Thread: BMW of straights and why?

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

When it comes down to it, the only way to know if you will like a given straight is to try it. Everyone's face, shave technique, beard, preferences, etc are different. Maybe someone could tell you what THEIR favorite razor is and why, but if you ask a hundred different people you'll likely get at least 50 different answers. (To be honest, I'm not a BMW fan...)

And sometimes just trying the razor isn't enough. Because maybe the razor wasn't honed to it's maximum potential. Or maybe you prefer a different finish from the one that was put on it.

Maybe you see where I'm going here - there are SO many different variables. You can't learn what razor you'll like most without actually playing with it.

Still a newb here, but I've been collecting/carrying pocket knives for years, and the above holds true for those, so reason would dictate that it is only more so with razors.

FWIW, of all the knives I own, my most carried is of Chinese manufacture. However, it was designed, contracted, and imported by a reputable American company, and that makes a big difference. I suspect that if something similar were to happen with a straight razor, then the results would be similar.

I've also used enough different knives to notice a difference in edge performance. This can be dictated by so many factors that it's the quoted poster's sentiment applies. Many people get caught up in blade steel, but fail to consider that grind, edge geometry, heat treat, and tempering (among others I probably don't even understand) have just as much to do with edge performance as does blade steel. One factor that many people don't consider is the individual who hones/sharpens the razor/knife. I once read a claim by a respected individual that a certain Chinese knife couldn't get as sharp as some that many of us were used to (factory rep told me the same thing). Of course, the first individual changed his mind when I sent him my personal knife of the same model that he was reviewing. He realized that, "It wasn't the knife that couldn't be sharpened, but instead the person who stopped trying to sharpen the knife."

Premium steels can be a bonus, but sometimes they may only make up for failings in other areas.

Hmm....BMW of razors.....At the moment, I don't seem to have one which gives a great shave 3 days out of a month and spends the rest of the time being restored at $1000 a pop after it fails to open or pieces mysteriously fall off.

Originally Posted by shayne

I see the names and the prices of the Gucci gear but what makes it Gucci ?

It's a designer brand and that's the only thing that makes it 'Gucci'. The specific article can be made pretty much anywhere in the world, but as long as the design house has authorized it (subject to whatever conditions they have) it is Gucci.

Originally Posted by shayne

when I read a blade is made of tool grade steel to me that means its bloody strong ( read Hart)

That's just marketing, every well shaving razor is made of tool-grade steel. In addition not every tool grade steel is good enough for razors, e.g. the grain fineness is by far more important than abrasive resistance.

Originally Posted by shayne

, Sheffield steel, I don't know what that even is but it sounds nice

Sheffield was the most important place in 19th century for making huge quantities of extremely high quality steel at reasonable price.

Originally Posted by shayne

stainless to me means easy care but shite edge.

That's because you haven't used a properly made stainless steel razor. Try a vintage hess of henckels friodur and you'll change your mind. Or from the current custom razors Joe Chandler used to use primarily stainless steel.

Originally Posted by shayne

so besides the exotic scale material which is easy to understand the price of what are the reasons one would choose one blade material over another ?

Some steels are easier to take care of. For example the Hart razors tarnish very fast compared to other carbon steels. Thiers-Issard is now owned by Sabatier, and (I believe driven by the knife business) they've switched their razors to use a new steel they call c135. They're rather nondiscriminating with the decals, so they may still put 'sheffield steel' on some razors, but I don't think that means anything even if it used to. Having had a number of their razors I can say that I prefer the old stuff.

Somebody noted that TI is currently having quality issues and another stated that the company is being a little too free with the Sheffield stamps so would it be fair to infer that if both things are true then its much better to look for and buy real vintage TI and not the product on the market now?
My Sabitiers are also very old and just because they also make a razor now doesn't really strike a cord with my brand loyalty because the quality of the knives have changed dramatically over the years

Besides reviews I read on here I dont pay attention to marketing in fact i have never seen a straight razor commercial in any form , have any of you?

I am very new to all this and am a bit fanatical about this site for now as I attempt to have some understanding about this process.

Some very fine answers you all have given and I know its always going to be a personal preference but the more informed a person the better initial choices a person can make which makes the learning curve less painful haha.

You are currently driving the Ford Pinto (post-explosion) of razors. Honestly, almost anything would be a step up. I'm impressed that you are sticking with it after that.

Now this is funny. I have a large tolerance for pain and I kinda figure that if I can enjoy the monstrosities which i currently use, then when i am able to find two or three that I like for some reason or another then I am good to go on this straight razor thing.

Comon on guys dont be so harsh on BMW its just a middle of the road car. my dad used to drive sprites and other british made POS now those always fell apart.

Originally Posted by ghostrider

FWIW, of all the knives I own, my most carried is of Chinese manufacture. However, it was designed, contracted, and imported by a reputable American company, and that makes a big difference. I suspect that if something similar were to happen with a straight razor, then the results would be similar.

No, not really. There are afaik no Chinese (or American) companies that are currently making quality production razors. And crappy steel will remain crappy steel. There is a list in our wiki with names of brands to stay away from. Master razor, krieger, golden hands (or something like that) , ...

If it is not of the handful of known good companies, then it almost certainly is not a reliable company by our standards.

TI certainly aren't having quality issues. A few years back the scales were pretty poorly pinned but the new ones are bang on.

I had a long chat with Steve Dempster at The Invisible Edge about this when I was looking to buy a TI, and he said the new ones are all very well made.

I'd say you can buy a TI from a reputable vendor with total confidence!

Originally Posted by Bruno

No, not really. There are afaik no Chinese (or American) companies that are currently making quality production razors. And crappy steel will remain crappy steel. There is a list in our wiki with names of brands to stay away from. Master razor, krieger, golden hands (or something like that) , ...

If it is not of the handful of known good companies, then it almost certainly is not a reliable company by our standards.

What exactly (in my post) are you disagreeing with?

ETA:
Not trying to be argumentative, it's just that I don't see "what" exactly in your post, disagrees with anything in my post. ???

I'm just trying to figure out what it is that your saying, "No, not really." too.

Originally Posted by shayne

Somebody noted that TI is currently having quality issues and another stated that the company is being a little too free with the Sheffield stamps so would it be fair to infer that if both things are true then its much better to look for and buy real vintage TI and not the product on the market now?

I wouldn't say. I haven't seen that many current production TI razors, just because I don't like their c135 steel as much as the old stuff and I certainly didn't like that their model which is stamped and supposed to be 'extra hollow' grind is now ground closer to half hollow. The generation before the c135 tended to frequently have poorly made and fitted scales. I think they've improved on that part, but now I've seen blades that I consider aesthetically atrocious like these

compared to say this one from the past (they put scales that are too big for it, but you can see the enormous differences in the blade).


So I just haven't had a reason to buy more new TI razors. (Trying a new one typically costs me a hone job plus a $70 loss to resell it, which doesn't always seem worth the couple of shaves.)
But it seems that many people like the new steel, the thicker grind and even the aesthetics, so you may be quite happy with them. The thing about razors is that you'll have to find out what you like more or less by trying yourself.

As far as the goldwash goes, as long as you know the steel of the current TIs is c135 it's probably not crucial whether the etching says silver steel, sheffield steel, spartacus, lecanadien, or whatever else they put.

Sabatier is just the parent company, they are probably involved in the current business decisions, but the razor making comes with the over century old traditions of Thiers-Issard. I actually have one old Sabatier razor, it's the only one that I've seen (I'd say it's 19th century) but it shows that at some point Sabatier was trying the razor making as well.

Originally Posted by gugi

I actually have one old Sabatier razor, it's the only one that I've seen (I'd say it's 19th century) but it shows that at some point Sabatier was trying the razor making as well.

gugi, i would love to see this sabatier razor , any chance you posting a picture ?

that sparticus is geogeous is it yours ? want to sell?

I do understand what you are saying about TI and as personel as these things can be i must admit looking at them they dont really dont strike my fancy

yeah, i'll take and post pictures, but it doesn't look anything special, slightly different lines than my other framebacks, but the same basic idea.

and yeah that horn covered tang spartacus is mine (i pulled the picture from the razor database in the wiki, there are few more there), and no i'm not planning to sell it, at least for now. it may have been of their 'historic' series from blanks much older than when the razor was made (probably 3-4 years ago), but i don't really remember - it may say something on the cardboard box.

there are plenty of razors with all kind of design especially if you look into vintage stuff as well, so i'm sure you'll find something appealing.