Thread: FILARMONICA OR BISMARCK?

Thank You Gentlemen.

I have the Filarmonica 13 Doble Temple and you will have to pry that one from my cold dead hands if you want it from me. I had a Dovo Bismarck 6/8 (bought from SRD and honed by the master) and sold it to a member here. I found the shaves rough and uncomfortable. Maybe I was doing something wrong, but if you search on the forums you'll find another thread where other guys had the same issues with the Bismarck. Something about the angle of attack required being different from other razors. To me, having to shave differently with one Western razor than the others didn't make any sense.

The Filarmonicas are like butter. I've owned a lot of top-shelf shavers and the Fillies always come out the best for me. When new guys ask me what my favorite razors are, I invariably answer Filarmonica and Puma. My EPBD 14, DT 13, and Puma 222 are my favorites.

I didn't like the Bismarck at all. YMMV, of course.

Originally Posted by noble

Gentlemen I need your help
I have very tough beard. I'm considering buy dovo bismarck 6/8 or filarmonica double temple 7/8. What are Yours sugestions? Thank You for help. Best regards.

You've got plenty of good advice here. The only way you'll know which you prefer is to shave with both. Considering that Filis will do nothing but go up in price and become more difficult to obtain, you may want to start there. The Bismark is current production and can be purchased at any time. Whichever way you go or blade you choose, you can't make a bad decision; both are excellent shavers.

Originally Posted by Obie

I would either opt to buy both, if I had the money, or buy the less expensive of the two, if I did not have sufficient money.

I agree with Obie.

Buy both if you can, or the cheaper one if you cant.

I only have a Bismarck, so I cant comment fully, but they are great shavers, very well made and look brilliant.

I've been reading about the silly prices some Filli's have been going for on eBay and this has put me off, I must admit! I'd like to try one, but nearly $500 for a Filli is a load of money, and I could get a Livi regrind for $300.

I can testify that the Bismarck is a great razor, and others here have sung the praises of the Filli's, so I'm sure whatever you decide, you wont be disappointed!

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

Maybe it's just me, but I think this whole "tough beard" thing is nonesense. With good technique and good prep and a good razor with a good edge, you'll get a good shave.

Yeah, on paper, all other things being equal, etc. But, they aren't.

We all have different skills in shaving, honing, stropping, and prep. Each of us gravitates over time to a size and grind that suit them best. I don't get good results with anything under 6/8ths. I have 4/8ths and 5/8ths by some very good names, that I've honed up well, but no love. If it's 6/8th or larger, I do as well with ultra-thin singing razors as I do with wedges. With 6/8ths - 8/8ths razors, I feel the razor doing the work, instead of me. I use a lighter touch, and they hold their edge better.

I know I'm not in the norm, because the dominant size of post-1900 US-made razors was 5/8ths, all the way until straight razors fell out of favor after WWII. If people didn't feel they were better in practice, they wouldn't have been able to sell so many for 40+ years. So I can either beat myself up over needing a large razor by viewing it as a crutch, a lack of skill, or just enjoy my shave. So, I just enjoy my shave...6/8ths or above. These larger razors were often marketed for "heavy beards," so maybe there is something to it. My facial hair isn't really dense, but the whiskers themselves are so thick they don't fit inside the foil of electric shavers to get cut properly. So straight razors have been a boon for me and my skin.

Oh, back to the topic. Of those 6/8ths+ razors, Philarmonicas are my very favorite.