Thread: 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

Originally Posted by BobH

Pretty much a luddite when it comes to razors.

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

Originally Posted by Porl

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

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.