Stainless vs. Carbon Steel

[petermeix]

Hello All,

This is my first post so I apologize if this question has been asked a thousand times... I am ready to purchase my first "quality" straight razor and am stuck on stainless vs. carbon steel. I have read that carbon steel sharpens more easily but stainless holds an edge much longer. I am quite confident I can teach myself to sharpen either blade as I work with metal and have a pretty good feel for it, but I would certainly appreciate any input as to if the extra effort to sharpen the stainless is worth it to get more shaves between honing. Any other insights are welcome and appreciated as well. Thank-you.
-Pete M

[mainaman]

no big difference as far as I am concerned. Carbon will rust much faster if you do not care for your razor, that's about all I can think of.

[holli4pirating]

I hone them the same, and I take just as careful care of both. I suppose stainless is more stain resistant than carbon, but I've seen them stained and rusted just like carbon blades.

[Obie]

Gentlemen:

Since I don't hone yet, I notice little difference between the stainless and carbon steel razors in almost every way. I strop them the same way. I also clean and dry them the same way, especially to prevent rusting.

Regards,
Obie

[GeauxLSU]

I prefer carbon steel simply because it's what I'm used to. My chisels and gouges are carbon steel. The few stainless pocket knives I've had were a bear to sharpen. Granted I may be comparing apples with oranges, but I can't get past that experience. Given the proper care, you'll have few problems with carbon steel razors.

[JimmyHAD]

I too was prejudiced against stainless because of my experience with SS versus high carbon steel pocket knives. I am happy to say that my experience with razors has turned me around on stainless. I don't like it better than hi carbon but I have found it to be about as good. Like holli said, I have to take care of one the same as the other and hone them more or less the same too. Might need a bit extra on the SS but nothing to complain about so far IME. Welcome to SRP and check out the SRP Wiki beginner's guide here if you haven't got around to it yet.

[Deanstreet]

I just bought a old SS str8 and I noticed my carbon steel dovo is much more eazy to get that razor sharp edge on...

[petermeix]

Thanks to all who responded, super helpful stuff! Thanks Funkadelyk, the Red Bismark was my top pick in carbon steel. That price is by far the best, I have seen it elsewhere closer to $200. I am going to have to grab it. Thank-you.

[bonusmarple]

I sharpen the stainless a little different, but other than that, not much difference that I can tell.

[freyguy]

I've only used Carbon, and from what I know of metal, and how it works in pocket knifes, as well as how Hi carbon is made, I would say stick to the carbon. I actually have heard, and experienced the opposite of your findings. I've found that stainless steel will take an edge more easily, and lose it more easily because it is a softer metal then hi carbon. Hi carbon is very strong and very rigid, so it may take a little more work to sharpen but should hold the edge longer. That's why the japanese used it in swords.