Thread: Filarmonica, why so expensive?

Originally Posted by onimaru55

Especially since it is a full hollow destroying the "you need a wedge for tough beards theory "

Are other Spanish Blades that will easily Fill that bill at a fraction of Filly cost.
Some with Filly DNA

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Are other Spanish Blades that will easily Fill that bill at a fraction of Filly cost.
Some with Filly DNA

The scales came out well :
In the light its difficult to tell what the material is......per chance ivory?

Yes,Gem quality Ivory,cannot capture the heavy grain patterns with My camera tho

Is the wedge for heavy beard thing still floating around? Ah well, to each their own.

Personally, and this is in no way a reflection on how well Filis or any other Spanish blade shaves, I find say a Bengall to be in every way an equal shave to any and all Filis I have tried. I can pick up a Bengall for 20-30 dollars in quite good condition. Therefore in my mind it is genuine hype that is driving Fili prices, pure and simple, because time has proven it is not related to supply - there seems to be a constant stream of them cropping up at very regular intervals.

James.

Originally Posted by Jimbo

... I find say a Bengall to be in every way an equal shave to any and all Filis I have tried. I can pick up a Bengall for 20-30 dollars in quite good condition. Therefore in my mind it is genuine hype that is driving Fili prices, pure and simple, because time has proven it is not related to supply - there seems to be a constant stream of them cropping up at very regular intervals.

James.

There are many paradigms floating around in regards to razors. I find what I have experienced, what I heard from the old time barbers in the area and what I have been able to find on the net challenge some of them. Some people like the wedges for 'heavy beards', some like harder steels, some like the Filarmonica and/or Dubl Duck razors. I find that it all comes down to the edge on the razor which relates to the last person to hone them and their skill level working with the particular metal and hardness of the steel. The Filarmonica and Dubl Duck razors have a less hard steel than many others available both vintage and new. That coupled with a good heatment as well as the Cryo treatment in the Dubl Ducks and the Double Temper of the Filarmonica make them easier to hone. A razor that is easier to hone increases the odds of obtaining a good edge more probable and we all know what a good edge means. The down side to a softer steel would mean that the razor needs to be honed more frequently. To some this doesn't matter, to others this would not make a good razor. Remember a while ago when people were moaning about how hard it was to hone a Fredrick Reynolds? Being hard to hone would not make this a good razor in for some people. Those that know how to adjust their honing methods to address the steel in the Reynolds would have an edge that lasted much longer than the average razor. To some people that would make them a better razor. In the end everyone determines what is best for them and what price a razor is worth. To me, the Filarmonica razors shave well but not any better than many of the razors I have that cost 10 x's less and I consider the Filarmonica cost are related to hype and then ease of honing. If ya have the honing skills there are many razors to be had at a fraction of the cost. If ya don't have the skills all it takes is time, patients, attention to your honing and noticing how the hones and razors are interacting.

You all know there is this psychological thing all humans suffer from where we want a particular item so badly because we just know it is superior no matter the cost when fact tells us it's really no better than another item far cheaper. Razors, watches, cars, clothes and on and on.

Dr Spender once told me if I should find myself in that predicament I should just stick my finger in the nearest AC wall outlet. That will curtail the mania immediately.

Size matters

It really isn't the "Brand" that gets the big money it is the #14 and that big ole 1 inch of beautiful steel the smaller #13 and #12 got a bit of a boost from the brand recognition but nowhere near the Hype of the #14. Add in a bit of mystery about the origin of the #14 grind (never proved) with a few 1000 newbs and we have sky high pricing
These were normal priced razors for many years then a huge glut of them came out of South America and it happened to coinside with a huge glut of newbs to this hobby and the Hype was born...

Besides the hype Joe has it dead to rights they are a damn good razor that takes a damn smooth edge, (just like tons of other razors) but they are a gleaming 1 inch of steel to boot, and that does command a bit of a premium...

They're outstanding razors, but there are other outstanding razors as well. It's my understanding that Filarmonica stopped making straight razors (they still make other products) a year or two ago, so that may be a factor in the jump in price.

If you get a Filarmonica I'm confident you'll like it. But don't allow yourself to get ripped off. I also think you'll like a Boker, Theirs-Issard, LeGrelot, and many other brands as well.

Originally Posted by Jimbo

I find say a Bengall to be in every way an equal shave to any and all Filis I have tried.

But Bengals are harder to hone