Thread: Rolex vs Timex?

Back to razors - I don't want to start a flame war, but have been wondering about the "goodness" of expensive razors. I have had fun finding < $20 razors on the bay, restoring, honing and getting great shaves from them.

Without question TIs and expensive custom razors are aesthetically beautiful and if it pleases you to own them -great, but do they really shave better than an equally well honed Genco or Shumate? After all, the only thing that shaves you is the edge.

Just wondering.

There is a short answer to that question, and that is no.
Now tell that to the fools with all them fancy and expensive ones

When you buy a custom, the edge you shave with is free, the rest of the razor is what you pay for.

Well, you don't need more than two razors anyway so why not one of each?

but do they really shave better than an equally well honed Genco or Shumate?

No. But don't forget, razor is very individual thing.
All of us like something special. For example, I don't like TI razors, and don't think, that they are beautiful. Someone thinks differently.
Razors ...like women, someone likes blonde, someone likes brunette and the other likes brown-haired women.

Originally Posted by manah

No. But don't forget, razor is very individual thing.
All of us like something special. For example, I don't like TI razors, and don't think, that they are beautiful. Someone thinks differently.
Razors ...like women, someone likes blonde, someone likes brunette and the other likes brown-haired women.

And someone, someplace is tired of them. (not the razors)

You may want to browse through some thoughts in this thread: http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...ch-better.html

I love the new Dovo that I bought from AOS. Knowing that I am the first person to shave with this razor is an incredible high. On the other hand buying a razor from the past makes me think of the previous owners and all the great shaves it has provided. Restoring the razor to its former glory and shaving with it is a link to history. Isn't that one of the reasons why we shave with a straight?

Originally Posted by coloshaver

Back to razors - I don't want to start a flame war, but have been wondering about the &quot;goodness&quot; of expensive razors. I have had fun finding < $20 razors on the bay, restoring, honing and getting great shaves from them.

Without question TIs and expensive custom razors are aesthetically beautiful and if it pleases you to own them -great, but do they really shave better than an equally well honed Genco or Shumate? After all, the only thing that shaves you is the edge.

Just wondering.

I've owned a Ford Fusion Hybrid and a Mercedes E55. Both got me to the bank and back, but the E55 took me places the Hybrid couldn't.

It depends on whom you ask.
If you ask an audiophile whether the gold plated 600$ per meter audio cable gives a better sound, he'll say yes.
Meanwhile in the real world, sane people know the answer is no.

What does make a difference is the hardness and quality of the steel (because they determine maximum sharpness and edge retention) and grind (which determines the amount of flex ) and geometry (because that influences the edge angle and how the blade is used on your skin). With those parameters being equal, high end pattern welded steel is no better or worse than the simple tool steels it was made from.

You know, I once had this discussion with the proprietor from a shaving shop, who let me hold a 700 euro TI damascus razor.
He told me it was very special.
So I handle it a bit, and ask him what specifically made it so special.
He smiled at me and said 'the fact that it costs 700 euros'