Thread: First shave with a frameback and impressions/questions

Originally Posted by edhewitt

I don't know exactly, maybe I just didn't like the other 2 razors I have, I can certainly say that for one of them. And I can't speak of framebacks in the plural as the one I have is the only one I have used. It is certainly the widest razor I have, but not by much, and also the thinnest so it could be either, none, or both of those factors, or because it is a light but stiff blade.
I do find that the smile in the blade makes shaving my neck a lot easier, so perhaps that is why. The negative of that is that cutting my sideburns straight is made harder by that smile.
Hmm certainly made me think there Frankie.

I was reading that and thought.....hmmmm....then you hit it....yes, a smile does make shaving the neck easier....and I have one frameback, and it is an awesome blade, I find the fact that the blade is inserted into the spine, makes the ATG pass much easier.......

Originally Posted by Bordee

edhewiitt,

You speak very highly of that frameback you use. What's the blade?

I have a J.A. Hellberg that I got from a member here. However I have no reference point to compare it to any other framebacks, and very few other types of razor to compare it too.

I thought I would update this thread with some additional thoughts as I recently acquired and cleaned up an Erik Anton Berg Frameback (5/8s?) in bone. The interesting part about the Berg was that it had a lead wedge. This was the first razor I've ever used with a lead wedge. The lead gave the scales some extra weight, which balanced the razor nicely. I shaved with this bad boy this morning, and I got an even better shave than with my Heljestrand frameback.

+1 above

Know what you mean, when I used my TI #69 frameback I picked up from the classifieds here, it was just to give it a try, was in a bit of a rush, splashed some cold water and used Proraso Red, and was blown away at what a superb shave the frameback gave. Here I thought it was more of an occasional blade to use, and after using it, it's definitely in my top 5, outstanding blade!!

Originally Posted by Bordee

I thought I would update this thread with some additional thoughts as I recently acquired and cleaned up an Erik Anton Berg Frameback (5/8s?) in bone. The interesting part about the Berg was that it had a lead wedge. This was the first razor I've ever used with a lead wedge. The lead gave the scales some extra weight, which balanced the razor nicely. I shaved with this bad boy this morning, and I got an even better shave than with my Heljestrand frameback.

I have two frameback razors, an A&W Arbenz which has the blade held in place with a screw, and a C.V.Heljestrand which has the blade fixed in place. The pic you've shown is a 'faux frameback', the blade is not a seperate bit of steel to the rest of the razor.

To me, it was the uncommonness and looks that got me hooked on using a frameback - steel quality wasn't important. It just so happens that my favourite is the Heljestrand, which is reputed to have excellent steel. It quickly became my "go to" straight razor.

Originally Posted by Frankenstein

. I thought it was a good razor and shaved very well, but with a very different feel.

+1. They feel like a 1/2 hollow to me - which feels odd - but shaves really well. The rigidity of a heavy grind w/ the weight of a full hollow.

Originally Posted by pinklather

+1. They feel like a 1/2 hollow to me - which feels odd - but shaves really well. The rigidity of a heavy grind w/ the weight of a full hollow.

Thank you for a different description of a frameback's shave, pink. I've been describing it in terms of voice and with a frameback you have to listen closely to hear it's song, a very quiet song. And yes, like a 1/2 hollow.

Originally Posted by Deegee

I have two frameback razors, an A&W Arbenz which has the blade held in place with a screw, and a C.V.Heljestrand which has the blade fixed in place. The pic you've shown is a 'faux frameback', the blade is not a seperate bit of steel to the rest of the razor.

To me, it was the uncommonness and looks that got me hooked on using a frameback - steel quality wasn't important. It just so happens that my favourite is the Heljestrand, which is reputed to have excellent steel. It quickly became my "go to" straight razor.

Thanks for clarifying that its a faux frameback. On further thought, the E.A. Berg has probably a stiffer feel to it than my Heljestrand frameback (non-faux). The Berg did in fact take extra strokes to hone -- as it it were a larger full-wedge.

I agree with you and others that I find the "uncommonness" of the look of the frameback intriguing. With the Berg, I find the combo of faux-frameback, bone, and lead to be quite funky.