Classic Shaving Filarmonica

Has anyone purchased Classic Shaving's Filarmonica. I thought they looked good, 3 pin razor, Fily steel, of course, probaby crappy Fily scales. Well, I broke down, and pulled the trigger on one...(Sorry Robin)

When I got it, it looked like someone dragged the scales along concrete or took 220 grit sandpaper to them. I contacted Classic Shaving. They were very helpful and graciously offered to swap out the razor for me. They even sent me a postage paid envelope to send the other one back.

To my surprise, The new one they sent, was just as bad as the first. I couldn't even decide which one to keep. The were both that bad.. I don't think I'm being overly critical here. I have many razors, NOS, Customs, Vintage, even Ebay specials, I even have other Fily's, 13's, 14's (EPBD) and Medallion Taurino. None, not one, look like these do. The scales are all scratched up.

I figured I could have Max rescale it for me, some nice Jade Ghost or something, but then, I have to lay out more money, Not that Max isn't worth it, he is, every penny. It's the point. It's a new, well, NOS, razor.
I might be able to take it to my bench buffer, and using Enkay Polishing Compounds buff it out, but I don't know. These are Fily scales we're talking about. I'd have to be really careful with them....

Classic wants me to send back the second one too so they can compare it to the rest. I figure if both razors that I got look like that, then they all do.

Has anyone else bought one of these? Are the scales all scratched up?
I just wondering if I have that bad of luck, or is this how they come. This is not Classic's fault. They're a great vendor, and will work with you, but I'm just wondering if I'm the lucky one, or has anyone else been so lucky

I had one and sold it. It never shaved very well. It was nigh impossible for me to get a shaving edge on it. The thing that bugged me most was that I bought it and paid the extra money to have it pre-honed. It sucked. The scales were really cheap, without even a real spacer, just the two scales glued together. This was back in early summer 2008, so I paid $140 or something, before they jacked the prices. But I was still pretty disappointed. It was not at all like the vintage Fillys (I have and love a #13 Doble Temple and #14 Especial). Some guys have honed them to a great edge and like them, but I was too novice at it and had expected it to shave properly given I had it pre-honed.

s.

I have read people comment that the last Fillis (Classic shaving) are not as well made and do not shave as good as the old stock from the 1960s. I have not seen a particular complaint about scale condition.

http://www.classicshaving.com/i/Clas...icaLarge2b.jpg


I don't know anything about that razor in particular. But I have handled a few of these.

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Originally Posted by persco

I had one and sold it. It never shaved very well. It was nigh impossible for me to get a shaving edge on it. The thing that bugged me most was that I bought it and paid the extra money to have it pre-honed. It sucked. The scales were really cheap, without even a real spacer, just the two scales glued together. This was back in early summer 2008, so I paid $140 or something, before they jacked the prices. But I was still pretty disappointed. It was not at all like the vintage Fillys (I have and love a #13 Doble Temple and #14 Especial). Some guys have honed them to a great edge and like them, but I was too novice at it and had expected it to shave properly given I had it pre-honed.

s.

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I hadn't heard that mentioned before either.

I have a drawer full of scales that also fit that description. Interesting.

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Originally Posted by Seraphim

I hadn't heard that mentioned before either.

I have a drawer full of scales that also fit that description. Interesting.

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Those look like gold dollar scales!

Sorry to hear that Rich.

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Originally Posted by mainaman

I have read people comment that the last Fillis (Classic shaving) are not as well made and do not shave as good as the old stock from the 1960s. I have not seen a particular complaint about scale condition.

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That's interesting you mention that considering Lynn is the one who hones these for CS.

Why is the craftsmanship any different from 60s? I'm curious as you just discouraged potential client(s) from ordering one from CS. Nevermind the scales. It's given that they're POS and not exactly the prettiest to look at.
The shave is what I'm after.

Thanks for the input sire.

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Originally Posted by SiRed8

Sorry to hear that Rich.

That's interesting you mention that considering Lynn is the one who hones these for CS.

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Actually, when I purchased mine I asked CS whether or not they were honed by Lynn. They told me they used a well-known honer, but they wouldn't say it was Lynn. I was later told that it wasn't Lynn who did the honing for them anymore....

s.

Rich,

I've had many of the CS Filly's in my possesion and none had really scratched up scales. Plain, black and to small looking for such a heavy piece of steel, yes. But never scratched.

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Originally Posted by SiRed8

Sorry to hear that Rich.



That's interesting you mention that considering Lynn is the one who hones these for CS.

Why is the craftsmanship any different from 60s? I'm curious as you just discouraged potential client(s) from ordering one from CS. Nevermind the scales. It's given that they're POS and not exactly the prettiest to look at.
The shave is what I'm after.

Thanks for the input sire.

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I do not know any details, just paraphrasing what I have read in some threads. The consensus seem to be that older Fillis are better quality and better shavers.

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Originally Posted by Maximilian

Rich,

I've had many of the CS Filly's in my possesion and none had really scratched up scales. Plain, black and to small looking for such a heavy piece of steel, yes. But never scratched.

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Agree. I also have honed tons of these and still get them in from people. They are not at all like the Vintage Filarmonica Doble Temples we are used to. Much heavier blade. They definitely need a bevel set and a full honing prior to use. They normally turn out to be pretty decent shavers.

Lynn

I have 3 all from CS fortunately I also got them before they raised the price on them to current levels. None of my scales were scuffed however 1 had a stress crack from the center pin another had a crack forming in the same way and at least one had imperfect pins, I will say though both cracks and the pins were not obvious and unless you looked very carefully the imperfections could be easily missed.

I had Glen (gssixgun) rescale all 3, the first thread here shows # 1 and some of the issues I knew about and one I didn't the 2nd, shows rescaled #2 and #3, I had Glen resharpen them and they are very nice shavers now.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/galle...d-acrylic.html
http://straightrazorpalace.com/galle...-cocobolo.html

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.

For what it's worth, I ordered a Dovo Best Quality from ClassicShaving within the last week, and it came to me with that white sticker saying Lynn had sharpened it, just got it this morning... However, it may have been sharpened long ago, and left in stock till someone bought it. So I am not sure if this helps...

I bought that same razor from those same guys. The scales were not scratched at all. But the blade needed to be run across my naniwa 12k before I would want to shave with it. I really like the razor. Very heavy with no flex, but still a hollowed grind. I'll prob never part with it.

he normally puts that white piece of paper saying "Your razor has been honed to perfection" on it. Mine had no such label.[/QUOTE]

Mine neither

This has scared me away from the new Fhillys as a possibility. Too many other good new choices out there to chance disappointments.

On the upside, CS is trying to make things right! Perhaps they can credit you to get a different straight razor from them.

Pabster

I bought two of them from CS maybe a week before the prices went up. I sold one right away at my cost to a member that just missed buying before the increase and really wanted one.

The scales on either razor weren't scratched.
Attachment 34255
The worst I could say was the rough unpolished finish on the butt end of the scales. Not a big deal, but very noticeable.
Attachment 34256

They definitely are cheap plastic scales and seem mismatched to the razor. I sold the other razor as well. It was an impressive piece of steel, but I've favored full hollows and generally 4/8-6/8 razors.

Chris L

Chris,

Mine looks nothing like that...I don't know if it will show up well in pics, but I'll try..

Rich

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Originally Posted by persco

Actually, when I purchased mine I asked CS whether or not they were honed by Lynn. They told me they used a well-known honer, but they wouldn't say it was Lynn. I was later told that it wasn't Lynn who did the honing for them anymore....

s.

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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.

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Originally Posted by mainaman

I do not know any details, just paraphrasing what I have read in some threads. The consensus seem to be that older Fillis are better quality and better shavers.

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Thanks guys. I am curious as I'd like to try more razors and regardless of naysayers about razors here and there, ultimately it's really up to you to decide.

I've been looking at these of late and the prices at auction are ridiculous. I actually picked up Henckels Keschner, Claus, Larkin. Not in best of conditions but hopefully not counterfeits as well. But that's beside point.
I'll have to do more research regarding these Filis. I've some books and hopefully these will clear some things up.

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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.

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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...

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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.

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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).

I purchased one of the Fillys from Classic Shaving. The scales and spacers were in good shape. The blade was susposed to be prehoned and shave ready. It was OK but not great. I intend to send mine out to be honed by a pro and try again.

I also have a Filarmonica EPBD from Vintage Scent that my wife will not let me touch until Christmas.

Can hardly wait.

After I saw Man's review of the razor just had to have one.