Thread: I need some input for my next straight

Gents ~
I have been DE shaving for about 4 years. I just recently made the jump to straights about 8 months ago. I purchased my first straight from whippeddog and I received a Wm & Elliott 21. I feel this straight is not very forgiving and I have had a lot of problems with it. I did some more research and purchased a Dovo Best Quality from SRD. I am much happier with this razor. I seem to get more feedback and it feels like it is more forgiving.

I'm looking to add another straight with your input. I want to stay away from a spike point, but I think I would like a barbers point this time around, but I am not totally committed to it. My price point is around $150 and I will entertain both vintage and new.

Go.....

Pick out something that catches your eye.

Bokers are very nice.

Entry level TI's are great shavers.

For vintage stuff I would recommend staying with known vendors as eBay can be hit or miss.

By barbers point, do you mean a barber's notch? If so, you might want to keep an eye out for a restored vintage blade. I'll happily stand to be corrected, but I can't think off-hand of many current manufacturer offering a production blade with a barber's notch. I *think* Thiers-Issard may be the exception, and has been noted, they are a highly-regarded manufacturer. The only problem might be that their barbers notch models may fall outside your budget. Well worth checking out though.

Also, keep an eye on the SRP classifieds: Straight Razors - Straight Razor Place Classifieds

Good advice to steer clear of ebay until you're sure of what you're looking for and confident of what to avoid. Good deals *can* be found on ebay, but there are many pitfalls as well.

EDIT: there are of course plenty of excellent custom makers who make gorgeous blades with barbers botches, but they quite rightly cost far more than $150. An awful lot of work, skill, artistry, and craftsmanship goes into a custom.

+1 for looking in the Classifieds!
There are some GREAT razors in there and pretty darn good pricing from what I can tell....

Go lower and get a nice Morley with a barbers notch. They take a hellava' edge and cost peanuts compared to other razors.

[QUOTE=Cangooner;1157100]By barbers point, do you mean a barber's notch?

I stand corrected, barber's notch.

If possible, can you give specific model straights you would think I would enjoy or the type of blade I should be looking for.

A barbers notch is merely a cosmetic thing, the edge and the corner are the same as a round point, at least my 1880 W&B is. I do find them most visually appealing. A wide heavy razor with a barbers notch is a beautiful thing!

Originally Posted by Sjsowa

If possible, can you give specific model straights you would think I would enjoy or the type of blade I should be looking for.

How big is the one you have? I.e. its width from edge to spine?

Are you comfortable with that size? Or do you think you would prefer something larger or smaller?

How about its weight? Is it hollow ground or more like a wedge? Would you like a heavier grind or a more hollow grind?

It's really difficult to recommend a razor for someone else, so the more info we have, the more likely we are to point you in a direction that you'll like.

Ultimately, however, I think your best bet is to:

a) make sure you familiarize yourself with these two lists in the wiki:
Good Straight Razor Brands - Straight Razor Place Wiki
Brands of Straight Razors to avoid - Straight Razor Place Wiki

b) do loads of research. Look at razors. Lots of razors! Get an idea of what you like and don't like, what kinds of blades 'speak' to you. For example, I love big old early to mid 19th century hunks of Sheffield steel. Others love particular custom makers, Solingen blades, Swedish steel, Filarmonicas... the choices are many and what one person likes may not be right for someone else.

c) be a little patient and wait for the right one

Good luck

Originally Posted by Cangooner

How big is the one you have? I.e. its width from edge to spine?

Are you comfortable with that size? Or do you think you would prefer something larger or smaller?

How about its weight? Is it hollow ground or more like a wedge? Would you like a heavier grind or a more hollow grind?

It's really difficult to recommend a razor for someone else, so the more info we have, the more likely we are to point you in a direction that you'll like.

Ultimately, however, I think your best bet is to:

a) make sure you familiarize yourself with these two lists in the wiki:
Good Straight Razor Brands - Straight Razor Place Wiki
Brands of Straight Razors to avoid - Straight Razor Place Wiki

b) do loads of research. Look at razors. Lots of razors! Get an idea of what you like and don't like, what kinds of blades 'speak' to you. For example, I love big old early to mid 19th century hunks of Sheffield steel. Others love particular custom makers, Solingen blades, Swedish steel, Filarmonicas... the choices are many and what one person likes may not be right for someone else.

c) be a little patient and wait for the right one

Good luck

So far I am comfortable with a 6/8 full hollow. The 5/8 WM Elliot I have problems with. I'm not sure if I should go bigger than 6/8 and/or change the grind. I know from DE shaving that this is personal. I'm just looking for suggestions and direction.

Well, if you like the 6/8 full hollow, then my advice would be to stick with something similar unless there is a particular shape/grind that catches your eye. If it ain't broke, and all that.

For that price, and for a new razor, you'll have a fair number of choices from makers such as Dovo, Thiers-Issard, and Ralf Aust. Ralf Aust is perhaps less well known than the other two, but Lynn has had very good things to say about them, so I certainly wouldn't discount them. I honestly think your best bet if you want new would be to look at a number of the possibilities and go for the one that you like. Aesthetics can play a large part in this hobby for a lot of people, so try to find one that *you* like the look of and which you imagine is a good fit for you. Any razor made by those companies should be a good shaver, so it really comes down to personal preference.

Unfortunately at that price it looks like my hunch was correct that a barber's notch is out of the question for a new blade. They appear to start around $100-$150 than your stated budget.

But that then brings in the vintage option. I advised avoiding ebay above, and still think that's sounds advice. *However* you can find a ton of different shapes, sizes, and styles of razors on the bay, so it might be worth searching for 'vintage straight razor' or something similar on ebay, and just seeing what is out there. That should also give you a better idea as to valuations on vintage razors. The usual caveats about buying on ebay apply though: it will probably need to be honed, and you have to be careful not to buy a razor with a cracked, chipped, rusted, or otherwise damaged blade. And that can be tricky from photos.

The Classifieds or razors sold by member vendors here on SRP will be a safer bet than Ebay when it comes to making a purchase.