Thread: Good websites to buy straight razors?

So I got a replaceable blade straight razor awhile ago and taught myself how to shave with it...

NOW I'm ready to waste a hell of a lot of money and get a great straight razor and barely use it! kidding. The question is, where do I go.

I'm in Austin, TX and there arent any places that sell straight razors here, let alone a strop (which I'll also have to learn to use).

So where do people recommend I go on the web. I'd like to get a Wade and Butcher, or Henckels. It seems there is classicshaving.com,vintagebladesllc.com, and nashvilleknifeshop.com... and I am then limited to Dovo and other 'mid' grade brands (thats not a shot at any brand, I am new to it all).

If I am out on eBay, how do I know where my true price point is on a razor.

So where does everyone out here recommend I go to on the web since I cannot shop locally?

Second part... where should I get a straight razor reconditioned and rehoned? Replacing the scales?

I have researched and researched everything above and I have come to the conclusion that I need a few experts assistance.

Thanks in advance gents.

SRD (straight razor designs) also has a decent collection of razors not to mention you can save money by getting a razor/strop combo. As for the rest of your query youll have to do some more looking. There are some great restorers(sp?) here on the forum so luckilly you dont have to go very far. Best advise for a newb though is to stay away from ebay untill you have a good idea of what it is you are looking for and what your looking at.

Good Luck,
Michael

dont think theres much W&B to find in shops but heres a possibilyty Straight Razors - Straight Razor Place Classifieds
henkels at Straight Razors : Shaving Shop - luxury classic wet shaving products - straight razors
and this site also have some vintage razors Straight Razor : Double Edge Razor : Shaving Products Supplies : Merkur Safety Razor : Badger Shaving Brush : Men's Grooming Products : VintageBladesllc.com

If you want a vintage blade, I highly recommend the classifieds on this site. Good blades, well honed, from members who want to uphold their good reputations.

As for the "middle quality", I would like to impress upon you that W&B, Henckels, DD, Filarmonica...

...are all fine razors, but really aren't in some super-razor category. They're just the fad razors of the last 2 years or so. In fact, I think for the money either a pretty standard $50 or less vintage blade from the classifieds or one of the DOVO "Best Quality" that retail for around $80 would be a very good deal, and a very good razor to learn on.

Whatever you do, stay AWAY from eBay. Lots of blades that can trick you into thinking they're good if you don't have a lot of razor experience.


Happy shopping, either way.

Welcome to SRP

Originally Posted by cjglancy

So where do people recommend I go on the web. I'd like to get a Wade and Butcher, or Henckels. It seems there is classicshaving.com,vintagebladesllc.com, and nashvilleknifeshop.com... and I am then limited to Dovo and other 'mid' grade brands (thats not a shot at any brand, I am new to it all).

These two companies do not make razors anymore, so you have to find an old one. The first two of the websites you listed have vintage razors section, so may be they'll have what you're looking for. If not, you have to find another place. The classifieds, ebay - all have them all the time.

Originally Posted by cjglancy

If I am out on eBay, how do I know where my true price point is on a razor.

You have to bid more than anybody else. As far as how much you are wiling to pay for a particular razor that's a question only you can answer.

Originally Posted by cjglancy

Second part... where should I get a straight razor reconditioned and rehoned? Replacing the scales?

If you take a look at the classifieds under member services you will see ads by members who offer these things. Usually they also have websites and post in the forum so you can get an idea of their work.
That would be the best option in my opinion.

Originally Posted by cjglancy

So I got a replaceable blade straight razor awhile ago and taught myself how to shave with it...

NOW I'm ready to waste a hell of a lot of money and get a great straight razor and barely use it! kidding. The question is, where do I go.

I'm in Austin, TX and there arent any places that sell straight razors here, let alone a strop (which I'll also have to learn to use).

So where do people recommend I go on the web. I'd like to get a Wade and Butcher, or Henckels. It seems there is classicshaving.com,vintagebladesllc.com, and nashvilleknifeshop.com... and I am then limited to Dovo and other 'mid' grade brands (thats not a shot at any brand, I am new to it all).

If I am out on eBay, how do I know where my true price point is on a razor.

So where does everyone out here recommend I go to on the web since I cannot shop locally?

Second part... where should I get a straight razor reconditioned and rehoned? Replacing the scales?

I have researched and researched everything above and I have come to the conclusion that I need a few experts assistance.

Thanks in advance gents.

To get started check out the sponsors (the banners keep changing
on the side and top). Look for a full seven part kit, read the
beginners forum here so you get the full kit. Razor, strop, brush,
soap, bowl, etc.... To start there is a need for a number of moving
parts and a kit is a good way to get going.

At the top of this page is "Classifieds". I just looked and there
are some BARGAINS this week. Some have better prices than Ebay
does this week. They run the full range from good blade, nasty scales that
work well to oh my golly a work of art drooling in the park. Some
are offered by folk that know how to hone too!

A sharp well honed razor is KEY.

Working on razors is sort of like working on cars. You have to
have a second to go and get parts. With razors you need
one to shave with and one to send out or work on. Almost
any of the under $100 razors in the classified can qualify as
a first or second razor. On the new razor side I saw a sub $105
Dovo Classic 6/8 on one of the sponsor sites. Lots of good
shaves in that little Dovo.

Now that third razor -- the sky is the limit....

Some of the folk that present the result of their work
in the "Custom Builts and Restorations" section of this
forum:
Custom Builts and Restorations - Straight Razor Place Forums
The guys that are looking for work publish their web site
in their signature they have style... and when you fall in
love with a style start shopping.

Most of the sponsors also have a restoration or new old stock
section....

Originally Posted by niftyshaving

A sharp well honed razor is KEY.

+1 to this statement.

As a fellow new person to straight razor shaving I can say now that I wish I had gone the Dovo route to begin with, properly honed by someone who knows what they're doing. If you spend some time reading advice on this site you'll see the most common recommendation is to get a professionally honed blade to start out with, this then acts as a point of reference for everything else you need to learn to do. It's like the foundation to a house you're building in experience. You know for a fact that your blade is sharp, knowing this a bad shave is entirely your fault, and you can begin to eliminate culprits in the equation that are not the blade's sharpness (stropping technique, shaving methods and angles, lather, face prep, etc...). Personally I'm waiting for an SRD dovo to arrive in the mail so I can sort of "start over" knowing what I know now from trying this and that.

Without a starting point, you're like me, just guessing at everything else in my opinion.

Another factor to consider is what they call "Razor Aquisition Disorder" on this site. If you have the money i guarantee once you start straight razor shaving you'll want to buy more razors. Buy a well honed one to start and learn from, then experiment with the classifieds and Ebay I say. So it's not like the dovo special from SRD will be the last razor you ever own. You know it. Just admit it.

I echo the comments above. While you can get new shave ready razors from vendors I think it is the best to buy from the classifieds. Choose from someone who is reputable (one way to check this is the amount of participation on this site, i.e. if they are a mentor or moderator). The prices are always competitive and if you are anything like me after time an appreciation for vintage razors soon over takes that for those currently in production.

Too many to list but you will see that there are many vendors advertising on the banner ads here.

I think any of these vendors will sell you a quality item.