Thread: Why are some better?

I've been told by a gentleman in a position to know that Double Ducks, Wusthofs, Filis and Jaguars can be honed to a sharper edge that many other brands.
I'm not one to believe generalizations such as this without being able to prove it to myself, but looking at the current prices of these brands, I may never get the chance to do so.
Conversely, I'm also not one to completely disbelieve what a person with much more experience than I tells me....But, without solid facts or reasons why, I do tend to question...

If this is truly so, there must be a good reason for it. It's not just a question of some esoteric aura surrounding certain marques.
So, it must be the steel! What alloys are used in these highly vaunted brands? Is it the alloy, the heat treating, hardness & temper, or a combination?? It's not just beinmg struck by a lightning bolt!
So, if these great razors were produced back when technology was less technological, why can't they be reproduced now?

And BTW, we're only talking about sharpness here, not smoothness or a combination of the two.

Any thoughts??

Originally Posted by BlacknTan

So, if these great razors were produced back when technology was less technological, why can't they be reproduced now?

It is true the brands you mention have a great reputation. You seem to conclude they can't be bested today, or even reproduced, and I don't quite understand what brings you to this conclusion? As you mentioned, there are many factors at play, but we have better technology all around now. Better steel, better tools, better heat treatment control. I never had the chance to try a high quality modern razor - no zowada or livis for me, not even a new factory produced TI - but I'm still pretty confident they all are every bit as good as those old brands.

Well, yes, in a way..

This was not my conclusion... It was what was passed along to be by a gentleman that has honed probably thousands of razors..
I would tend to be in your camp. That modern materials and processes should trump what we had before.

And that is my point...

I often wondered that question myself. I don't have a lot of experience with razors but I prefer Le Grelot, Filly's and Historical forging of TI over new production TI and Dovo's but I can't really explain why the steel just feels a bit sharper and smoother and nicer on my face, easier to shave with.

Maybe refining the processes for the industrial age and modern building materials has some how detracted from the modern razor. Or maybe it is more about how the razor itself was made as even with Filarmonica's they say the last ones produced tend to be harder to hone. This would also contribute to why artisan straights are of a higher quality as well because of the time creating the actual razor and not a mass stamping process.

Steel is steel and most likely what we have now is better quality, tempering, and heat treating is way better now...
I think the difference is in the grinding process...

Does anyone actually know how the old DD's Filli's etc: were ground...
I have seen and touched the machines that I think were used after the turn of the century... I see everything now is done with belts even TI and Dovo.. Were the older razors done on Stone grinders????? those are the machines I have seen... If that is true then I would guess that is where the difference comes from...

Then again I could be wrong

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Steel is steel and most likely what we have now is better quality, tempering, and heat treating is way better now...
I think the difference is in the grinding process...

Does anyone actually know how the old DD's Filli's etc: were ground...
I have seen and touched the machines that I think were used after the turn of the century... I see everything now is done with belts even TI and Dovo.. Were the older razors done on Stone grinders????? those are the machines I have seen... If that is true then I would guess that is where the difference comes from...

Then again I could be wrong

Sorry for being a little off the subject. Wasn't there a video of Wacker using a grinding stone setup. Two stones right next to each other and he was running the blade between the two of them?

Originally Posted by sbrouwers

Sorry for being a little off the subject. Wasn't there a video of Wacker using a grinding stone setup. Two stones right next to each other and he was running the blade between the two of them?

Not that I have seen, I know there is one of Dovo with two belts and the razor being ground between them...

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Not that I have seen, I know there is one of Dovo with two belts and the razor being ground between them...

I will do some looking see if I can't find it again. If so I will post it. I think it was in German.

Not a video but I found some pics Impressionen eines Handwerks

There might be a video on the page but I can't translate!!