Thread: Solingen or Sheffield?

I think it´s very interesting, that Sheffield is leading at the moment, but there are no razor companies in Sheffield any longer, while there are still some in Solingen… Just a thought, I got.

I voted for none of them, by the way. I prefer the look of many sheffields over the round point solingen look, but still, there are the Wackers. I don´t have one, but I just like their look. If I had to decide between a W&B Barbers use, and one of his spanish point 6/8+(He has some wider blades, too…), the Wacker would win, I guess.

Speaking of the look of sheffields: take a look at this beauty:
Joseph Elliot
(I hope, it is ok to post links to other forums…)

Replace the aforementioned W&B with that one, and I wouldn´t be sure at all…

In the end, I think it is good that both exist.

Regards,
tok

Originally Posted by tok

I think it´s very interesting, that Sheffield is leading at the moment, but there are no razor companies in Sheffield any longer, while there are still some in Solingen… Just a thought, I got.

I voted for none of them, by the way. I prefer the look of many sheffields over the round point solingen look, but still, there are the Wackers. I don´t have one, but I just like their look. If I had to decide between a W&B Barbers use, and one of his spanish point 6/8+(He has some wider blades, too…), the Wacker would win, I guess.

Speaking of the look of sheffields: take a look at this beauty:
Joseph Elliot
(I hope, it is ok to post links to other forums…)

Replace the aforementioned W&B with that one, and I wouldn´t be sure at all…

In the end, I think it is good that both exist.

Regards,
tok

OH MY GOD THAT IS THE MOST AMAZING BLADE EVER. YOU HAVE JUST FUELED MY RAD, INCREDIBLE. IS IT YOURS?>

I'm going to have to say Sheffield my favourite being A J.C C.o.c.khill's 6/8, perfect for head shaving IMHO, and they were made only 15miles away from where i live

ian

Originally Posted by ganboyi

OH MY GOD THAT IS THE MOST AMAZING BLADE EVER. YOU HAVE JUST FUELED MY RAD, INCREDIBLE. IS IT YOURS?>

Yeah, that was pretty much my reaction, too. And no, It´s not mine. I wish, it was. Although I´m not sure whether this spike is an advantage, when actually using it…

Regards,
tok

For me, this is kind of like comparing the German MP40 to the British Sten gun during WWII.

Both do the intended job very well, but there is finesse and art behind the MP40 and the Sten is one ugly but practical SOB.

When I hold my Dubl Duck, I see a razor that has been finessed and is art-like. When I hold my Wade & Butcher, I see a working man's razor, distilled down to the barest essence of what it needs to do - practical in it's design.

Now for the shave, I slightly prefer Sheffield blades. But I suspect it's more in the grinds than the steel. I'm not a metallurgist, so I don't know about carbon content or any other alloy compositions.

I wish you had included the Spanish Filarmonica - probably my favorite right now.

I judge each razor on a case by case basis, but I know I have more razors stamped Sheffield in my shaving drawer than I do stamped Solingen

All I can figure out is that my English ancestors got it right The made in USA razors are nice as well

Originally Posted by tok

Speaking of the look of sheffields: take a look at this beauty:
Joseph Elliot
(I hope, it is ok to post links to other forums…)

Replace the aforementioned W&B with that one, and I wouldn´t be sure at all…

In the end, I think it is good that both exist.

Regards,
tok

That might not be Factory, it looks more like somebody customized it at sometime during its lifetime... In fact, I would lean more that direction until somebody finds one similar on an old ad sheet...
Regardless that is just plain wicked mean looking

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

I judge each razor on a case by case basis, but I know I have more razors stamped Sheffield in my shaving drawer than I do stamped Solingen

All I can figure out is that my English ancestors got it right The made in USA razors are nice as well

+1. Still to find an American razor so can't comment on that.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

That might not be Factory, it looks more like somebody customized it at sometime during its lifetime... In fact, I would lean more that direction until somebody finds one similar on an old ad sheet...
Regardless that is just plain wicked mean looking

Actually, I give it better than 50% that it is in fact factory grind.
2 reasons. First, the wear and aging look uniform. So if it was customized, I'd say it was done a long time ago. It looks well done as well. No amateur job. And secondly, this is the first non-lancet razor I've seen with that type of grind. So there is no evidence to the contrary that the toe is custom. the tang also looks a bit like a lancet, so I just guess (purely conjecture) that that type of grind was a short lived fad, and since the Lancet had a 'special' toe, JE needed to do something out of the ordinary as well.

Purely my opinion of course. I have 0 proof for this.

In general, I get better shaves from Solingen razors (and even better from Eksiltuna), but shave more often with Sheffields. I like the historical connection I feel when I shave with really old blades.