I am getting worried that when I eventually have to sharpen this, the first time I hone this, I will ruin the magic and not be able to get back to the edge that satisfies. Has anyone else had this fear about a favorite razor?

Originally Posted by boshave

Now I am getting worried that when I eventually have to sharpen this, the first time I hone this, I will ruin the magic and not be able to get back to the edge that satisfies. Has anyone else had this fear about a favorite razor?

Thanks for the review of the Hart. Good to hear that it is working so well for you. All I know to say on the honing is that I practiced on used razors I got off of ebay that weren't in shave ready condition. Once I had done enough of them to feel some confidence in my honing I attempted some of my nicer razors but not before then.

I bought an eBay lot of old razors for that reason, sight unseen. None of them have the point shape of the Hart, although a few are 1/4 ground. Do I need to practice on razors with the same exact point?

Originally Posted by boshave

I bought an eBay lot of old razors for that reason, sight unseen. None of them have the point shape of the Hart, although a few are 1/4 ground. Do I need to practice on razors with the same exact point?

I don't think that will make a difference. Just successfully setting bevels and bringing ebay specials to shave ready is always good experience no matter what the blade grind or point is. The fundamentals are the same I think.

I've been shaving with a Hart Steel razor exclusively for one week now, and must say I find it one of my best shavers. I also like the smooth clean no nonsense design of this razor very much. Got it from Zethlenth.
Amund.