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Thread: understanding how price vs. quality of a razor

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    Default understanding how price vs. quality of a razor

    I'm new to traditional shaving (with a safety razor) and now looking to transition and buy a straight razor. I didn't put this question in the beginner forum because I think it is a generally useful question about razors that I haven't found an answer to.

    The one thing I'm having trouble understanding is what different tiers of quality among razors exist. I mean, when I go and buy a camera, it's easy for me to understand the differences between the cameras' features and see that there are different price ranges that certain cameras fall into... and in general, the more expensive ones are "better" and more feature-rich. With straight razors, I'm not sure.

    A lot of posts you read are all about trying to buy a razor on a budget and find a razor that's "good enough". For example, look at the Dovo Best Quality 6/8" on straight razor designs (which a lot of people seem to recommend as a great starter razor) and it says "just a great razor for the money". Why "for the money"? What razors are better? There isn't much advice about razors that ignore budget.

    Now maybe for my first razor it's a good idea to not spend too much extra on it if it's likely that I can mess it up... but I'd still like to know this information so that I can both make my own informed decision and also know what razors to look forward to when I go get my second one :-). So are there any rules of thumb or things to look for or ways of understanding why a razor commands a higher price other than "it looks nice"? I know "rarity" certainly comes into play (I'm less concerned about that since I'm not planning on looking much at vintage razors now). Are some sharper than others? Are some easier to maintain and therefore command a higher a price? Or after a certain point are you only paying for the aesthetic?

    I've seen a boker damascus blade (granted, I think limited edition?) for almost $1,000!? How much of that is quality, and how much of that is aesthetic? In particular, I love the way the Dovo Flowing razor looks. It costs ~$150 more than the Best Quality... am I getting a better razor or just a prettier one? If it's really better I might consider just getting it.

    Essentially... I am going to buy the Best Quality 6/8", but if there's something that isn't a hell of a lot more money that is better for reasons other than "it's pretty", I might decide to buy it. And if I don't buy it now, I certainly want to know about it for the future.

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    doh... I don't see how to change the title, oh well...

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    'with that said' cudarunner's Avatar
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    Welcome to the most helpful friendly and informative site on the Web!!

    Personally I don’t have the answer to your question, and here’s why!

    The majority of shaving with a straight razor is ‘Personal Preference’.

    For an example; I ‘prefer’ to use a razor that’s at least 5/8 or larger and one that has a round point. I do on occasion use a smaller razor and I have some in the 3/4 range that are square points and I use them often. They are all full hollow ground.

    You will also find that there are some who ‘prefer’ certain blades manufactured in certain countries or periods of time!

    Here again, I prefer ‘vintage blades’ and those from Germany or the USA. However I do have a very nice Sheffield blade that was given to me that is a really nice shaver! And I do have a very nice Revisor that I bought brand new direct from the factory that is a wonderful shaver!

    As I said, it’s all about finding out what you ‘Prefer’!!

    As I said at the start, there is no easy answer to your question!

    Hang in there! You will find your own answers as you walk down the long road that we all here travel!

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    Senior Member Jonah's Avatar
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    My biggest recommendation is to start with a round point. I have been straight shaving since January and can finally get good and consistent results. I picked up a square point a couple weeks ago and I will say, had I originally gotten a square point as my first razor I probably would have quit after a week or two. Those square points can be very unforgiving if you aren't careful. I forget exactly how it was quoted in the wiki, but someone said that "square points are great at silently fileting the skin" or something along those lines.

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    I agree with the round point recommendation and with the personal preference advice. Personally, I own about 20 razors. top of my list for me is a cheep gold dollar 209. In the two years I have owned it I have sharpened it once, and shave with it often. second is an old Keen Kutter off of the bay and it was a nine dollar razor. to tell the truth my Dovo "Best Quality" is about fifth on my list. That is just my own two cents. I would think that most members here have an inexpensive razor that they just love or that loves them so I do not believe that price necessarily means a great shave, I do think however, that it mean that there is a quality that the company has to live up to.

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    Senior Member phunni's Avatar
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    This is an interesting question that I'd also be interested in learning the answer. It seems to me (just from reading, not experience) that there's is often no quality difference in a cheap vs expensive razor.

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    Fatty Boom Boom WW243's Avatar
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    Read as much as you can stand, then read some more. Look at months of The Shave of the Day, look at the forge and read about the history of straight razor manufacture. The less you know about something the more everything looks the same. A lot of people have shared a lot of knowledge in this forum, honor them by doing some of the work of research. The answers to the questions you are asking are already here. You take the blue pill, the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill, you stay in Wonderland, and SRP will show you how deep the rabbit hole goes.
    "Call me Ishmael"
    CUTS LANE WOOL HAIR LIKE A Saus-AGE!

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    There is no charge for Awesomeness Jimbo's Avatar
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    Price is an interesting thing.

    On the one hand there is generally a minimum price below which you just won't be getting something of shave quality (I'm talking new razors here, btw). The proper steel, the proper skills to work it and grind it and finish it all cost. Of course the manufacturer and vendors need a profit as well. For a new razor I use the most basic Dovo as a guide on that ballpark minimum price.

    Over that, you start to get prices that reflect the quality and difficulty/rareness of the steel (eg damascus), the quality and materials of the scales, the finish and so on. You also then can move into the realms of customer preference and style - a big honking 8/8 with worked spines and a raptor-like profile is almost guaranteed to attract a premium, for example. Gold washed razors too, or intricate etching and so on...

    In terms of vintage, price will often reflect reputation and rarity and of course condition - a Mappin and Webb Lancet edge for example (in good condition) will set you back maybe more than some customs! Some people value scales and the often ornate patterns and impresses/carving/whatever the old-timers put on them - also the scale materials (ivory, for example, has a premium. Pre-ban, of course).

    Vintage blades will often have a market that is influenced by collectors rather than users as well, particularly the rarer or more collectible brands/styles. These are often pricier than their mere parts might suggest they should be, mainly because of demand/supply.

    Similarly, multiple-razor sets (in good condition) seem to attract a premium - they often appear to be worth more than the mere multiplication of the individual razors that they comprise.

    So price is a tricky thing, as I said before, particularly with reference to vintage blades. Often with these we simply say that the market determines the value, which is basically true to a large extent. However, I would say with production razors (ie new), it is more a costs and supply/demand issue.

    James.
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    Senior Member blabbermouth niftyshaving's Avatar
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    One place to find quality steel at good prices is the classified section above this forum.
    Once in a while you will find excellent steel with serviceable scales.
    Often offered by some of the guys here... are rescued no name razors
    from the turn of the century ... great steel, not famous, dull, cracked scales
    but fine shavers.

    There are differences but the modern razors all have good steel. The very best have
    better steel but that is subjective. The big $$ are spent on grind, finish, scales, art....

    Any Dovo made today is a darn fine razor. The lower priced ones
    have a simple grind and almost no polish. The low priced scales are mass
    mfg. plastic. Good but not fancy.

    The Thiers Issard razors seem to be tempered a bit harder than Dovo
    which I like but at the low end have worse scales. Harder steel takes
    a light practiced hand... to hone well. Modern hones have no difficulty
    with hard steel.

    Of all my Dovos one of my favorites is a DOVO ASTRALE EBONY 5/8"
    The scales are light but well balanced. The blade takes a fine edge...
    The steel is not clearly better than another dovo $40 less.

    All give a fine shave when honed and stropped correctly.

    Since a razor needs to be stropped each shave I would point a beginner to a razor + strop combo at SRD.
    A second rate strop is more common than a second rate razor.

    Do not ignore the old steel.... but watch out for the eBay junk. You get what you
    pay for....

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    I used Nakayamas for my house mainaman's Avatar
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    New production razors are priced based on detail used for the particular mode, plain plade with simple etch and no spine work with plastic scales will be cheaper than a gold wash blade with worked spine with horn scales. So price is based on paterials used and extra visual features. The steel does not vary in quality for each maker.

    For vintage razors there is no rule of thumb about prices. Some brands are much more popular, and sell for a lot of money. Price can go up because of fancy scales with engravings. Price can be high because of the blade size, in general larger blades are more expansive. Finally rarity of the razor also plays somewhat into the price.

    Start with a simple razor(Dovo Best Quality for example, or a good condition vintage) and strop to learn the ropes, then the possibilities are endless, I mean literally some people have hundreds of razors in their collections.
    niftyshaving likes this.
    Stefan

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