Thread: Ever wonder how many Straight shavers there are?

Kind of thinking that companies like Dovo and Boker must sell a lot of straight razors to keep on producing them...anybody have any idea of the percentage of adult males in the US that shave with a straight? Either there are few with many razors, or a lot more than maybe we think? Probably an impossible question to answer, but I'm curious...

Don't forget the people who don't use, but only collect sharp, shiney shi...stuff for the sheer joy of it.


Mick

I was surprised to learn that Boker is back in the straights business.

When did they start producing again? Is the King their only offering?

Originally Posted by Crotalus

I was surprised to learn that Boker is back in the straights business.

When did they start producing again? Is the King their only offering?

they have been making razors again for 4 years or so, right after Filimonica stopped making razors. they only have a dozen or so offering form the king cutter at $149 to a damascus blade at $1299 . here is the link for boker
I've picked up a new king cutter and their 140th anniversary razor. i want one of the "boker arborito" razors.

enjoy,
jim

Originally Posted by syslight

they have been making razors again for 4 years or so, right after Filimonica stopped making razors. they only have a dozen or so offering form the king cutter at $149 to a damascus blade at $1299 . here is the link for boker
I've picked up a new king cutter and their 140th anniversary razor. i want one of the "boker arborito" razors.

enjoy,
jim

That new king cutter is enticing I'm glad to hear they are back into the world of straights

Originally Posted by syslight

they have been making razors again for 4 years or so, right after Filimonica stopped making razors. they only have a dozen or so offering form the king cutter at $149 to a damascus blade at $1299 . here is the link for boker
I've picked up a new king cutter and their 140th anniversary razor. i want one of the "boker arborito" razors.

enjoy,
jim

It's interesting that the Boker you want is the only one they offer that isn't a round point.

I don't own a single round point.

They do look nice and some people are offering decent discounts off of list.

Originally Posted by davemillard

Kind of thinking that companies like Dovo and Boker must sell a lot of straight razors to keep on producing them...anybody have any idea of the percentage of adult males in the US that shave with a straight? Either there are few with many razors, or a lot more than maybe we think? Probably an impossible question to answer, but I'm curious...

They make Merkur DE razors, Hairdressing tools, Manicure sets and scissors. The straights are just a portion of their business, that's why the price is so high, they need to pay for themselves.

...Also don't forget those of us that have to have a 366 day set of razors. I'm sure that doesn't hurt their business any.

I heard that all the new razors from Boker are rebranded Dovos. I don't know if there's any truth to it, but it would be much more economical for Boker to rebrand a Dovo, than begin manufacturing again. One plant, many brands. Something to consider in your meditations I suppose.

As for straight shavers, I don't think there's as many as we might imagine. We all have several more than any one man needs. And several people I've met through razor forums have several brand new razors. Meaning the guy spending 100+ on a brand new razor today, isn't limited to just that one 100+ dollar razor. He might have 10 different ones, and judging by what I've seen, probably does. Companies with a reputation in cutlery aren't ignorant to that, and would logically, want to offer something to those individuals with a safety net in place. The safety net being rebranded products, from someone already making them. Super low start up, and if it takes off, they roll in bathtubs of money. If it doesn't take off, they don't have a whole manufacturing plant plus related expenses to pay for. Either way, that doesn't have much to do with the OP, but thought it's worth mentioning.

I don't think there are enough users to justify Boker creating there own straights again. But I do think there are enough to justify them putting their name on some. JMHO. Fully aware I know jack about it though. So maybe it should be JMH ignorant opinion.

Originally Posted by Crotalus

It's interesting that the Boker you want is the only one they offer that isn't a round point.

I don't own a single round point.

They do look nice and some people are offering decent discounts off of list.

very few of my razors are round points and they tends to the 6/8 to 7/8 range. I'm hoping and demand grows boker will start making a wider variety but i doubt they will ever return to their full 1906 razor line.

jim

Originally Posted by regularjoe

I heard that all the new razors from Boker are rebranded Dovos. I don't know if there's any truth to it, but it would be much more economical for Boker to rebrand a Dovo, than begin manufacturing again. One plant, many brands. Something to consider in your meditations I suppose.

As for straight shavers, I don't think there's as many as we might imagine. We all have several more than any one man needs. And several people I've met through razor forums have several brand new razors. Meaning the guy spending 100+ on a brand new razor today, isn't limited to just that one 100+ dollar razor. He might have 10 different ones, and judging by what I've seen, probably does. Companies with a reputation in cutlery aren't ignorant to that, and would logically, want to offer something to those individuals with a safety net in place. The safety net being rebranded products, from someone already making them. Super low start up, and if it takes off, they roll in bathtubs of money. If it doesn't take off, they don't have a whole manufacturing plant plus related expenses to pay for. Either way, that doesn't have much to do with the OP, but thought it's worth mentioning.

I don't think there are enough users to justify Boker creating there own straights again. But I do think there are enough to justify them putting their name on some. JMHO. Fully aware I know jack about it though. So maybe it should be JMH ignorant opinion.

i seem to recall at first when they started back the rumor was that wacker was doing the grinding but I'm pretty sure though they are now grinding their own in their own facility... there has been lots of threads about this. sorry for the hijacking.

i do think there are more people using straights than we imagine. i used them for nearly 30 years before finding SRP... there are no doubt thousands that have daily used a straight razor and never given a thought to joining a community of uses and hobbyists. for them a razor is a tool for their morning shave not a "zen like moment" of course they probably could benefit from a better understanding of the honing aspects. i know that was one area that improved for me through this site... i was just using barber's hones and coticules, they were all i knew.