Thread: $35 vs $199. Give me a reason!

So..... In the classifieds here, there are $35 straights and $199 straights. If they both shave just as well, then why would I ever spend the extra money. Convince me.

It's entirely a question of what appeals to you and how much you are willing to pay to get it. I will say that I believe some razors shave better than others, but it could be simply how I feel when I hone, or when I shave, or if I did the extra 1 or 5 strokes on hone x or y or z, or how my face was when I shaved, or placebo effect, or or or.....

Go with what feels right, weighing the price however you feel is appropriate.

So you're admitting that the difference is slight to less than nothing and it all comes down to RAD and collecting.

Convince me why it's necessary to convince you.

Originally Posted by JimR

Convince me why it's necessary to convince you.

I have to +1 with my friend Jim...

If you need convincing then the RAD bug ain't bit ya yet

BTW they all don't shave the same, but the price you pay has no bearing on the shave. What that means is that it is the razor and the honing that determine the quality of the shave, not the price of the razor...
Look at DLB's post where he compares a $25 Imp to a $279 Hart, see IMHO that Imp is the better quality razor and will take and hold a better edge.. I would be more willing to pay serious money for a NOS Imp then a New Hart but that is JMHO..
In this hobby and many others, price and quality are not always walking hand in hand

Originally Posted by gssixgun

...Look at DLB's post where he compares a $25 Imp to a $279 Hart, see IMHO that Imp is the better quality razor and will take and hold a better edge.. I would be more willing to pay serious money for a NOS Imp then a New Hart but that is JMHO...

Given your knowledge and experience, I have to say your humble opinion is pretty darned important. Since I don't yet hone my own razors, I have to depend upon you and Lynn to re-establish the bevels on my razors after I have screwed them up.

Even if the Red Imp is the better quality razor, I still get a lot of satisfaction in supporting an American company like Hart Steel. I like the utilitarian look of the Hart razor (mine has simple black scales) and it shaves very nicely. Seeing it in my collection brings a smile to my face.


More and more, I have trouble rating my razors because my improving technique allows me to get at least a DFS with every razor. If the blades are all sharp and give a good shave, am I evaluating the razor or my technique? I can see that the honing process can give a completely different rating to the various razors. Based upon your honing experience and expertise, I would certainly defer to your qualitative rating of a razor in terms of which takes and holds a better edge or offers the higher quality.

While I generally love whatever razor is in my hand, I have found one razor to hold highest honors in my heart; a 6/8 Thiers-Issard Le Grelot with Red Stamina scales. I love the way the razor looks, I love the way the razor feels in my hand, I love the way the razor feels on my face, and I love the way the razor shaves. Love may be blind because, even if you told me the 6/8 TI LG was a piece of crap, I would still keep it in preference to all my other razors. Fortunately, love doesn't have to be rational. LOL

Thanks for all you do for the shaving community!

Well the condition of the razor, and the quality for the craftsmanship and materials are somethings that factor into the price as well. Its popularity obviously relates to supply and demand.

Originally Posted by grant9908

So you're admitting that the difference is slight to less than nothing and it all comes down to RAD and collecting.

The condition (NOS, rescaled, restored, hone wear etc.) of the razor plays huge role in the price, then there is popularity or other wise known as hype for certain brands. Those will factor in in price differences.

Again...... If the shave is the same, then the rest is just superfluous, that's what you all are telling me, correct? Even Shooter said in a different thread just a bit ago that straights are not really being made of better materials than from the 1900s. So, if the shave is the same why bother buying anything more than the $35 ones?

If you are only looking for the practical, a good vintage razor will give a shave as good as it gets. When you learn more, you will understand why some have more collecting value. That is the beauty of straight shaving, you can do it economically and still have fun too. Just make sure you get one that is sold by a reputable vendor and have fun.