Thread: Razors you don't like?

Gentlemen:

Some of you already have expressed my thoughts, so forgive me if I seem to serve a second course of the same thing. Here it goes . . .

I used to like the heavy grind Sheffield razors, the Wade & Butchers, the Frederick Reynolds, and so on. Now I do not. Granted, many are quite handsome, some of the restored especially striking, but they feel heavy and cumbersome in my hands. Some take a superb edge and shave smoothly, but when finished, I feel dissatisfied overall with my shave. I can't put my finger on it. It's like drinking watered down cognac. Oy! I have sold all in my collection, except an 1820s Packwood with a beautiful smile and a Spanish point. It's a fine shaver, too. I shaved with it yesterday, and it was a smooth shave, but something was missing in my shave. I'll probably sell the Packwood, too. The heavy wedges are not for me.

The outlandish designs and the massive sizes of the custom razors are enough to drive me the cartridge razor, the ultimate sin. To me, a custom-made razor does not mean a frightening weapon designed for Attila the Hun. I encourage variations on traditional styles, yes, but let's not go overboard with jagged corners and dizzying bends and curves. Nor do I find them esthetically pleasing.

Scales with cluttered imprints look . . . well, cluttered — and there is enough clutter in the world. Also, I prefer half naked women pictured elsewhere than on my razor. It's a good way to lose concentration and bloody cut yourself. Zebra patterns. Hunting scenes. Nah!

Razors with 4/8 blades and smaller. Razors with blades over 7/8. Razors with a spike point should be outlawed. Razors with a muted square point look about as sterile as a dentist's reception room.

The new model Thiers-Issard razors with that silly little notch at the heel. It's an absurd design. What's the idea?

Finally, some things straight razor and traditional shaving world related: HHT and BBS. And posts written in Twitter lingo and stuffed with acronyms. I miss the English language.

Originally Posted by Obie

Gentlemen:

Some of you already have expressed my thoughts, so forgive me if I seem to serve a second course of the same thing. Here it goes . . .

I used to like the heavy grind Sheffield razors, the Wade & Butchers, the Frederick Reynolds, and so on. Now I do not. Granted, many are quite handsome, some of the restored especially striking, but they feel heavy and cumbersome in my hands. Some take a superb edge and shave smoothly, but when finished, I feel dissatisfied overall with my shave. I can't put my finger on it. It's like drinking watered down cognac. Oy! I have sold all in my collection, except an 1820s Packwood with a beautiful smile and a Spanish point. It's a fine shaver, too. I shaved with it yesterday, and it was a smooth shave, but something was missing in my shave. I'll probably sell the Packwood, too. The heavy wedges are not for me.

The outlandish designs and the massive sizes of the custom razors are enough to drive me the cartridge razor, the ultimate sin. To me, a custom-made razor does not mean a frightening weapon designed for Attila the Hun. I encourage variations on traditional styles, yes, but let's not go overboard with jagged corners and dizzying bends and curves. Nor do I find them esthetically pleasing.

Scales with cluttered imprints look . . . well, cluttered — and there is enough clutter in the world. Also, I prefer half naked women pictured elsewhere than on my razor. It's a good way to lose concentration and bloody cut yourself. Zebra patterns. Hunting scenes. Nah!

Razors with 4/8 blades and smaller. Razors with blades over 7/8. Razors with a spike point should be outlawed. Razors with a muted square point look about as sterile as a dentist's reception room.

The new model Thiers-Issard razors with that silly little notch at the heel. It's an absurd design. What's the idea?

Finally, some things straight razor and traditional shaving world related: HHT and BBS. And posts written in Twitter lingo and stuffed with acronyms. I miss the English language.

I ain't sayin' nuthin'! But yes, I agree with everything Obie's written here -- I "Just say 'No!'" to figurals, heavily-worked spines, "weaponry", and the like. Blame JimmyHAD; I do.

Originally Posted by JBHoren

I ain't sayin' nuthin'! But yes, I agree with everything Obie's written here -- I "Just say 'No!'" to figurals, heavily-worked spines, "weaponry", and the like. Blame JimmyHAD; I do.

I'd be grateful if you started agreeing more completely with Obie, and begin to say NO to acronyms. ............

Originally Posted by Obie

HHT and BBS. And posts written in Twitter lingo and stuffed with acronyms. I miss the English language.

I do find it amusing that you use acronyms in the very same sentance you dismiss them :-)

I have not been into the hobby for as long as most veterans here so I bring a different point of view in some cases. The customs are just that, custom and made to the needs / wants of a client, so if they want duel spikes at both ends of the razor guaranteed to draw blood, well there is a person out there that can make that for you. It is not for me, I know that. I really enjoy the ascetics of a nice French point.

Right now in my collection I am looking for a razor that stands out, just a bit, from the crowd. I don't like over stimulating but nothing wrong with the naked woman carved into the scale, I'm only looking at it when it is displayed, not in use!

Back to the thread topic, something I don't like or won't use, Loose scales, they drive me nuts.

I don't like wedges and am not crazy about big razors larger than 7/8s. I also am not too kean on really ornate pieces. otherwise I like everything else.

Originally Posted by MrRyder

I do find it amusing that you use acronyms in the very same sentance you dismiss them :-)

I have not been into the hobby for as long as most veterans here so I bring a different point of view in some cases. The customs are just that, custom and made to the needs / wants of a client, so if they want duel spikes at both ends of the razor guaranteed to draw blood, well there is a person out there that can make that for you. It is not for me, I know that. I really enjoy the ascetics of a nice French point.

Right now in my collection I am looking for a razor that stands out, just a bit, from the crowd. I don't like over stimulating but nothing wrong with the naked woman carved into the scale, I'm only looking at it when it is displayed, not in use!

Back to the thread topic, something I don't like or won't use, Loose scales, they drive me nuts.

I think you miss the point, my friend. My last paragraph reads: Finally, some things straight razor and traditional shaving world related: HHT and BBS. And posts written in Twitter lingo and stuffed with acronyms. I miss the English language.
Since the main focus of this thread is "disliking," my comments clearly refer to my dislike for the terms HHT (Hanging Hair Test) and BBS (Baby Bottom Smooth), two of the most overused acronyms in the traditional shaving lingo.

Currently can't stand (If you love any of the below- that's fine! and realizing I may love some of this later on in life):

Kamisori's - I don't see the appeal
Any razor that's edge has touched any DMT at any time
3/8 and 4/8 size razors
File work on the spine that grabs on a strop
Another vote for that notch on the new TI's- Why why why?
Any shaving brush that is not badger hair
eBay razors
Loose pins (hate it- even though I can fix it)



OK. Now I feel better

As everyone has already stated:
Too big or too small.
Too heavy or too light grind.
Custom blades and scales where the maker ignores (or doesn't know about) esthetics and tries to cram as many gimmicks into the piece as possible.

If it's from 9/16 to 13/16, 1/4 hollow to full hollow and it doesn't look like a prop for the alien from Predator, I'll probably like it.

I'm not partial to blunt points (especially being a newbie, though I have one in my arsenal that I'm learning to shave with); light, plastic-y, and loose scales. I don't like the Kamisoris I've seen; been trying to "understand" them but just can't, which is OK...

That's a really cool thread!

Things I can't stand in razors:

Sharp edges at the heel - just looks so bad, can't imagine it would shave well.
Also don't like huge blades - my perfect range is in between 5 and 7/8. Anything bigger is for posers.
Too much spine work - i don't mean the classy stuff or just the jimps, but deep random cuts in spine that make the razor look like it was designed to be on game of thrones set.
Holes in razors - looks absolutely terrible. Yeah I get it that it can make razor light, but I really don't mind lifting a razor that weighs what it should weigh.