Thread: Seriously re-thinking stainless steel

I pretty much only use my Dovo Inox razors now. The nice edges and low maintenance are great.

I don't really understand steel - not like a lot of you guys do. However, when it comes to razors I'm basically a pragmatist. If it shaves well and takes and holds a good edge, I don't care whether it's carbon or stainless or anything in between or beyond. So if someone finds a type of steel that works, more power to you!

Personally I don't walk away when someone says they are a knife maker - I don't happen to be into knives but skill is skill whether it applies to razors or to knives, in my mind, and respect is due to anyone in possession of it. The only time I get turned off is when that respect is not reciprocated.

James.

Originally Posted by Jimbo

Personally I don't walk away when someone says they are a knife maker - I don't happen to be into knives but skill is skill whether it applies to razors or to knives, in my mind, and respect is due to anyone in possession of it. The only time I get turned off is when that respect is not reciprocated.

James.

Well said, James.

what brand is your straigth razor with a S30V blade?

Personally, I don't like stainless. If you can't treat your stuff well enough that it won't rust, you don't deserve it. Additionally, stainless (imo) doesn't match ease of honing of carbon steel. And the big advantage of simple carbon steel is that I can forge it and heat treat is myself with nothing more than a charcoal fire.

And like glen said: there is a sweet spot for razor hardness. Go beyond that, and you're just playing silly. Edge retention won't be that much better, but the edge will be much harder to hone.

Originally Posted by jelajemi

what brand is your straigth razor with a S30V blade?

I assume you're asking me ? I have two made by Robert Williams.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I assume you're asking me ? I have two made by Robert Williams.

I would have guessed that S30V would be problematic for shaving due to the aggressive carbides (knife experience).

I guess my guesses are often wrong

I have a Dovo 'silver steel' (not sure of this is SS) razor I bought a while back but it never seemed to work well for me. Do you know where I can get it honed ? Does it have to be sharpened differently to CS blades?

Some of the new stainless steels are wonderful for knives. I have a new Chris Reeve Sebenza that takes a great edge and keeps it- for a knife. The jury is out on how some of these newer steels will work for a razor but I definitely look forward to seeing the razor makers experiment with them.

I have a number of vintage stainless blades and they shave just fine. If I was blindfolded I could not tell the difference. I also have a bunch of new ones and they too shave great.