Thread: Steel now and then

I am new at straight razor shaving. I used a Parker shavette for months before I decided to go to a straight razor...from a dozen years before that as a double edged guy w/ brush & bowl. I spent a long time looking at every newly manufactured straight razor I could find and saw a few that I liked a lot. But gradually I got more interested in vintage blades and wound up with a Red Imp as my first razor. I was just thinking this morning that most of this site is devoted to vintage blades rather than new. I think maybe customs come in second and new razors third in terms of attention.
So many things have improved over time technologically speaking and I am asking I guess, in a long winded way, are any of the new steels superior to what can be picked up as vintage? Cost is a factor, the fascinating history of the straight razor, but why else is forum weighted towards vintage and custom? Myself, I don't think I will ever buy a newly made razor and I'm not in a position to buy a custom.

For me it boils down to planned obsolescence. I am rather opposed to it, so anything that is "vintage" and was made well enough for continued use today gets my attention. Bicycles, razors, cars, guns, kitchenware...

Obviously, the lore and mystery around blades is a part of it as well. There are not many manufacturers of quality new blades (on a production scale) so the vintage ones are just way more interesting, at least to many of us. With the vintage blades you get the thrill of the hunt, maybe a restore and the joy of bringing something "back to life." With the new blades, you shell out a set price and open the package Just not as much to talk about.

Vintage razors have a soul...............new razors are just new razors.

Originally Posted by Martin103

Vintage razors have a soul...............new razors are just new razors.

Yes but new razors develop a soul as they become your friend, over the years.

Originally Posted by Foxhill

Yes but new razors develop a soul as they become your friend, over the years.

One must have more than one! Personally, I'm looking forward to my new one, the SRP razor; which I look forward to watching it develop character. One day, razors that are new to us may be coveted...

It's a good question, one answer could be that the grind was done by hand back in the days and now in machines(not customs) whitch I think says a lot about why many prefer vintage hand finished razors infront of new ones. The grinders back then was highly regarded craftsmen too ... And of course the soul as well

I'm very glade to see this topic of 'soul' being brought up. It easy to forget that razors are made up of the very same atoms as we are. Just because their molecules move in different way than ours do we mistakingly think of them as inanimate. They're not.

Don't really know why vintage razors seem to be preferred over newly manufactured especially since sought after vintage is at or surpasses the cost of current production razors. Modern steel is at least as good as vintage steel and possibly even better because of advancements in metallurgy. The only possible down side to modern razors is that the grinders may not be as skilled as the old timers were at the art.

I think it has more to do with the thrill of the chase to find something unique and not currently available. The thrill of rehabbing an oldie and putting it back in use. As a bonus it is possible to that at less cost than buying new. Pretty much more rewarding an experience than buying off the shelf. At least it is for me, anyway.

Bob

I love new razors and new stuff in general.

When you buy a new razor; condition isn't a factor, price is relatively set, you are the first and only owner. I like and appreciate all those things.

And I do believe that a new razor can have just as much character as old. Take my two dovos as example. I bought them six years ago. Back then I failed at honing and shaving with those two blades. Now six years later the dovos are shave ready by my hand and great to shave with. They both bear scars from my early attempts, a reminder of struggle, but they are none the worse for it. For me those blades are full of character.

Michael

Originally Posted by mjsorkin

I love new razors and new stuff in general.

When you buy a new razor; condition isn't a factor, price is relatively set, you are the first and only owner. I like and appreciate all those things.

And I do believe that a new razor can have just as much character as old. Take my two dovos as example. I bought them six years ago. Back then I failed at honing and shaving with those two blades. Now six years later the dovos are shave ready by my hand and great to shave with. They both bear scars from my early attempts, a reminder of struggle, but they are none the worse for it. For me those blades are full of character.

Michael

Character yes but really its not the same has shaving with a razor that 100-150 years old..............thats soul.