Thread: Hart razor vs Jacques?

Maybe I'm not the best person to ask regarding custom-built razors. But if you haven't used a straight razor yet, why would you want to get a custom? I'm worried that you may not enjoy the act of wetshaving, which would likely put you in the hole.

Why not check the classifieds for a high-quality starter razor, drop $40 or so (rather than 300-700), get the necessary equipment to go along with it, and then decide? At $40, you aren't getting really deep at the start. If you hate it, you can stop there. And if you love it, well, you've only spent $40 on a razor. So you can still look at a custom afterwards.

Besides, you may love your starter razor more!

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Let me elaborate with another useful men's acccessory...

A friend of mine pointed this out to me and I think maybe you can understand the differences with this analogy

Timex
Citizens
Tag
Rolex

All these tell the same time, but there is a difference in how they say it

Where would my Panerai fit in? I'm definitely leaning away from the Jacques at the moment. I stopped by a local razor / shaving store today and played around with some stuff. I'm starting tonget a better idea of what I'm looking for.

In terms of function, your Panerai is right in the middle. In terms of craftsmanship, it might beat all of them. That's exactly the point here. If you want to investigate straight shaving, that investigation can be done cheaply. If you enjoy it, you can spend lots of money on beautifully crafted razors. If you don't take to straight shaving, then you're not stuck trying to get your money out of an expensive razor in order to buy an expensive watch.

i am gonna go against the grain here and point out something....

like when i started mountain biking... i sank enough money into a bike to insure that i got my butt out there and rode it........

BUT if i had 700$ to spend on a razor....

mr. lewis would be getting a check in his mail box.....

you spend your money how it makes you happy..... and don't let anyone tell you anything you don't want to hear....

I too have to agree with paco664; if I had the budget to afford a Hart razor as a starter I would have done it. I do shave with Dovo's, but I tend to like and have tastes that run expensive too and would love to be able to have the customs, even early on, but I developed a case of RAD before I could even shave! My budget is the only thing that keeps me in check, but if money were not an issue, I wouldn't let it stop me from getting what I like! All I can say is go for it and be happy with your choices.

I think it's great that you are excited enough to drop that kind of dough on your first razor. In my opinion though, if you don't know the difference between a square point and a round point then buying a custom seems a bit odd. I've acquired dozens of razors and I got into the 7/8s and 8/8s, quarter hollow, full hollow, round, square, french, thumb notch, etc and at the end of it I love my Iwasaki the most. As for trad razors I like 6/8s, and I'm not fussy about hollowness - they all seem to shave equally well for me. You should try a bunch and then settle in on your favourite attributes - which is usually how one comes to choosing a custom. Just my opinion.

Originally Posted by JigStick

Ive always been of the mindset of "buy once, cry once." I have no problem buying quality products up front. Im not a real fancy guy. Im looking for something more "functional" than an "art piece." The Jacques ones are pretty nice looking, but most of them are too fancy for my taste. Some of the more simple Jacques designs caught my eye, but then its really not that much different from the Hart. I have no problem spending up to $700, but I dont think it is going to take that much money to get what im looking for.

You will cry 3 times. Once when you buy it, once when you drop it, and once when you replace it.

You will damage your first razor. As a beginner you'll probably drop it, hit it on something, etc. Just be aware that you'll end up replacing it, have it repaired, etc...it will take abuse...so spend whatever you want with that in mind. As you get into shaving you'll spend far more than $700 on hones, strops, vintage razors, etc.

If I were you, I'd take my $700 and buy 10 vintage razors of varying sizes and grinds in the classifieds. Try them all for a year until you know what you like, because as a beginner you don't know what you like yet. Then get Alex or whoever to build you a 7 day set of similar razors.

Buy a decent middle-ground new one, and a couple cheap, but good from the classifieds here of various sizes and grounds as Carazor says. After a couple months of shaving you should be able to tell what you prefer. I think a year is overkill..

I have a 6/8 Dovo best hollow, and i have a $250 TI sheffield in blond horn. I love my TI, but I would not have wanted it as a first. I say pick up the hart, and a dovo best (or anyother good entry razor). My reason is thus....Learn on the dovo and if you totally F it up you wont be out 250 and you can go buy another one and another and still not be out what you would for the Hart. After your comfortable shaving then start with the Hart. Keep the dovo around to practice honing on as well. JMHO

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Very true. I have one of each and I'm not a 'good' guitar player. OTOH, after 40 years of messing with it, if I had waited until I was good I'd never have owned either of them.

It's not often that I think about posts outside of the forum, but this one has kept coming up repeatedly since I read it... This is a very good perspective, IMHO.