Thread: Why straight razors so hard to find?

I just bought a beautiful TI from Vintage Blades LLC Friday that I shaved with today. They are there!

Originally Posted by Neil Miller

Nothing to do with James Bond, grinders passing away, etc - IMHO.

Sale and Demand are the chief reasons in my opinion. We are going through a recession, and it has become common practice - at least in the UK - for even large companies not to keep or make stockpiles of things. With smaller companies that peddle other peoples goods, it makes sense to only order in items when necessary in days of hardship and small returns.

Just my two cents...

Regards,
Neil

It's hard for me to say when I don't really know. Both TI and Dovo claim that the Bond movie spiked demand. I looked on ebay and I see Dovo razors both ridiculously cheap and ridiculously expensive.

If I were a new straight razor shaver, I'd be sure to get a razor with a round point that is shave ready. For a strop I'd get one 3" wide so I didn't have to learn the X pattern.

Perhaps as a vendor you could shed some light on what equipment would best serve someone who wants to start shaving with a straight. I know what I like now with three years experience, but I was lost when I started and put too much importance in what the scales looked like.

I think this is a good indicator of the shortage - I just checked SRD -

of 9 Boker models offered - only 2 in stock
of 4 Ralf Aust - 1 in stock
of 40 Dovos - none are listed as in stock

As a side note - I have been waiting to use an SDR gift cetificate since Christmas - got lucky and snagged one of the Boker Piccadillys they got in two weeks ago. There was a bit of a glitch with the certificate and Don was very helpful straightening out the situation. I cannont say enough good things about the guys at SRD, I hope the supply side of the equation gets fixed soon!

Thank you guys for the info. From what I understand srd is the place to go. Cant wait until there's more stock. Until then maybe I'll get my brush, strop, hone and soap from whipped dog. He seems to have some pretty good deals.

Originally Posted by eod7

Five years of wear and a terrible edge! What's not to like?

Knife-store edges are great... for opening letters and mixing paint. I just hate when they crack the scales by clamping the razor in a vise to file away that curved extra bit of steel that sticks out of the "handle".

Somewhere in this thread classic edge came up. I've gotten a couple of straights and some other stuff from them. Razors are shave ready and service is prompt. I have no complaints.

Originally Posted by CaliforniaCajun

It's hard for me to say when I don't really know. Both TI and Dovo claim that the Bond movie spiked demand. I looked on ebay and I see Dovo razors both ridiculously cheap and ridiculously expensive.

If I were a new straight razor shaver, I'd be sure to get a razor with a round point that is shave ready. For a strop I'd get one 3" wide so I didn't have to learn the X pattern.

Perhaps as a vendor you could shed some light on what equipment would best serve someone who wants to start shaving with a straight. I know what I like now with three years experience, but I was lost when I started and put too much importance in what the scales looked like.

I know, its difficult. However, dealers are prone to spiel - what else would they say when the Bond film came out and a straight was used? As far as the UK site is concerned, from comments on a UK forum something or other is always out of stock or awaiting re-stocking - who knows what the reason is? I wouldn't trust the word of any maker or seller on 'grey' areas like these, FWIW - you don't go into business to play yourself down, do you? You do it to drum up trade and make money.

I am a vendor, true, but I only sell stuff I make myself and vintage stuff I have restored, so I don't feel bound by the same constraints as others who make a living out of selling other peoples stuff. If something is good, I'll sell it - I don't buy in bulk so am not concerned with losing too much - if it is rubbish I will bin it. So perhaps I am more of a 'filter' of what is good among old, vintage razors. I have no pressure whatsoever about moving stock on, and I wouldn't take the word of anyone who was subject to those pressures. I don't mean that in a bad way, its just that I know the way the world works - I have been in business on my own account for the majority of my adult life. I'll never be rich, but I'll never feel the need to say something that isn't so. anyway, that's far enough off topic.

As for shedding light on what a novice should select, I always do that when asked, I have a 'stickie' on a UK forum to the same effect and I make some mention of it on my own site. why do it here? It has been done before - many, many times before, and by those who are more erudite, so I have little or nothing to add. I do appreciate your comment though!

Regards,
Neil

From Dovo's rather sad website, some numbers to ponder:

Staff: 86

Production area: 3.900 m² built up

Daily production: 1.200 scissors 900 nippers 150 open razors and shavers

Year founded: 1906, independent family concern since 1936

Markets: 120 countries Share 25% domestics, 75% export

We think of Dovo as a heavyweight, and this would make their razor department pretty small. It's easy to see how losing one key worker would disrupt output greatly, magnifying the effect of resellers keeping their inventories light.

Originally Posted by Neil Miller

Nothing to do with James Bond, grinders passing away, etc - IMHO.

Sale and Demand are the chief reasons in my opinion. We are going through a recession, and it has become common practice - at least in the UK - for even large companies not to keep or make stockpiles of things. With smaller companies that peddle other peoples goods, it makes sense to only order in items when necessary in days of hardship and small returns.

Just my two cents...

Regards,
Neil

Lean manufacturing is a way of life since the recession, i dont see a long waiting list to get an Austin Martin.

Thread title is like a demented country song.