Modified Gold Dollar

Good evening SRP.I just received my new Gold Dollar In the mail.I must say that although I am new,the Gold Dollar shaves pretty damned good!I ordered the strop/razor combo and so far I like it.I shaved two days growth with a second pass and it shaved smoothly and quickly.It took about a week to arrive(seasonal backlog)along with an excellent warranty and decent instructions as well as being shave ready.The only con here are the scales;they are on the low-buck side.Im considering having the scales scrimshawed.Folks,for sixty bucks Ken Rup is offering excellent value backed by an excellent warranty!

Glad you liked it! Watch out, before you know it you'll be hunting for one of those fancy 'bells-n-whistles' razors :)

I just recieved my Gold Dollar, and the only thing I have to add to what has already been said is that the scales on mine are either slightly too narrow, or have been positioned poorly. The heel of the blade protudes enough to give a nasty cut if picked up the wrong way.
However for the price I am far from disappointed, and if there are others like myself thinking about making their own scales, I would suggest this would be a good place to start.
I will be ordering another two or three for that purpose.

This 2 blades i bought for test purposes.
At first About the handles. they are horrible specially on 66.
108 can be saved.
Blade on 66 do have shoulder which needs to be grind. 108 is ok.
will sharpen them and test them see what happens.

I ordered two for test purposes too. 208 had a shoulder that could use a regrinding, but it doesn't affect the honing so I'm leaving it alone. It took a fantastic edge though. I've been pleasantly surprised. Fortunately, I didn't have any major issues with the scales.

I received my Gold Dollar 100 yesterday, honed it up and gave it a test shave tonight.....was I ever surprised! Not a bad shave at all! Wish I would have known about these babies a year ago. The metal appears to be of good quality and it honed up nice. The only drawback is the blade hit the scales while closing. No big deal, gave the wedge end pin a few licks and it straightened right up. Guys, for a new razor for less than $20 including shipping you can't beat it.

What are the differences between the models? Is there a place that says?

Here is the link to the Gold Dollar web site:
electric hair clippers,hair scissors,tailor scissors,household scissors manufacturer in China

My Gold Dollar 100 arrived two days ago. The blade hit the scale when closing but a few taps to the wedge end pin cured that problem. As far as the blade, no complaints, it honed up nicely and gave a surprisingly good shave, a lot better than I expected from a $14 razor. The main complaint I have seen with the Gold Dollars has been the scales, only a few on the blades. All in all a good razor for the money.

Compared to my vintage razor, the GD (model 84 from Kenrup) does rust quite easily. I put that down to it being high carbon steel, which would help explain the sharp edge. does that sound right?

It might just be inferior to the other models like 200 or 800.

My Chinese Gold Monkey 777 (eBay Mr. Parko) came in today, doesn't look to bad. Seems like pretty good steel,I honed it up and it shaved pretty well. The scales are crappy and I need to rub out a few blemishes, but not bad for $14.00.

Cheers, Steve.

I picked up the same razor a while back, have had it in queue for a rescale here for about 2 months and just started working on that rescale this week. I figured I need to learn some acrylic work for another rescale so my GM777 will be used to learn acrylic rescale and by the time I'm done I'll hopefully have a set of hones to learn honing on it as well.

They seem pretty solid for such a low price (but I'm no expert), I'm pretty sure that these razors were discussed in another thread as well, search for Gold Dollar and you'll find it.

I recently while doing a search for razors came across the ads for the SR with Gold Dollar on the blade....and noticed that they were very inexpensive. I noticed they weren't on the good razor list and that they were made in China, but have now read on one of the threads that guys are liking them. What is the deal? And where are they sold at? Under $20 bucks really?

well there was a member selling them a bit ago
but you could try eBay Seller: mr.parko: Health Beauty, Collectibles items on eBay.com there NOT ready for use so you will need to get them honed
or you can get one ready to go from RupRazor - Straight Razors

+1 on what janivar123 said about sharpening. My Gold Dollar 100 took a nice edge and gives a decent shave. I bought mine from Mr Parko and am very happy with it. The main fault I have read and experienced myself are the scales, the blade on mine hit the scales when I first got it but a few light taps with a small ball peen hammer fixed it or you can just replace them. I'm thinking of buying another one, either a Gold Dollar 200 or 208, maybe a Gold Monkey 777 as they have received good reviews.

I got a Gold Dollar 208 from Mr.Parko to practice honing, and it shaves really well.

My blade sits perfectly between the scales, and doesn't go through the other side when closed like some, and so I guess I got a good one.

The edge has a bit of a smile, and really more of a ramp at the point. The rest of the blade is flat and true. This makes honing at the point a bit tricky, but I'm figuring it out.

I was amazed that mine (GD100) shaved as good as it did for a $14 razor. I hear that getting one with good scales is like the luck of the draw, if you bought 2 one may be good. I don't have a problem with making a set of scales if a razor needs it (see pics, 1st pic is a Bengall with Zebra Wood, 2nd pic is a Frederick Reynolds with Purple Heart, 3rd is a Joseph Allen & Sons NON XLL with Cocobolo) If it shaves good and needs scales I make a set and keep it to shave with. If it doesn't shave good and needs scales I make a set and sell it to a collector.

I have a GD and Double Arrow (both Seraphim customs) and a stock 208 (from JReiter) and all are amazing shavers. These are part of my 7 day set (the others being 2 W&Bs, a G. Wostenholm and a vintage Boker 451) that really compliment each very well. Its wierd how a $12 razor can shave as well as other str8s costing 10X more.

I bought three from Mr. Parko on ebay. He has been selling there for several months, but I can't find any auctions by him now. However, I did find these from another seller:

http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trk...All-Categories

You can buy Gold Dollar razors from the manufacturer by the case. Otherwise you have to find someone that bought a case or two and is selling them individually.

Roughly $15 with free shipping is what these have gone for in the past. The ones at RupRazor are QC'd and honed so that's why they cost more there.

There are tons of cheap, new razors from Pakistan and China out there. However, the Gold Dollar and Double Arrow brands are the only ones I know of that actually make good shavers. The others seem to be junk.

Edit: Oops. See Janivar's response for Mr. Parko's listings. For some reason I couldn't find them myself. http://shop.ebay.com/mr.parko/m.html..._sop=12&_rdc=1

yeah gotten some from him too

Mos def check out RupRazor.His Gold Dollar strop/razor combo is all that!

+1 on chopkins suggestion. I hear the ruprazor GD razor/Filly strop combo is hard to beat for quality and price plus a great guy to deal with.

I think most will agree that
unless you plan to work on it yourself(or get help from your neighbour)
ruprazor has a great offer

if you plan having a blade to practise sharpening/customizing (and ruining)
get them from epoez2plle or mr.parko

just checking out to see if everybodys 13.00 investment can hold and edge to the other blades ??

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Originally Posted by nessmuck

just checking out to see if everybodys 13.00 investment can hold and edge to the other blades ??

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I picked one up not long ago, and the edge it took was quite admirable... I've not owned it long enough to to answer the edge retention question. However, in my experience, a razor that takes a great edge that lasts for a couple of shaves hasn't become a problem later. IME, most of the complaints of the GD razors was more about poor craftsmanship than poor steel.

I have three. Two shave great and are holding an edge nicely. The third one shaves ok, but for some reason it tends to result in some irritation later. I haven't had time to figure out why.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nessmuck

just checking out to see if everybodys 13.00 investment can hold and edge to the other blades ??

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I have a GD 208... The scales are crap, but the blade centers, and the blade is GOOD! I like it more than my Dovo best quality! Could be the heavier grind, but it is a GREAT razor... I've had the Dovo for a month more than the GD, but they were both Croxed at the same time, and I still like the GD more, so I know they're fairly on par...

I'm gonna say that a GD is at least equal to a DBQ, and if you prefer heavier grinds, possibly better.

So. Worth. It.

I actually honed one 208 this week end. It took quite a while on a DMT E 1.2k to create a good bevel, because the toe was horribly unevenly (and it's an euphemism) ground. Once accomplished a few passes on the EE, swaty and c12k made a good hair popping edge. I gave it to a friend and will ask him to give me a... full report on how well the edge held! :D

I will not call names on this thread . I promise SRP member to test GOLD DOLLAR AND see what type straight razor it.
All below is my personal opinion. The only purpose of this thread to help other's which don't have or trying to buy Gold Dollar razor.
Before i test this razor i thought a little to be as close as to new starter people.
That is why at first i used NORTON 1k, 4/8 k stone. As Norton 4/8 available largely it was my first choose.
I checked the edge from factory and soon find out i don't need 1k at all.
i start with 4k. spend almost 5 minuts on it then i moved to 8k.
i spend almost 8 minutes and check the edge. edge was sharp but not sharp enough i could call it shave ready blade.
then i spend 5 more minutes on 8k and didn't like the results. seems like i stuck in same point.
i check the edge using microscope and find out edge is broken down.it was not a big chips but i could see them.
At this point i stop using 8k .
My next best choose of stones i thought would be barber hone. i choose KINGS BARBER HONE AND only used fine side. As edge was in almost ready.
i made 10 laps and see there is deep scratches on the bevel but edge was very sharp.
This wouldn't satisfy me i moved on a little more expensive stones.
I choose my Japanese stone and made 35 laps . edge was sharp and without any small chips. i couldn't see any chips at all under 100x magnification.
Now i got the edge where i wanted . edge was rigid edge.(almost American steel blade) far from Sheffield steel.
Now i tried to smooth the edge.
My best option was 10 inch long an Escher.
made 30 laps and check the edge. it did help a little but not much. Edge was sharp enough i could call it shave ready blade.
conclusion.
if you are the just starter or person struggling to buy more expensive razor i think this razor is worth the money you will spend for it.how much money i cannot say . I don't want to go against the SRP rules.
Please remember you will need in 88% change handles.
This is all and i hope this helps someone in one day.
In

Nice write up Sham!

That's one heck of a Jnat! What is it and where did you find something like that? Quite a big stone there :D

I agree with you Sham. The razor steel is actually pretty good for the money. I've been very pleasantly surprised with it. In fact, I'm giving one as a gift to my brother in hopes that he'll one day be joining our ranks here :tu:

Thanks, Sham!

Nice review Sham.
Do you think the chipping was peculiar to your razor only ?
Most newbs do not have J-Nats & Eschers to get your results.

I did sharpen second one and had same problem. norton 8k did chip the blade.

Ido not have a Gold Dollar but I have a Gold Medal. (made in china) It is really heavy and almost a wedge. Are the Gold Dollar razors like that?

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Originally Posted by mackie

Ido not have a Gold Dollar but I have a Gold Medal. (made in china) It is really heavy and almost a wedge. Are the Gold Dollar razors like that?

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pretty hefty blades but not wedges.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mackie

Ido not have a Gold Dollar but I have a Gold Medal. (made in china) It is really heavy and almost a wedge. Are the Gold Dollar razors like that?

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Gold Medal is bad one i think i have test that one long time ago. there is no way you could put shaving edge to GOLD Medal.
hope this helps

I keep hearing about gold dollar razors here, and some say they are great and some say they are crap. I know that they are no dovo, but what's the verdict? And if I get a gold dollar would it need to be re-honed before use?

Depends from whom or where are you getting it. They are not coming shave ready from the factory.
hope this helps.

I have purchased 3 Gold Dollar straights; all model 208s I think (don't have them in front of me at the moment). None of the scales were pinned correctly and had to be redone. One of the razors had a bent tang rendering it useless. I rendered it even more useless by trying to straighten it in a vise; it broke (lol).

One of them, after dealing with the scales, honed up well and is quite a good shaver. The other needed to have the pivot hole in the tang redrilled as it wasn't where it should have been. After doing that and correcting the scales alignment, it also honed up into a good shaver.

So then, these have the potential to be very good shavers, but they need work to get there.

They are a $10 razor...

They become a more expensive razor by this formula

Honing
Fix heel
Fix scales
Fix spine
Fix bent tang

Now after either You do this, or have a Restorer do this, you now have a functional razor made of unknown Chinese steel which you paid about the same as an entry level Dovo or TI for if you had the work done, or you paid for in sweat and time if you did it yerself...