Magic in that Sheffield Steel?

Just curious here. I have used a "Filly", a number of "Solingen" Razors and a few "Sheffield Steel" razors and although I am new to SR shaving I can tell the difference. The Sheffield steel (especially my 5/8" Wade & Butcher) is so "softer" and comfortable on the skin compared to many of the Solingen razors I have tried. Sometimes I have to check the razor to see if it is even taking off any hair because it is so smooth that it doesn't feel that way. Now I still do get nicks and such with the Sheffield steel razors but overall they are just smoother. What is it in the Sheffield Steel that makes them feel so different? Magic? Does anyone know?

Thanks

Tony

It's Marmite. :tu

SSSSWWWWWWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEETTTTTT!!!!!

IME it's generally softer than the other regions' razors, and of course they tend to not be as hollow ground which makes them easier to use when you're starting out. I get much better and more comfortable shaves from my solingens and americans than I do from my sheffields, except for one 40's era concave ground W&B that also seems much harder than the rest.

I will have to be fair and try a couple American brand razors like Genco or Torrey (SP?). I will have to say that the Filly I shaved with was a great shave though too. Super sharp (almost scary sharp) but still pretty comfortable on the skin. It does seem like the Sheffield steel seems softer though and I was thinking that was the reason.

But when we say "softer" steel would that mean they have more or less carbon than most other regions steels and do we know why they produced them this way? Any specific reason besides trying to make them a smoother shaver?

They're not hardened to such a degree as the Solingen blades on the Rockwell scale.

In my limited experience, & it does pain me to say it, the most comfortable shaves are to be had with American steel! :D

Despite that, i use my Friodur more than any other i own.

HHHmmmmmm another kudo for American blades. I will definitely need to try one. If you don't mind me asking.... So why DO you use your Friodur more if the American blades are more comfortable. Better shaves but just not as comfortable?


Tony

Oh, it's comfortable. It gives a great shave, but to be honest, it's probably as much to do with it being a big 7/8 blade, with deep ebony scales & i love the way it looks!

The American steel just seems more forgiving. When i shave badly, for whatever reason, with one, I rarely even get a sting from the alum. The same dreadful shave from the Solingen & I'd sure as hell know it with the block.

Try one. They seem less favoured & can often be had for a steal on the bay! Get 'em while they're still cheap!

Any particular American brand you would recommend as your personal favorite?

I've not got enough experience to steer you, I'm afraid. I'm sure any vintage you like the look of will make you a happy chap!

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Originally Posted by JNT

Any particular American brand you would recommend as your personal favorite?

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They're all good.

Being new to these forums I have mostly been reading that everyone's favorites are either Solingen or Sheffield razors. I do have a Genco at home (ebay special) that needs to be cleaned up and honed. I will be honing that one up as soon as I can. I am anxious to try it now.

Thanks

I, too, have a Sheffield blade that is loads smoother and more forgiving than my others (all Solingens). If I were to try to shave blindfolded, or with my foot, I wouldn't hesitate for a second about which razor to use.

Just wondering - could it be because the softer steel polishes more easily? In that sense, you'd be getting more out of the finishing stones with it using a given number of strokes. One way to check would be to find out if some of the guys with the 200x magnification devices report the same phenomenon, since I'd assume they're polishing the razors to the same (visual) degree no matter the steel.

I like my Torrey. But for some odd ball reason the Torrey holds a better edge than my Boker (Red-Injun No.101). I would figure the Boker would do better since it is a German blade, but I cant swear it is Soligen since its not marked on the blade as such.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JNT

Any particular American brand you would recommend as your personal favorite?

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i have a J.R. Torry and it is the best razor i have. it is even better than the new Dovo i have and a Wostenholm which is a great shaver but i am just not a fan of the spike point it has. comparing each place with my razors i would say American is the best with Sheffield in a close second and Solingen last but many will say otherwise it is just a matter of opinion. (my opinions are mostly because of the grind of each razor because i like a closer to wedge like my Torry is)

Cattaraugus, Case, Western States, Robeson, Torrey, Union Cutlery, Genco, are all good American made brands from the old days. There are others that don't come to mind right off the top of my head.

Edit; Shumate is a good one too as well as Winchester and Remington but the last two are more sought after by collectors of those companies stuff ....same with Keen Kutter.

Although I favor the Sheffield steel I have had some nice shaving American steel in the past, a Genco, a Geneva Cutlery, but sent them to some of our soldiers. Recently I acquired not much heard of Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Co. 'OVB' (Our Very Best) of Chicago, Ill. (now known as True Value Hardware) that is a very fine shaver, another American made razor to consider.....I'm keeping this one. Personally, I think it is better than the Genco and Geneva Cutlery, but that's my opinion (story) and I'm sticking to it............

i think all is personal preferences. I love sheffields,genco,puma,etc.so on so on. I DONT use my own blades for shave but when i do i pick up my TI .i was doing test to see how long it will last without touching up hones almost give up after 1 month but now is 2 nd and it does shave same as when i started.I miss my puma and rest but trying to see how long this ti will last.anyway my genco army & nevy is awonderful shaver too.ask for boker great one too.too many of them out there

Waterville made some great razors, the Unlimited in particular.
The Union Cutlery Spike is one of my all time favorites, as long as you can find the larger 11/16ths size. Same with the Case Red Imp 132. Both these razors are wedges.
Torrey made some very good shavers. I prefer their 6/8ths, but they made several sizes.
Roberson, Shumate, Henry Sears, Geneva, various off-shoots of Case such as Kinfolks, the list is very long and all are very nice shavers.

I can't attribute a smooth shave to any magic steel or region where it was made. My Puma shaves as smooth as my Helje as my Cattaraugus GL as my etc etc...
I think steel & heat treat do play a part but how it's going to shave is governed more by the honing IME.

What is making you think that it's the steel vs. the grind or edge quality/geometry?

There's no magic in it. The W&B is a solid design, the steel is of first quality, and the heat treatment was carefully executed. I hone a lot of W&Bs and they're good solid razors.

I started this thread so sorry I have not been on in a few days to read your posts. Thanks to all who have replied. I wanted to reply to Visibility, if it was me that you were asking......

"What is making you think that it's the steel vs. the grind or edge quality/geometry?"

Well....again I am just a beginning with this but....I do have 4 Sheffield razors from 4 different companies and each one with a different grind. I have an 11/16th that is a hollow ground, a 6/8" that is less hollow and and W&B that is a 5/8" and it's not a wedge but the blade is very rigid and thicker with much less of a hollow grind than anything else I have. I also have a "Filly" and a number of Solingen. All 4 of my Sheffield's feel much smoother than the other makes and the 5/8" W&B is unbelieveably smoother than all of them. I have even done tests to make sure it wasn't just my imagination. During some shaves I will take 2 or 3 razors and shave using all of them, comparing feel and sharpness. I guess it could still come down to grind and/or edge geometry but it would be a weird coincidence that all of my Sheffield's grinds and/or edge would make them all smoother.

I must say though too that I am surprised so many people love their American and Sheffield razors over the Solingen. That's cool to hear though.

Just an interesting topic of conversation I think.

Thanks again to all who contributed!

Tony

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DoughBoy68

Although I favor the Sheffield steel I have had some nice shaving American steel in the past, a Genco, a Geneva Cutlery, but sent them to some of our soldiers. Recently I acquired not much heard of Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Co. 'OVB' (Our Very Best) of Chicago, Ill. (now known as True Value Hardware) that is a very fine shaver, another American made razor to consider.....I'm keeping this one. Personally, I think it is better than the Genco and Geneva Cutlery, but that's my opinion (story) and I'm sticking to it............

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Since posting this I have learned that the Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Co. was made in Germany.

Can I have it on a slice of Hovis?