Thread: Classic Shaving Filarmonica

Originally Posted by SiRed8

When I stumbled on their site months ago ( July-August thereabouts ) I checked out how they went about the honing process and it says to have it shipped to Lynn. Even after revamping of their site it still done so.

Thanks SiRed8. This is the thread from a while back that led me to believe others do honing for CS when it comes to their "pre-sharpened" razors. The Filly I bought was "pre-sharpened."

s.

I've honed some of these and they're a PITA to hone due to their hard steel. Also, they're thicker than the original 60's Filarmonicas that I love and needless to say I prefer the older ones than these more modern ones.
Apart from this model, I've also had several customers from Spain that occasionally buy one of the last Filarmonica models in some old Spainsh cutleries. The blade shape is just like CS with the exception that it still has the "Doble Temple" etching on the blade and have the Filarmonica 14 scales.
This model is what I baptized as "13.5", since it's too big to be a 13 and too small to be a "14", thus needing to have the "14" scales, the "13" would be too small.
Also, being thicker in the edge is what also takes more time in the hones to set a bevel. This bevel usually gets much more pronounced than the 60's "13" that have a much more light and narrow edge and the edge is practically invisible.

I retract any implications that may or may not have been infered earlier in the thread, as I was simply comparing overall appearances. Having now heard from many who have actually held, honed, etc. these blades, it seems that indeed they are something else completely.

I see Crankymoose already linked you his razors, they were interesting to say the least....

I think after honing they are quite good shavers too, but yes they are a stiffer grind then the older Filly's just like Lynn and Leon have stated... Some people like that slightly stiffer grind it is a good thing we have a choice

I bet Mad Max's Jade G-10 will look great on those...

Originally Posted by zib

Hmmmm, Maybe I should send the 2nd one back and see if I fair better, It's probably going to Max for Jade Ghost anyway. Ever since I saw those scales, I've wanted a set. I haven't shaved with it, so I don't know about the honing, TPT seemed ok, I don't think Lynn honed these, (Did you Lynn?) because he normally puts that white piece of paper saying "Your razor has been honed to perfection" on it. Mine had no such label.

Nope. I have not honed these for Classic in a long time. Lately just for customers.

Have fun,

Lynn

I agree with Leon, have the same problem, but still it's a goo shaver.
My scales are typicall cheap filly scales, but without any "dogs bites"

For what it is worth, I bought a new TI LeGrelot at CS last month and it came with a really, really excellent edge on it. I'm disappointed to hear that it was not honed by Lynn, because I thought that CS was actually still using Lynn's services, and this was one of the selling points for buying the razor from them. On the other hand, whoever did the work seems to know their business, because it shaves like crazy.

For any Filly admirers out there, there's a Brazilian seller right now on eBay who sells the real deal OLD Filly 13 and 14s. He's obviously got a nice stash of them, because he has had a 13 and a 14 for sale virtually every week now for the past month. He only sells one at a time to keep the prices up, but I think he ends up with about the same price from week to week. The 13s sell for around $200 - 225 and the 14s sell for $325 - 360. Why pay $250 to CS for a questionable version when you can get the real thing, in NOS condition, on eBay?

I bought mine from CS maybe 2 years ago and I assumed they were the last of the production stock and probably had been lying around somewhere for years.

At any rate after some honing mine shaves like a champ. It ain't much to look at but it gets the job done with the best of them.

zib i have the same shaver and the plastic black scales are flawless..i think your getting ripped off some how, and if a third comes your way like the last two...get your money back! it's and 8/8 doble temple 13 right?? etching on the blade only!!!

best of luck to you bruh!

Wulfgar

I bought one of the CS Filys back when I believe Lynn was honing them (I think early 2008 maybe). It shaved great off his honing and the edge lasted four times longer than on my other blades. Then I had to hone it - wow, PITA. I finally got it about right and it's a very stiff, nice shaver, but it is HARD to hone.

I recently got a NOS pistacio scaled Fily 13 and it's just wonderful in every way. And while stiff it's also flexible and easy to hone. Probably my favorite razor.

So I do think the CS Fily is a great blade when right, but far too hard to get right. But if you like heavy stiff nice blades, this is one. I got mine for $120 I think - I would have been annoyed to pay more than that. Scales were fine (cheapo but good condition).