Thread: What is the best possible razor?

The One Chronik

Originally Posted by JBHoren

1. Never needs to be honed
2. Never needs to be stropped
3. Never cuts or nicks your face
4. Never rusts, pits, or tarnishes
5. Scales never warp or crack
6. Pins never loosen
7. Always gives you a BBS shave

Those are fine criteria for a perfect razor - I might add:

8. Has LEDs

The perfect razor is like the Holy Grail and the pot with golden coins at the end of the rainbow: don't waste your time chasing it.

The best possible razor is the one that gives you a great shave - whatever the brand or origin. To answer this any other way would be subjective based on the experiences and biases of the person giving the answer. There are a myriad of razors out there both old and new that can be the best shaver you have ever had if properly honed up. I suggest you skip the trials and tribulations of a Pakistani “box cutter” though.

I keep buying them hoping to find the best one.

Filarmonica Doble Temple 13 from Argentina of course.

Ok, now on to your next question.

Originally Posted by loueedacat

Filarmonica Doble Temple 13 from Argentina of course.

Ok, now on to your next question.

That's a cool one, that's the kind of answer I was looking for.

Originally Posted by GaiusValeriusPulcher

What is the best that ever did exist/does exist or what hypothetical razor would be the best? I'm most curious about material-wise what would be the highest quality handle and blade? Is there a maker that is the Salvatore Ferregamo of razors? [I was going to use a car analogy there but then thought that might start a different fight] Are there any special processes that the metal would have to go through for it to be considered the best?

The way I read your question, by "best" razor you don't necessarily mean most effective, but most desirable or sought after. That's why ndw76's pithy and wise response rang so true.

The list of desirable, collectible, and coveted razors and materials is huge. But here are some that come to mind for me:

In terms of scale materials, some of the most desired are genuine tortoise, ivory, mother of pearl (especially carved), sterling silver, abalone, horn, exotic woods, celluloid (if beautifully colored or molded into interesting relief shapes, particularly nudes and serpents), or customs done in acrylics or high-tech fiber. The hand-cut metal scales made by member shutterbug are the most jaw-dropping I've ever seen, in pictures or in person.

In terms of blade steels (non technical "common" names): Highly figured Damascus, Japanese Tamahagane, early Sheffield silver steel, Swedish steel, Solingen steel, quality stainless, many others. At the recent Southeast Razorcon, I learned that steel made from meteorite ore is used in some custom razors, which just completely blew my little mind.

In terms of brands/models, there are so, so many that people really like. Among German razors, Puma, Dorko, Dubl Duck (particularly Lifetime, Wonderedge, and Goldedge), Henckels, Boker, Ern, and so many other great makers. In France, Thiers-Issard and Le Grelot. In Japan, Iwasaki and Tosuke. In Britain, Wade & Butcher (particularly large old "Meat Choppers" marked "For Barbers Use"), Joseph Rodgers, Greaves, Wostenholm, and many other greats. In Spain, Filarmonica. In America, Case, Torrey, Kinfolks, Clauss, Robeson, Genco, Cattaraugus, and many others.

Among custom razor makers, Mastro Livi, Tim Zowada, Robert Williams, Joe Chandler, Butch Harner, Josh Earl, Charlie Lewis, many, many others.

100 members would have 100 different lists, but at least some of these would show up in most of them. These just come to mind for me.

Another good one, finally you guys are getting that i'm just looking for things you guys would get if you had a massive supply of money to spend on it. A meteorite razor would be a wild thing to own, for sure. Watercooler conversation: "I got that new gilette with the commercial that's in space" "Yeah, well I shave with a straight razor that came from space." And those custom jobs are gorgeous pieces of art. Do they ever use silver in blades? Seems like since it's sterile it'd give a pretty good shave. I mean, if it's good enough for surgeons to use on organs it probably wouldn't do a bad shave.

Originally Posted by GaiusValeriusPulcher

Do they ever use silver in blades? Seems like since it's sterile it'd give a pretty good shave. I mean, if it's good enough for surgeons to use on organs it probably wouldn't do a bad shave.

Actually it's not sterile, just bacteria doesn't like it too much and it's fairly inert so it's OK to be stuck inside a living organism.
However it's way too soft to make a cutting instrument, not to mention a razor. But a tiny quantities in alloy such as steel have been used successfully with quite good results. As far as I know not these days.
Steel is really the best material (more precisely a category) for a shaving edge.