Thread: Puma variations: Puma / Pumaster Steel

The rubber grip will eventually come off anyway - you very rarely see these razors with the intact rubber unless it's NOS. The Dovo Bergischer Lowe has the same problem.

I have 3 Puma's all marked pumaster. two are carbon steel and the third is stainless. All three are exceptional shavers. I'm a real DD fan but I think Puma's are the very best in razors they just exude quality. Towards the end of their production I believe Dovo made them for puma. I'm not sure if the distinction of Puma Steel vs Pumaster steel are the Dovo razors. maybe a Puma expert will chime in here.

Heh - I thought that, in addition to Duke of Ducks, you are also King of the Jungle

I agree - Ducks are great and so are Pumas. Personally, I am more attracted by the Pumas

Cheers
Ivo

Originally Posted by mparker762

The rubber grip will eventually come off anyway - you very rarely see these razors with the intact rubber unless it's NOS. The Dovo Bergischer Lowe has the same problem.

Michael - I wonder if one can get rubber replacements? Dovo BL is still sold, after all. I have to think for a while before I remove it, along with the gold etch...

Cheers
Ivo

Sure, but it's a PITA to pull the scales just for that, even if all you're risking are the cheapo plastic scales. Maybe if you swapped the pins for the little hex screws like Robert Williams uses it wouldn't be too bad.

You might try some of that electrical insulation stuff that you apply heat to and it shrinks and adhears to the razor. You might be able to wrap it around the shank and then apply some heat and oala.

Sorry that my first post here is going to be all questioning about prices, I hope that can be tolerated?

OK, more or less by accident I have run into a few "old stock" but brand new Puma straight razors.
One of the "old rules" I know is: "don´t buy a stainless-steel / inox straight razor!"
What made me stumble is the fact that I have mentioned this accident to some other straight-razor-collectors I know and for some funny reason all of them are specially interested in the only Puma-Inox-Special, No. 68, 6/8 Blades, made of Pumaster-Steel, out of this purchase?
Well, until another collector from outside of Germany has offered me almost 400 $ without even having seen a picture of it, I was almost going to trade it for some old, well used sheffield-steel straight-razor.
Please don´t get me wrong!
I am not stupid nor am I trying to offer/sell these things here for a high price. By now I am not going to give one of them away at all!
I just have not been into Puma that much and was more interested in old-style british or american made straight-razors.
Puma does have a great reputation here, no question, but a few weeks ago I did not even own one and had never before used one (which has been a mistake as far as I can tell now).
As it appears to me my german colleages are trying to talk me into some really stupid trade or are at least taking advantage of my missing knowledge of the razor´s worth?
As I have read here the offer of 400 $ might even be realistic?

Thinking back, the Pumas offered on Ebay mostly find their new owners in the USA or in Japan and there are often prices paid for, which I could only dream of!?!

But (and that is my nervous question here) could some of you please honestly tell me if there are collectors out there willing to pay 400 $ for a stainless-steel Pumaster straight razor they have not even seen on a picture yet, only having been told that it has never been used and is in as new condition???

I am happy for all sorts of Replies, specially those ones which underline my suspicion to have almost been ripped off or left alone in the darkness of my own stupidity.

Best regards

Nicholas

Funny thing!
Just going over different threads/posts very fast it seems that the american straight-razor-community favors a lot of straight-razor-manufacturers which are not very popular over here and otherwise around the german-community favors brands you guys don´t even find worth mentioning?

Wow, there is a lot for me to explore here...

What can I say - Lynn was selling minty (if I am not wrong, but they surely looked very nice) stainless steel 5/8 Pumas here for $150... You will have to do some searching in the BST section, or just PM Lynn. He might even have one left.

I myself don't like stainless razors much (feel on face) so I didn't buy one of these. Other people like stainless steel and bought.

So I would not give $400 for an unused stainless steel Puma - but I am a user, not a collector. Maybe the stainless Pumas are very rare and valued by collectors.

Now - would you tell me a bit more about the old rule "don't buy a stainless steel / inox razor" that you mention? - I myself kind of follow this rule (as I said, because I don't like the feel when shaving - otherwise who would not like a razor that stains less...) Where does this rule come from? Is it from German origin? As far as I understand, razor makers didn't start using stainless steel for razors because it was better for shaving - just because it was easier to work with, and the less maintenance required by the user was an added bonus.

Cheers
Ivo

ps Heck - you can try a BST "FS: Unused Puma 6/8 Stainless $400" post and see the responses you get from members. I think most members are users and will pass but there are a few collectors and if someone responds - you'll have your answer

It´s the first thing the "old folks" tell you when you start to ask what kind of straight razor you should buy:
"Don´t buy anything stainless! It´s a pita to keep them shave-ready."
As far as I am concerned it´s only a myth or made up by people who weren´t able to hone their razors themself?
True, it really is quite some effort to get a Friodur real sharp but once done so, sharpness stay a while.
I don´t know if it originates from Germany?
Could have been made up anywhere since it really doesn´t take long to find out?!?
I also don´t know how much one could ignore the maintanence of a carbon-steel straight razor so it could become useless or so ugly that one wouldn´t want to put it to the face again?


FS= For Sale, clear to me
What does BST stand for?

Cheerio