Thread: filly pecking order?

Originally Posted by willow2006

Do tell Which brands are equivalent?

I write this as one who sincerely believes that Filarmonicas really are a little different and better than most other razors I have tried. Whether they are worth the going rate, I don't know - what's a razor worth to somebody? I can only speak for myself. Some I paid well below the going rate for (but still high, for a straight), and one I paid the going rate for. I wouldn't have known a good razor from a bad for the first three to four months I was shaving, so I feel that buying an expensive razor if you're brand new to this is a waste of money. I would have ruined one through bad honing, bad stropping, bad shaving, or all three. Don't buy junk, but don't waste money on an expensive razor to start. Any good vintage German or American razor in 5/8ths or 6/8ths, honed by somebody who knows how, would fit the bill.

There are three razors that remind me of a Filarmonica #13 Doble Temple in their type and quality of shave. By this I mean very sharp and take a great edge, very smooth and forgiving on the skin, and have a great "feel" that's hard to define, a maneuverability and confidence that I'll get a great shave when I pick them up. I've only been at this about 18 months, so factor that into my opinions.

The first is a Taylor Eye Witness 1000 in 6/8ths. The second is an Otto Busch Weltmeister in 13/16ths, which may be the very smoothest shaver I have ever tried, when well-honed and stropped. The third is a Le Grelot full hollow in 6/8ths. The Taylor feels a little lighter than the #13, the Busch a little heavier/stiffer, the Le Grelot about the same; but they are all definitely in the same class to me. The Busch may be better than the Filarmonica #13, the Taylor almost identical. The edges I get on my Le Grelots "test" as sharp as the Busch and Taylor, they just don't (quite) shave as sharp as the Busch and the Taylor, but close.

For the #14 Especial Para Barbas Duras, the closest thing to it I've tried is a big Henckels Friodur. The Friodur has a narrower spine, the EPBD is a little heavier, and "nicer." Both are very hollow, take ferocious edges when honed right, refresh well from stropping, and sing nicely when stropped. The Friodur is 1/3 the price, but way more than 1/3 the razor.

As far as the #14 Doble Temple, there honestly is no other razor I've tried that reminds me of it, and I prefer big razors. It doesn't feel like a bigger version of a #13 to me, it's a different feel entirely. It feels even bigger than it actually is because of the wacky scales, takes some adjustment to handle right, and has the odd combination of being both very sharp yet very gentle on my skin. Once I adjusted to the balance and weight, I really like the let-the-razor-do-the-shaving feel I get with the #14 DT. The #14 DT is not my favorite razor, but it's among the top with those I've listed above. There are others that are as good, but remind me not at all of any Filarmonica (Kinfolks Blue Steel Special, Droescher Gold Bug, old Greaves Sheaf Works, etc.).

Probably more than what you wanted to know, and entirely subjective. But based on personal experience, and honest. None of the razors I've listed are inexpensive, but all are less than Filarmonicas.

Originally Posted by Oglethorpe

This post is about Filarmonica razors, as there is only one Filly strop and therefore could not be a "pecking order".


To naysayers in the "one razor is not better than another" camp -- what would you say about Szco, Zeepk, Economy, Tomahawk, etc? Is it just because these are on the SRP "do not buy" list that they are disregarded? When is the last time a honemeister attempted to put a fine edge on one of these and have a shave?


There are so many threads that draw conclusions, based on price, scale appearance, et cetera, saying that a comparable shave could be had with a Genco, Torrey, W&B, or random Solingen. Could you not also make the same argument based upon the "do not buy" list? In other words, I don't think that we can imply, for a single second, that all razors shave equally. Tempers, grinds, sizes, weights, balances, all play a part.


Maybe my comparison to "do not buy list"-razors in terms of shave quality is a little drastic, but my point is that razor A (filarmonica) will shave me better than razor B (say, John Engstrom or something comparably mid-level price-wise). Maybe your experience is different. But to me, the higher prices (which I agree are now out-of-hand) are at least justified by the fact that I can get a better shave with it.


Also, to answer the OP's question, I think the 14 EPBD would sit at the top of the ladder, followed by the Doble Temple. I haven't shaved with the sub cero or others, so I can't speak to those.

Cheers!

I would have sworn the title of the original post was "filly pecking order" and that's all one gets to see when one is scrolling down the threads, hence my question.

I have the #14 Doble Temple and the #14 EPBD and both were bought NOS. If I had to rank the two, I would rank the Doble Temple slightly ahead of the EPBD. The difference is so minor that I would likely give you a different order in another week.

I have a 14 EPBD and a 13 DT. Both are incredibly smooth, but I marginally favor the 13 DT.

It seems as if the sentiment in this thread is that those who own Fillys feel that they are in so many ways superior to most other blades.
Those who do not own them perhaps do not understand how there could be such a vast difference between a great shaver and a Fili.

I can't put it into words because I just don't have them. Someone more eloquent than I am may come along and make the experience succinct, but for me it defies language. And I'm not just being sentimental about my razors. There is a difference. When I shave with them, they glide across my face and they're so smooth it feels like they couldn't cut butter. But the whiskers are gone and my face feels smooth.
The first time I used my 14 EPBD I remember thinking, "It doesn't even feel like I could cut myself with this." And I got an amazing shave.

The Fili sets a new standard for what I expect out of a razor now.

As a Filarmonica guy, I often compare all razors to them. I have paid some nice chunks of change for different razors. Some were worth it, others weren't. Lots of razors that I have are as good as the Filarmonicas. In that respect, I don't think Filarmonicas are THE BEST... just AMONG THE BEST.

For example, two new ones I got are the Dorko 300 and a Helje MK 31. Those are both excellent. I've only used the Dorko once so far, but I was giddy as a schoolgirl when I was done shaving. It's so nice.

So... the moral of the story is... YMMV.

Originally Posted by Oglethorpe

I have paid some nice chunks of change for different razors. Some were worth it, others weren't. Lots of razors that I have are as good as the Filarmonicas. In that respect, I don't think Filarmonicas are THE BEST... just AMONG THE BEST.
So... the moral of the story is... YMMV.

I concur

You know the cool thing about Razors with crappy scales, They can be rescaled. Ducks, Wade and Butcher and Fiarmonica are awesome shavers. Some of my best shavers are Fily's, Ducks, and Mastro Livi's. Of course, you then have the problem of it no longer being original, but if you intend on keeping it, You can really do some wonderful things to it.

Henckels, Boker, Most of the Solingens, etc..have cheesy Celluloid scales, at least some of them do. Yes, the scales are pretty crappy, no doubt, but that's where Max comes or Glen, or any restorer comes in...They can hook you up. I too have got excellent shaves with 5 dollar no name ebay razors. If you hone, and the steel is good, well, then you can get a good shave. But make no mistake, Fily's are good shavers.

Also, I always liked the cracked ice sclaes on the Goldedge's and Wonderedges. I think they look cool. If the manufacturere skimped on the scales, but used quality steel, Well, I'm OK with that, after all, What's the most important part, Scales are aesthetic, but functional. I don't like holding something that feels like it's going to break..(Fily EPBD) ..I'm partial to natural wood scales, like on the NOS Livi's. Not only do they look good, but they're sturdy. I guess it comes down to, "Each his Own".

We can discuss English, German, Swedish and blade width and grind all day but until you have shaved with a properly sharpened Filarmonica, you are missing one of the best shaves possible.
I have about 40+ razors and the Filly seems to be the best.

I've used one, and it was very good. However, my Pumas, Friodurs, DD, and some other no name razors have shaved as well if not better. I think the feeling that they are "better" than some of the names I mentioned may have to do with people justifying the high price paid on an subconscious level.

They are great shavers, without question. However, for the money spent, you can get several razors that are right there with them for the same price...

I've got a couple of 14s, a 13 and a couple of 12s including one Filly with both Filly and C-Mon markings on the blade and the box. All real good but not better than many other full hollows I have. Just IME.