Thread: Are More Expensive Razors That Much Better?

Originally Posted by bmf2001

My name is Brett and I have RAD!

Awesome Brett! I have only been into wetshaving for 6 months or so and have 50+ straights, guess I have a little RAD too

Is that a frown in the blade or is it bent?

That is light distortion from the moon over Georgia.

And on top of that, I failed photography class.

That is actually a new razor honed to a wicked edge by Sham.

Jerry, You piqued my interest, I will now be looking for one. I also, FYI, read a post somewhere here by someone that said that the best shaver they ever had was a Hess razor (can't recall which model). So, needless to say, I'm a little interested in finding one of them too.

I think .... what the beard, for the skin, for the handling of what is best for grinding. This is the best razor for himself. The money does not matter.

I agree with you totally. I really think there are so many variables, intangibles, minutiae that I can't for the life of me fathom, that create the perfect shaving piece for an individual. At the end of the day, the beard knows best!

I had the same question about 2 years ago. Now, I have shaved at least a month or two with a 5/8 Dovo Special, 5/8 Dovo Silver Steel, 5/8 Dovo Bone, 5/8 Dovo Berg Lo, 6/8 Dovo Special, 6/8 Dovo Full Hollow Best Quality, 3 "identical" 5/8 Kobar Extra Hollows, a TI 5/8 Extra Hollow, a 5/8 half hollow Torrey. I've also rehoned all of the them to equalize any differences that were from the honer, not the razor.

I've come to the following conclusions (for me - YMMV):

There does not appear to be any difference in grind flexibility, steel hardness, or the ability to get sharp & smooth between any of non-stainless Dovo models - except for the Berg Lo (Which IS better IMO). (This includes "regular Dovo steel" and Dovo's "Silver Steel" model). I suspect many of the differences people notice between the models can be attributed to the random variations in the hand grinding used to produce the razors. The Torrey was not any "better" than the Dovos IMO. The TI WAS - but is was also a $250 razor. The TI was NOT any better than the Dovo Berg Lo (which is also a $250 razor). The $250 razors did stay sharper 25-33% longer.

The $250 razors shaved me about 15% closer / 15% more comfortably. But a 5 shave differences in the number of shaves since the razor was honed, or differences in my stropping technique that week could change that - and then the $85 Dovo shaved me closer / more comfortably. ie: Honing & Stropping make a LOT more difference than the model of the razor. So my recommendation is to buy a 8K hone and some Cro Ox to put on the back side of your webbing and learn to touch up your own razors

The difference between 5/8 and 6/8 is a big deal (mostly due to weight) - you really need to try both to see what you like (6/8 was less easy to use for my face and neck contours). For your second razor, I recommend getting a Dovo Best Quality in the "other" size.

The differences between half hollow, full hollow, and extra hollow are small. If you have experience with a full hollow, you can probably guess which you'd like best. (1/2 hollow results in a little less razor burn than full hollow, but doesn't shave quite as close (1/2 an extra pass worth). Extra hollow shaves a little closer than full hollow (1/2 an extra pass worth), but results in razor burn significantly easier than full hollow (a full pass worth)).

Round tip is easier, but a muted spike tip isn't difficult. Took me 1-2 shaves to adjust my technique.

Soap makes a bigger difference than I thought. I get a different level of BBS and razor burn depending on whether I use VDH, Bigelow Cream, or SRD Glycerin Soap. I'm trying MWF next

Good luck !

+1 An inexpensive Vintage plain jane razor will shave just as good as a $1000 razor.IMO.A vintage razor has one thing unique as compared to a new $1000 dollar razor and that is its been here a lot longer,so it must be of good quality to last this long.Happy Shaving!!!!!

Originally Posted by Ryan82

Basically with expensive razors you're paying for fancy scales, blade designs and perhaps different steels. But in the end a $1000 razor will do the same as a $50 model - shave whiskers.

JohnG10, I must agree with you...I tend to gravitate to the 5/8 myself. I find, using a big 6/8 or 7/8 is just not comfortable for me, and invairably, I end up nicking myself with the bigger razor. I wont even buy a razor in that size anymore.

It is just an awesome feeling with a fila 14 in hand...