Thread: Are More Expensive Razors That Much Better?

If you can front the funds,this is what I have done in the past,and still do on occasion,I am a razor flipper
do your homework first,are lots of places on the net to buy great blades other than the bay.
case in point,found a NOS filly13 on a shave site for sale,box papers,mintorama,200Bux shipped.
Bought it,honed it, used it for a couple mos,popped it on the bay as used,sold it for 215+ 8 shipping.
point is, the quality stuff you can always turn for close to what you paid for it,IF YOU BUY IT RIGHT,and do not pay retail.I sort of look at it as a rental

Here's my 2cents.....which have been stated in someway here already most likely but here goes.....

NO!

There are ppl that LOVE the shave they get from "THE" $6 razor, I wouldn't know don't have one or want one, but you end up having to do a bunch of work to get them there so is it worth it? This is a YMWV thing. There are also ppl that say their $1000+ Livi is the best shave possible, I wouldn't know I dont have one YET ;-)!!

Here's what I DO know.....

There are TWO things that are CRITICAL to getting the best shave possible....(in order of importance, IMO)
1) Technique, Technique, TECHNIQUE!!!
2) A TRULY shave ready razor (quality steel does make this easier to achieve but as I stated above there are ppl that achieve SR on crappy steal and good on 'em if they want and can do that)

Those things said do I enjoy the shave more when I use my more expensive razors? SOMETIMES! but I also really love the shave from the first razor I bought, which was about $20 off the bay, that I had hone by Lynn. It's not a pretty as my Minty DD Goldedge and won't ever be but as long a I use good technique in the preshave, the shave and the post shave it's still a great shave! It also won't be as pretty as the Maxtom custom I have on order, which I'm sure will give an AMAZING shave if my technique is there and the edge is kept shave ready!

Also, unless you are buying a brand NEW razor the value is ever changing. All the guys that have Filarmonica razors that they bought before the prices hit the moon get the same shave as all the guys spending $300-$800 on the same razors so it's really a YMWV situation.

It's really all how much you like the look or the thrill of the chase of a particular razor and as I like to call it RAD killer! I hope my kid, when I have one, will be able to enjoy my $20 razor as much as I do and also my MORE expensive ones. It's a fun ride and as Lynn says....I AM HAVING FUN!!!

Originally Posted by BenjamanBarker

Here's my 2cents.....which have been stated in someway here already most likely but here goes.....

NO!

There are ppl that LOVE the shave they get from "THE" $6 razor, I wouldn't know don't have one or want one, but you end up having to do a bunch of work to get them there so is it worth it? This is a YMWV thing.

Well, I guess I got what I paid for (two cents). There are some blades, usually not the wide ones, that can be procured for around five bucks, sometimes without shipping charges. Once they are free of active rust and polished a little, then re-honed they are cosmetically inferior but just as functional and can deliver wonderful shaves. I see the tarnish around places like the pivot pin hole as a possible feature, rather than an ugly reminder of it's life amongst other, less appreciative humans. It's definitely worth it if they're just in it for the shave. Probably depends on the razor and the shaver, then.

Originally Posted by AxelH

Well, I guess I got what I paid for (two cents). There are some blades, usually not the wide ones, that can be procured for around five bucks, sometimes without shipping charges. Once they are free of active rust and polished a little, then re-honed they are cosmetically inferior but just as functional and can deliver wonderful shaves. I see the tarnish around places like the pivot pin hole as a possible feature, rather than an ugly reminder of it's life amongst other, less appreciative humans. It's definitely worth it if they're just in it for the shave. Probably depends on the razor and the shaver, then.

Oh i agree i have a few of those as well!! and love the shave from them!

Originally Posted by groovyd

But better then sitting on a pile of stocks that are going down...

Anyone here care to comment on the pure investment potential of a razor collection vs. where you see the stock markets going over the next 5, 10, 15 years? Wishful thinking considers my razor addiction as a diversification portfolio, however I don't see the same potential for return on the soaps or brushes

by the way, impressive set pixelfixed they'd be in my rotation for sure.

_______________________

groovyd,

One of the very best investments would have been to start collecting razor hones back in the 1950's. Today they would yield in the neighborhood of 500 to 1000 percent. The only investment I can think that would have been better would be to buy Wal-Mart stock starting in 1974.

We Pennsylvania Germans have a saying that goes like this:
"We grow too soon old and too late smart"

Jerry

The design is the on difference.

Originally Posted by groovyd

But better then sitting on a pile of stocks that are going down...

Anyone here care to comment on the pure investment potential of a razor collection vs. where you see the stock markets going over the next 5, 10, 15 years? Wishful thinking considers my razor addiction as a diversification portfolio, however I don't see the same potential for return on the soaps or brushes

by the way, impressive set pixelfixed they'd be in my rotation for sure.

I read an advise on "Wine Spectator" in the late 80's that I have follow for almost all my investment. It goes:

"If you are going to invest in wine, invest in a wine you like, because if it doesn't pan out, you would have lots of good wine to drink".

My take is to invest on things you know, understand or like. If your collection doesn't appreciate more than the Dow jones then you would have plenty of good razors to shave with!

Double O

@double: that is exactly my ambition

First I want to say I know nothing about razors but when it comes to ordinary knives you pay in this respective order "high-low".

1. Design "Things that does not really affect the usefullness of the blade, fabric of the handle for example"
2. Craftmanship "The fit of everthing can be both of practial use and a purely aestethic use"
3. Steel "A really great steel means that you don't need to sharpen it as often and you can also make it sharper and holding it better, downside can be that it's tougher to sharpen or rusting easier".

In my opinion if you only want it from a practial use just look at the last two criterias. I would almost only look at number 3 but that's just because I wouldn't be bothered with all the "finer" things when it comes to shaving. An extremly sharp razor will make shaving so much more enjoyable and easier.