Thread: Which Razors

It would be impossible to pick any one razor out of all I have that I get exceptional shaves from. There are some I prefer over others mostly because of the size or overall feel of the razor. It would be easier to pick which razors I least like to use. My 2/8s mercur because its too small to really hold onto. My 5/8s Case Red Imp because the spike on it is exaggerated and I use it so seldom I forget that but it likes to remind me when I do use it, one of my very old lifetime Bresnicks with a blued blade that doesn't hold an edge for more than 5 shaves, and maybe a few others.

The following razors melt the whiskers
ERN - One similar to the craftsman sears model
KROPP 13/16
Puma 89
Puma No 5
DD Goldedge

My Rodgers 7/8 ebay special
and my
Frederick Reynolds Concave Grind from Gary (Traveller) are my two tops
with runner-ups:
F. Reynolds Humpback, Wostenholm IXL and my first Wapi.

I am still a beginner at this. I have successfully honed 7 of my 9 usable straights in the few months I've been at this. Two of those I have were honed by Don and I just received them today as a benchmark. Thus I haven't shaved with my BOKER or the DOVO Tortoise. A PIF DOVO shavette I received from the B & B got me started in all this.

With this being said I have two Wostenholm & Sons Original Pipe Razors and one Wostenholm & Sons IXL. These seem to take edges easily and shave me BBS with ease. Something about these that seem special to this newbie. JMHO
Peace
Headdoc

I have a hoard of old razors that I like, but,
I really like:
Henckels Friodur, (or anything else Henckels)
Dovo Bismarck 6/8, Dovo Special Tortoiseshell 5/8
Swedish Razor Company(made in Mass. or Maine I think) "hand forged" French Point.
Wapienica 5/8 and 6/8
Dubl Duck Dwarf (having a difficult time of it but think I may even like it as much or more than my Wonderedge) Satinedge and Wonderedge. Want to try a couple other ducks...
Waterville 5/8 (used it yesterday, in fact)
ERN-got a beast of one that isn't exactly a "looker" but shaves quite well; Gift from Father. In fact ALL my ERNs are good shavers (Crown & Sword ones also)
JR Torrey 5/8(Gift from grandparents)
W.R. Case travel razor, Case Red Imp 133(probably the exact version Bill doesn't like...)
Boker 5/8 French point
FWE Special
Hess Ice Tempered
TI Wolf&Sheep
Revisor 7/8
Wade&Butcher 8/8 Chopper..
Wait a minute...this list is getting long and I'm not half done.


Ok, I guess I really can't choose.
Often the Friodurs get the most work, perhaps just because being stainless, they travel well; Did carry the ducks a little while but one of them got damaged in the move to the east coast so I'm a little more persnickety around them now.

John P.

My Joseph Rodegers seems to stay sharp forever and gives the best shaves time after time, even when my water softener is on the blink and the lather comes out thin.

I also have a Griffon that surpasses my JR when freshly honed, its almost worth pulling out the hone to just get that feeling, but somehow after just a few shaves this razor drops back to a little better than average and just stays there in the pack untill the next time the hone comes out. I wish I could figure out why, usually my razors stay in the same order both before or after sharpening but this one just seems to make that wierd jump every time it hits the hone.

Of my small, but growing collection I guess the Livi Takeda, Livi Silvano and the Zowada (11/16ths, go figure) are the leaders. Since they are all Damascus they're nice to look at, too.

I really like my Thiers Issard razors....

and my Dovo 5/8 and 6/8 give very good shaves.

and the Hen& Rooster I bought over at B&B which got this all started is a darn good shaver as well

This razor has been good to me. It was made by Abram Brooksbanks in Sheffield. It's called the "Little Pearl" and it's a 5/8 hollow ground, with a rounded tip. Using the pdf. files that were posted with centuries of maker information, I learned quite a bit about the company....their building...even the street they worked on. They were a company from 1849 to 1919. Abram Brooksbanks, as it happens, was mayor of Sheffield from 1880 to 1891.

The blade is incredibly easy to sharpen and takes an edge in no time.

Here's a video of the razor in action, in fact: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6E7lg2uIXTA