Thread: Who's Still making Straights?

Greetings all,
My first post here I've shaved with a DE from the getgo at age 14 (42 now, yikes). Started using a shavette a year ago and recently got going with Tony Miller's razor kit. I love the nostalgia and enjoy straight shaving everyday.

In addition to my collection of creams/soaps, I'd like to expand my assortment of straights. I think I've found most of the "easy-to-google" sources, but was also wondering who else is still making new razors other than Dovo, Thiers-Issard, JA Henckels, and individual craftsmen like Maestro Livi.

Thanks for your interest,
Steve

I believe Filarmonica (a Spanish compnay) still makes straights.

There are other companies making new straights (Kamisori), but the speculation is that their razors are actually made by Dovo and they have received mixed reviews.

The only other brand I'm aware of is Wacker razors sold by John Crowley at shavingshop.com.

Wacker has a stock of old German blanks from various manufacturers and tempers and grinds the razors.

John also carries a good selection of NOS razors - in some cases he's found NOS blades and fitted handles.

There are reviews of all of these brands in the forums.

There are also inferior quality razors being made by Pakistani and US companies (i.e., Master) but these are only worth buying if you're looking for something to use for opening boxes or letters.

Other than this, the only people making new straight razors that I'm aware of are individual craftsmen.

Hope this helps.

Welcome aboard Steve. You pretty much got all of the major players. There's also Kamisori but their reviews by the honemeisters have been less than stellar. Other individual craftsmen you may wish to look into are Robert Williams and Bill Ellis as their blades have been shave-tested by SRP members with positive results.

Definately check out the vintage razors
sold by Joe Chandler who is a forum
member here http://www.shop.writerferret.com

Currently he only has two in stock, but adds
new one quite often.

Don't be afraid to harass him a little to add
more.....

And also check out www.billysblades.com

These older razors are great. And in a lot of
cases less expensive.



Terry

Originally Posted by suzuki

I believe Filarmonica (a Spanish compnay) still makes straights.

AFIK Filarmonica went OOB, which is too bad as I love the NOS DT #12 that I bought for $35.

Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT

AFIK Filarmonica went OOB, which is too bad as I love the NOS DT #12 that I bought for $35.

I read somewhere that they (or a company who bought them out?) are still in business but that they have dropped straight razors from their product line, I was told they still make scissors etc. Could be wrong though, I can't remember where I heard that.

IIRC Classicshaving still have some of their razors for sale, unless that sold them all...

If the new Dovo's or TI's aren't what you are looking for, refurbished older razors might be the way to go. I would suggest checking out the "restoration" forum. There you will be introduced to the works of Bill Ellis (urleebird), Joe Chandler (Joe Chandler), Vlad Schnieder (Vladsch) and several more that can make a 150 year old Wade and Butcher look brand new. They perform like brand new too! Joe reground a pair of razors for me and they are fantastic.

Hope this helps,

Thanks for your attention! I'm looking for older stuff too, but was just curious if there were any other cuttlery houses or individuals still making new straights. Some of the eBay bidding on vintage blades gets up into the price of new it seems too.

Thanks again,
Steve

Zwilling still sell 5/8 and 6/8 Friodurs with plain white scales. I recently got their latest blochure. They come w/ nice metal coffins not the tacky plastic ones I got in the eighties.

Originally Posted by Kees

Zwilling still sell 5/8 and 6/8 Friodurs with plain white scales. I recently got their latest blochure. They come w/ nice metal coffins not the tacky plastic ones I got in the eighties.

See them here:
http://www.cutleryandmore.com/details.asp?SKU=10471