Thread: Razors you don't like?

Hi All,

I like razors, especially pre-1800, square toe, barbers notches, even round point. But there's one I've never taken to, and that's the frameback.

I don't know why, but every time I see them they give me shudders. (Never used one so can't comment on performance.)

Is there anything you guys don't like, or am I the only one?

Well what I dislike most about a razor for me it would be heavy grinds, anything over an half hollow is certainly not for me I don't like the feel of the heavy grind against my face, but on saying that there's nothing about them looks wise I dislike, and as far as looks go I'm not a fan of traditional Kamisori razors I just cannot take to them no matter how well they shave, to me they just look so unattractive.

Well, there are designs and products used that I don't really care for that much to be honest.

The way some, not all, of the custom makers are heading are but one of those.

Razors with holes on the blade face as if they were inspired by Spyderco or something as one example.
Hooks on the end of the spine? Come on, that is just plain silly, and will ruin a strop immediately.
Filework properly done can be stunning, but once it gets in the way of actual usage of the tool, I'm out.

Burl is another big nono for me.
Fungus infested woods belongs in a fireplace, not on usable objects

Someone once said that Bowling ball acrylics belongs on bowling balls, not on razors.
I agree..
And that includes Mokume Gane and other exotic sounding stuff with wild patterns too.

Of older razors, I really dislike ornate scales with Indians, half-dressed women and whatnot.
For reasons totally unknown to me, these seems to be real popular amongst scale-collectors(!).

Single bevels belong in a kitchen, not a shave-cave.
Kamisori's may be cool and exotic to some, but I have no love for them anymore.

And finally, the current trend of making scales and brush handles in antlers and unpolished horn/bone.
Whoa, that is.. really really not for me at all!

Hmm, this turned out to be a little rant of sorts..
Ah well, it is good we all have different preferences I guess

Umm, the blunt ones, no good.

I am not a fan of scales bearing engravings of half-dressed women either. I think I'd rather have them completely unclothed.

Though I have some, and they shave well, I'm not crazy about round points. Too vanilla. I also find square points to be vanilla. Give me notched, Spanish or French points. I find them to be usable. I don't like razors, usually customs, that have a 'point' at the heel. Dangerous AFAIC. I don't want to feel trepidation while I'm making my passes. Along with Birnando, I don't care for razors that look like Spyderco knives, razors that look like some medieval l weapon or something out of Dungeons & Dragons, or Battlestar Galactica.

Razors with modernistic scales, weird monkey tails, and one of my pet peeves is that custom razor makers seem to ignore the fact that the large majority of straight razors commercially made by the MFGs are either 5/8 or 6/8. The custom guys all seem to think that if it isn't 8/8 or larger that it isn't worth their time. IMHO.

Birnardo and Jimmy have both nicely summed up things for me and in particular the direction in which custom razor makers seem to be headed. Good thing there is more than enough variety out there to satisfy most interests.

Bob

There is something about Harts razors that I just don't like that they are too generic and I do not like razors that are too loud like some of livi's abalone scales razors that seem to belong to a sadistic pimp. Faux ivory with our without engravings along with the infamous cell rot. I am not a fan of frameback razor although some faux frameback razors do look the part. I do not like round tips partly because of appearance and because they are not very good at detailing moustaches and sideburns. I do like larger razors and some small details adorning the razor are nice for example
The hump on ator razor, the utility of both French and Spanish points, discrete spine work is fine but it seems that some custom makers want to bundle all that goodness at one and that is not right. Loud custom jobs remind me of the Simpson's episode when they go to Brazil and homer buys a juice made with all the sweets fruits of Brazil.

As mentioned in another thread:

Decorative features just for the sake of decorative features. I like them when decorative features work with the whole razor & scales to make a piece of art. The ones that bother me are the ones where a guy does some kind of crazy grind but it doesn't match the scales or there are curves and sharp angles that don't go together.

I don't like razors with thick chunky scales, or scales that don't match the blade as far as the shape / profile is concerned.

I hesitate to post this (because of all the opposite sentiments posted earlier) but I don't really care for mutes anywhere on a razor. I like a crisp (square) toe and heel.

I don't need or want it to look or act like a lethal weapon, but I like to sculpt with both ends.