what is your favorite razor and what makes it your favorite?

So as I'm getting deeper into this new fascination with straight razors and learning about honing, stroping, shaving, and forging, grinding, handling {scaling?} ect...... I'm collecting vintage razors to be able to play with the different grinds, profiles, scale materials, jimping or no, ect.... and I figured id ask what is your favorite razor, or razors, and what is it about them that makes them your favorite?

right now I have 4.

the newest I haven't even shaved with yet, but it is a kropp with a rounded point, extrahollow grind, bit over a 6/8. got the edge about half cleaned up this afternoon, and hope to finish the edge out and shave with it in the morning. but I do like the rounded point, the width as it sort of helps to see the angle, the jimping is very nice and secure, yet not sharp or abrasive.

another is one I made out of 1095, and it is a monster, 9/8's, roughly a quarter hollow, with a mystery wood one piece handle from my scrap wood box, no jimping, sort of a shallow round point and some smile. I like the added weight of the quarter hollow big blade as it steadies my hand a bit, the wider tang, and its the best one ive made so far.

a sheafworks half hollow 6/8's with a bit of smile and a humpback tang, and a one piece cocobolo handle I made for it. I love the looks of this one. the profile is very pleasing to me with the humpback tang and curves. the point is mostly straight, with just a hint of curve right at the point so it isn't square. mostly what I like is that its just downright sexy with curves in all the right places.

and last a razor marked extra hollow ground Sheffield. though it looks more like a half hollow to me. rounded point, jimping just on the underside of the tang. it looks very much like the kropp, only smaller at about a 11/16's. and is wider at the point than at the heel. this one really talks as its taking whiskers.

I cant really speak of edge retention as I haven't shaved long enough to notice. they all were pretty easy to hone, and I have all of them to cutting a single strand of my wifes hair at 1-2" away from the point that I am holding it. and they all seem to shave pretty well, and even with each other.

You are going to get some pretty varied answers to this one. The truth is that my "favourite" changes all the time in terms of what I like shaving with. There are so many factors involved.

In terms of appearance it seems that I do have a type though. I am drawn to razors with a nice thumb notch, i like them on the big side and I am not a huge fan of a round point (although one of my favourite razors has one). I really like a Spanish point or a barber's notch. In terms of grind I am not one that likes it too hollow, the sound of scraping toast when I shave does not add to my enjoyment.

Good luck in your quest here and it sounds like you have some nice razors in your collection so far.

My name is Bob and I am a razor slut. ;) I like virtually any razor that will give me a nice comfortable, close and smooth 4 pass shave. Not too fussy on grind or point style either and prefer a blade in the 5/8 to 7/8 range. I do like a shoulderless blade though. Jimping top and bottom of the tang is a nice bonus but not absolutely necessary. Not fussy on the type of steel used to make the razor so long as it is capable of giving me the type of shave previously mentioned. Aesthetically, the farther away the razor is from looking like a vintage straight razor the less I like it. Pretty much a luddite when it comes to razors.

Bob

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Originally Posted by BobH

Pretty much a luddite when it comes to razors.

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I am not sure that you can be a luddite with this hobby. Or actually maybe we are all luddites. ;)

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Originally Posted by Porl

I am not sure that you can be a luddite with this hobby. Or actually maybe we are all luddites. ;)

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Good point but I was referring to my preference in how the straight razor looks. A lot of custom razors, not all, that are marketed today leave me cold in that respect. OTH there is something for everyone out there which is as it should be.

Bob

It's a toss up between my Geo. Wostenholm 7/8 wedge or my Packwood. They both glide through my facial hair. Have great edge retention. And give close comfortable shaves. I am going on a cruise next month and they are going with me.

Fili 13 for me. (gasp, I know... not the 14)

Like them all (I have from 3/8's up to 8/8's), but my top 2 are:

W&B FBU The Celebrated 8/8

Custom made 8/8 by SRP member "Frans", which is the same style as the above W&B. This is my daily shaver.

Personally, I like big wedges (or near wedge).

I have what is probably a modest collection in comparison to others here. It far more than I need but probably not as many as others. The ones that I consider my favorites are all exception shavers. You hear that a lot. This razor or that is a great shaver. What does that mean? That you shaved with it? Of course not. The really good ones seem to get more done with less work. After one pass WTG, it feels like you did on with and one against. They are efficient cutters. They also take a great edge. You can get a lot of razors incredibly sharp but the ones that get consistently sharp and smooth/comfortable are the best ones. Some seem to do this easier and better than others. The good ones also get you to this point without a lot of effort. They sit nicely on the hone and don't require a lot of gymnastics to get them honed properly. Then of course there is size and shape, what feels good in your hand. The ones that do this for me are a few of my Japanese. My FON comes to mind. Or my Revisors, my 7/8 Ralph Aust, and my W&B FBU near wedge.

Cant say i have a favorite razor but i do have a favorite type. Extra hollow, spike point in 6/8 to 7/8. And i got a few of them.

so I shaved with the kropp for the first time this morning. and I noticed a couple things, I do really like it, that wide blade is easy to see the angle, the weight feels a bit light, the jimping on top and bottom is something that I do really like, though the edges on the corners of the spine are a bit sharp, so maybe some stippling there that is just on the middle of the spine might do nicely. the scales are a black plastic, and though they look nice, they are a bit slick in my hand. the monkey tail is a nice size for my finger. I did notice that I got the buttered toast on some strokes, but not on others. and the shave was nice and smooth, though not much different from my other 3 favorites, or the others ive shaved with. so far I have 18 vintage razors, and a dozen or so that I have made, and have 6 more vintage ones on the way to play with.

I am noticing that weight of the blade is huge, and something I have to keep in mind when honing, stropping, and shaving. the thicker grinds with the added mass seem to take much less effort on my part to keep steady both on the stones and strop. but then on my face if its too heavy, I have to pay attention or I start using too much pressure.

I had to look up luddite. while I do like the vintage looking razors much more than the mirror polished look, id sure hate to have to give up my powerhammer, pid controlled kiln, belt grinders, or laptop and internet connection.....

Pictures welcome :beer2:

I don’t have so much a favorite razor as a “favorite type” of razor. Features:

• Shoulderless
• Thumbnotch
• 7/8 - 8/8
• Half to quarter-hollow grind

My Snail Forge 15/16 wootz “Ottoman” and Thiers-Issard 7/8 Oakwing hit all the marks.

I also appreciate a razor that doesn’t bring any trouble to the hones. Despite the C135 steel, I find the Oakwing a breeze to hone. The Bruno blade I’ve yet to hone, but I suspect that one will hone up nicely when needed.

Other blade features that pique my interest: double jimping and bellies. :hmmm:

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Originally Posted by caltoncutlery

I had to look up luddite. while I do like the vintage looking razors much more than the mirror polished look, id sure hate to have to give up my powerhammer, pid controlled kiln, belt grinders, or laptop and internet connection.....

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See, the internet is good for something. ;) I did not say total luddite, the modern conveniences are nice to have too.

Bob

My favourite shaver I own so far is a Dovo special in fake tortoise... nothing expencive or overly fancy, but is my smoother shave so far. Might just be the hone job on it, I am un certain. But looks wise, I love anything fancy, or monster looking. I love a nice wedge, and or chopper. Fancy points, thumb notches, etchings, spine work, covered tangs, pearl etc. I love any thing fancy and unique looking... the 'works of art'. But not to say those will be the best shavers because I really like a wedge and thought I would love the shave, but was not impressed with the Joseph Elliot I have. (again may be the hone job on it.) but I do love an aesthetically pleasing razor.

Well Here We Go. My favorite is the one that is honed properly. I started back with a straight about 5 years ago or so after not using one for many years. So I jump in with both feet. I bought and tried many different brands sizes grinds shapes new and Old. First one was my favorite then another so on and so on. I have this friend that is well know as some one who knows about razors. I ask him. He said they all are. It took me a while to under stand what he meant. I now have through him found the ones I like. I like the Henckels and the Sheffields that look pleasing to me. I learned how to hone through my friend and now can hone fairly well and the razors I've collected all shave good and feel good in the hand. Each person will have a preference to those razors they really like simply because of shape size and name. What got me started with mind was a 50 and a 6/8 Henckel and a Mappin 6/8. These razors perform excellent and feel good in my hand.

ATM Fili 14 Doble Temple. BBS in one pass, allows me to shave every other day.

Mine are nearly all Tanifuji or Tanifuji-made razors, 6/8-13/16 and models that are ground a little more hollow than Japanese razors typically are.

I also like my Le Grelots very much.

Cheers, Steve

My Mastro Livi 6/8 Damascus steel razor with bison horn scales. It's like when I was young and dated a bathing suit model. Beautiful to look at and great to hold.Attachment 278002Attachment 278002

oh my, that is gorgeous! and the double monkey tail is sweet!

You are going about this in the right way by trying tried and true designs.