Thread: Puma variations: Puma / Pumaster Steel

I love Pumas - I bought some, sold many, bought some again...

Most of the Pumas I have (had) bear the "Made in Germany from Best Puma Steel" stamp. The ones I have tried shaved extremely well. However, I have seen, much less often "... Best Pumaster Steel" I have only one of these, Puma 39and have not even shaved with it yet. It also is the only one with rubber grip (which I don't like so much, I prefer jimps in the tang, on both top and bottom - as my favorite Puma 52). The 39 is a barber's model - etch says "Pour Barbe Tres Dure" so it must be a good one.

I am wondering what is the difference between Puma Steel and Pumaster Steel, if any. Could Pumaster be the higher-end steel?

Some other variations: the Puma inlay also differs. Some razors have one with very fine contours, and others have kind of fat lines. Actually, I think even the image of the Puma head is different but don't have several on hand to compare right now. I was wondering if the thicker / less fine variety is older or better in some way.

Cheers
Ivo

I've got one like that don't know the exact model and I'm not in a good position to find out right now, but it's a NOS 5/8 pumaster with the "Pour Barbe Tres Dure" on the side, and I think some patent numbers as well. It was a big disappointment for me, it's not in my first or even second tier of razors. I keep it in the drawer in the closet, hoping it will grow on me someday. I should probably haul it out again now that I'm becoming a big fan of the full hollow 5/8s...

Very interesting, Michael!

I would not complain if the Puma steel is the better one (as I have mostly Puma, not Pumaster steel)

My Pumaster is a 6/8 model but actually larger 13/16. It does have the fattest original Puma scales I have seen (and I have had 5 or so other 6/8 Pumas). These particular scales were probably for the rare 7/8. When I first took the razor out I was like "Can it be a 7/8???" but this was just wishful thinking

Cheers
Ivo

Ivo, it could have been a 7/8 that got honed down, especially if the owner used tape to protect such a beautiful piece.

Ilija,

The bevel is very narrow - seems like NOS or very lightly used. I thought it just came a bit larger but was within the 6/8 tolerance range (and under 7/8) and the guy who was scaling it just put what he thought would fit best.

Cheers
Ivo

That could well be. My Heljestrand #32's scales look too small for it, but it's at the very upper limit for a 6/8 so it got the 6/8 model number and 6/8 scales, even though it looks a tich odd.