Thread: Hart razor vs Jacques?

There are other custom razor makers who have less wait time and depending on there experience lower prices while still producing flawless products. That said if I was going for a first razor I'd stay away from custom or Hart, that doesn't mean go with a dovo. I can understand wanting to stay away from a dovo best even if they do provide great value for money, I went with a middle of the road TI but there are plenty of nicer new and vintage razors to pick from I'd stay with one of them as they are a more known quality. Also when buying a custom it helps to have an idea of what you like, if you have no experience with a straight you don't know what your likes/dislikes are.

Originally Posted by thehekler

I can understand wanting to stay away from a dovo best even if they do provide great value for money

Why? An $80 razor will serve the same function as an $800 one, namely shaving whiskers.....

Anything above that price point you're just paying for a name brand and fancy materials.

Square points are fine, you just have to be aware of where you point it. What I like about the Hart is that a slight smile is ground into the blade and the point is not as aggressive / pointy as some other square points. So I have to tilt the point in towards my face to get it to make contact. I've never cut myself with my Hart square point, although I know it could happen if I got sloppy.

I don't know where this whole anti-Dovo thing comes from. I keep reading it over and over. It's like people consider them to be total lemons. I have a few of them, the Best Quality, the Bismarck, and a square point ebony. They all take and hold an edge that's just as sharp as any of my other razors, and they shave just as well. They are well made and very good.

Maybe the problem is that they are sold by so many retailers, most of which do not sharpen the razors beyond the factory grind. Most people don't understand this. Then when they try to shave with their (unknown to them) unsharpened Dovo, it tears their face off and they think the razor is a POS.

Like a lot of the other guys said here, get a cheaper razor from the classifieds here or an entry-level Dovo from SRD, maybe as part of a starter set. From SRD you know the razor will come properly sharpened, with a coupon for a second free sharpening. Once you get better, then graduate to the Hart. Keep the Dovo, as you'll find you will want more than one razor.

You have a razor budget projected starting at $255 to upward of $700 basically you can buy near any razor out there...

Sorry but I have a slight problem comparing a Hart and one of Alex's Full Custom Razors these are just not in the same league in my opinion and expiereince...

Comparisons come in the same price range and materials Like the $240-$260 TI's compared to the Hart or The Livi regrinds, or the TI finished Le Gerlot's or perhaps the large 7/8 and 8/8 Fridors... These are more in that price range the $200-$350

But Alex's razors are for way more than for just taking off whiskers, they are functional art... anyway that is JMHO

Originally Posted by gssixgun

You have a razor budget projected starting at $255 to upward of $700 basically you can buy near any razor out there...

Sorry but I have a slight problem comparing a Hart and one of Alex's Full Custom Razors these are just not in the same league in my opinion and expiereince...

Comparisons come in the same price range and materials Like the $240-$260 TI's compared to the Hart or The Livi regrinds, or the TI finished Le Gerlot's or perhaps the large 7/8 and 8/8 Fridors... These are more in that price range the $200-$350

But Alex's razors are for way more than for just taking off whiskers, they are functional art... anyway that is JMHO

Yup.
Totally different animals.
Both will shave ya, but a custom by AJ is much more than that

If you even considered a $800 razor for your first, then I'm assuming the budget is no problem.

IMO, it's a lot like driving. You let your kid start on the old family car, just in case, and when you know they won't wreck it (or lose interest - there, this analogy falls apart), then you think about giving them the keys to something nicer.

But, if your old family car is a BMW cause you prefer the Ferrari, it's a different story.

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

If you even considered a $800 razor for your first, then I'm assuming the budget is no problem.

That's a very valid point I didn't consider.

So if that's the case, why not just get both?

Originally Posted by Ryan82

Why? An $80 razor will serve the same function as an $800 one, namely shaving whiskers.....

Anything above that price point you're just paying for a name brand and fancy materials.

As I said they are great value for money but I can understand wanting to start with something nicer. Not better but nicer. When I started I wanted something special I knew I was gonna stick with it so it was worth it to me. I am not saying it's a path that I would recommend to someone new only that I understand it and it worked for me. A dovo might provide a very nice shave but at least for me it's not up to what I can get with sone of my others, some cheaper some more expensive. If it was a simple equation of shave quality vs price I go with a vintage every time as I can easily find them for $20 plus $20 for a home job and you have a razor at half the price of a dovo best that will shave just as nicely. But many people like new, like everything it's personal preference, if you have the money might as well get something you will love I would only stay away from customs because you don't know yet what qualities you like.

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.

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.

Well then you have to define what "functional" means to you. To me, a vintage Sheffield or Solingen blade that cost me under $20 to acquire and has been properly honed is pretty darn functional. To others, and you, maybe that's not the case, and that's OK too.

My only point is that (and nothing against custom razors or their makers) a custom razor isn't the only way to get a good quality functional razor, and I'd argue that not all customs are of excellent quality or exceptionally functional (again, because "functional" is different for everyone). If you want to spend the extra money and get something really slick, go for it. But you don't need to, not by a long shot.