Thread: Which Razors

I have only 4 razors but the best shaver that will give me an unbelievable shave is the Dovo Bismark 6/8. The rest shave well enough but the Bismark just gets it done and done right. I have a Little Injun Boker that is smooth beyond belief but I only used a couple of times before I took it apart to restore it. I think it will be an excellent shaver but it is only a 5/8 and my beard is heavy and course, we will see.

Later,
Richard

I have to say I get my best shaves from my dorkos and a Vlad redo of a W&B. The Dorkos are bigger heavier blades and they just seem to glide over the face chopping the wiskers off. The W&B is a wedge and is great for a few days growth and it looks great too.

I have three top guns: a 7/8 Crown & Sword from ebay, a very old Ellis restored Fredrick's 6/8, and a Livi regrind purchased from Lynn.

I have two.

My Waterville, 5/8

and my John Barber, 5/8

* The John Barber is not my sharpest razor, but it gives me the absolute best shave! It is a very different razor, in that it is a 1/4 to 1/2 hollow, and a 5/8, which I think is kinda rare. It has a very wide, stout spine. It's like you can't cut yourself with it, but it's a super shaver. The edge is totally non-evasive, if that makes any sense. It's like a very stout, big razor, that's small.

I love it!

Steve

I love all three of my dovos, but te best is my dd goldedge, I just love that girl.

I still have limited exposure, but my favorite so far is the Morley clover brand 6/8 barber notch. Hard steel takes quite a bit longer to hone but holds a wicked edge and just glides effortlessly on my face. I like it enough that I have purchased 4 more. I have a 6/8 Henckels spike that I scaled and need to hone and I have Spanish point scalloped back 7/8 Henckels in transit and two Bengall’s to restore (spike and French point) so my preference may change. But of the half dozen blades I have tried, the Morley beats them all. One day I hope to have/try a Livi and Zowada.

I have four I rotate and all get the job done equally well on most days. But since the joy of a good shave is more than just whisker removal, here are the special traits each brings to my morning routine (all are pre-1896 restorations)...

• Joseph Rogers - Classy look; pewter tip on the black horn scales, graceful swayback blade, "stepped" spine (thinner on the distal half), "...cutlers to their majesties...". Heft and balance in the hand. Challenge to strop at first, but now that I've got it, it keeps a great edge.
• Frederick Reynolds - "clear" yellow scales and light blade etching make it pleasant to look at, but the real treat is the way the blade rides the strop effortlessly. My easiest to strop and smooooooth shaver. Again, nice heft.
• W&B #1 - A $3 junk store salvage that wasn't/isn't much to look at, but oh my, does it keep a sharp edge. Just sweet to strop, feel that stickiness in TPT and get a clean, gentle (careful!) shave!
• W&B #2 - very swayed back, it's plain otherwise, but beautiful and like my JR, took a time to learn to strop, but now is sweet shaving. Like all the smiling blades, it fits my thin face contours well.

In all cases, I love 'em because they're old and because they rewarded the effort to "master" ("mastering" is never ending of course).

- Dale

so far my George Wostenholm IXL is the best, followed by the Geneva Cutlery that I won from the newbies drawing a year ago, and my Wapi.

Lynn, this is really hard. I have got a few razors on their way to me now so mabey next month my list will be different.

I have razors that are so sharp I can only use them if I have plenty time. They leave a very nice smooth face but if I am in a rush I rather not use them for fear of razor burn and minor nicks. Amongst them are my 2 Carl Schliepers and my Friodur.

One of my long time favourites is a 5/8 Rich Abr Herder no. 326 from Ebay.de. It has horrible warped faux MOP scales, pivot pin to small for hole in the shank but is a great shaver for a quick and smooth shave. Next best are my 6/8 Puma Friseur Freund No. 1 from with zebrawood scales from JoshEarl and all my Heljestrands (No 7, MK 31, MK 32 and MK 42 which is a 6/8 wedge).

I have an old C Mon eblayd that took a lot of work, starting from my japanese 1k side of the stone, but man is it ever the nice shaver. Small, yet really cuts the hair easy and smoothly. I like my Dubl Duck Special No. 1 as my default, 5/8s shaver, and when I'm in the mood for a larger blade it's a toss-up between my Filarmonica 7/8's and an 8/8's Weyersburg I got from Joe Chandler.
That Filly Doble temple's smiling curve lends to a great toe-first stroke and its heft feels great. I'm also not scared to hone a smiling edge any more, even though that one was done by AFDavis.

See, I'll end up listing almost every blade now that I think about it.