Thread: filly pecking order?

does anyone know the best filly shavers to the least fav. i have been looking at these for some time and all the models are just an overload,just looking for some advise,also do all fillys just come in a round point, thanks

I have seen both spikes and round points on the same model.
I have not tried anything but #13 DT, it gives superb shaves.

I've shaved with a Filly Double Temple 13 round point and I still have my Filly Double Temple 14 square point. Of the two, I think I prefered the 13 because I don't really like how flexible the large, full hollow is. Not that the 14 is a bad shaver by any means, I just need to pay a bit more attention to my technique with her.

As much as I like the shaves from these razors, I still think they are hugely overpriced.

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

I've shaved with a Filly Double Temple 13 round point and I still have my Filly Double Temple 14 square point. Of the two, I think I prefered the 13 because I don't really like how flexible the large, full hollow is. Not that the 14 is a bad shaver by any means, I just need to pay a bit more attention to my technique with her.

As much as I like the shaves from these razors, I still think they are hugely overpriced.

very true, tI have shaved with a few other brands that shave just as well.

Originally Posted by mainaman

very true, tI have shaved with a few other brands that shave just as well.

Do tell Which brands are equivalent?

Originally Posted by willow2006

Do tell Which brands are equivalent?

Well, Dubl Ducks have similarly horrible scales for starters...

As for the rest: An experienced shaver will be able to shave with anything. Apart from that, different razors honed by different people will shave differently on different faces with different preparation methods. And that is not even taking different strops into consideration. There is a good reasons why "how it shaves" is not a rating in our razor reviews - it would be nigh pointless.

Originally Posted by willow2006

Do tell Which brands are equivalent?

I have shaved with Henckels #52 1/2 which shaved just the same in terms of feeling and smoothness , and Griffon #62 which although was not the same grind shaved the same. I am sure there are many others.

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 holli4pirating

I've shaved with a Filly Double Temple 13 round point and I still have my Filly Double Temple 14 square point. Of the two, I think I prefered the 13 because I don't really like how flexible the large, full hollow is. Not that the 14 is a bad shaver by any means, I just need to pay a bit more attention to my technique with her.

As much as I like the shaves from these razors, I still think they are hugely overpriced.

Hugely overpriced, but I wish I had been into straight razor shaving back in 2002. I was in Madrid, Barcelona and Toledo for over a week. If I could find that time machine, I'd go back to that time and buy ever Filly I could see. I was even in a cutlery shaving shop in Madrid and bought a hefty Merkur DE. There had to have been Fillys in that very shop!!! Oh well, it was a trip of a lifetime regardless.

Chris L

I think you have to make a list of all models first, then you have to acquire collection of each model on the list.
Then you shave with them for few months and you'll have your ranking.
Then you send them to me and I use them for few months and I'll tell you my ranking. Or you can do it the other way around and I'll rate them for you first