The Torrey difference

As background I've been shaving now about 2 months and using a shave ready 4/8 no name razor during this time. A couple of weeks ago I went to an antiques store and found some razors and one of them being a JR Torrey. I tried my hand at honing on a Norton combo stone and got it where I thought I'd give it a shot.

Finished it on a swaty barber hone and Crox (I think that is right...the green pasted side of a Philly strop) and shaved this morning with no change in any preparation or shaving technique.

Holy damn what a difference the razor made. My past shaves weren't bad but nothing spectacular. I can't believe what a difference this razor has made. My face is BBS smooth all over and by far and away the best shave to date.

For all of the newbie advice I've seen I've always got the impression that it is technique technique technique (don't blame the arrow). So I was absolutely shocked that my technique was sound but the actual razor was lacking.

The Technique is key.. but there is also the grind of the razor as well as have you re-honed the no names at any time? I know when I first started that after I honed my first blade and found it shaved better I went back and re-honed my original shave ready blade and found it shaved just as well but I had dulled the edge a little from my inexperience at shaving/stropping.

Torrey's are great razors though and do give great shaves.

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Originally Posted by Troggie

The Technique is key.. but there is also the grind of the razor as well as have you re-honed the no names at any time? I know when I first started that after I honed my first blade and found it shaved better I went back and re-honed my original shave ready blade and found it shaved just as well but I had dulled the edge a little from my inexperience at shaving/stropping.

Torrey's are great razors though and do give great shaves.

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Good point but here is what I did. Both razors were shave ready but I only shaved with one this entire time. Just last week I tried the one that I had been saving for comparison purposes and it gave only slightly better shave then the one I had been using.

I don't know how much difference it makes but the Torrey is slighly larger maybe a 5/8 or 6/8 compared to the smaller 4/8 ones I had been using.

Hey, Volley.

'Grats on the find, and especially with the results.

I'll never argue against the guys advocating good technique. Someday I'll learn some.

At about 2-3 months, I asked about other sizes and grinds of razors. I wound up w/ a 1/4 hollow. It was a complete game changer. (maybe just for me & not others?) Shaving went from an event where I worked my butt off to get some technique down to a complete pleasure. At that point, I didn't understand the role of angle well enough to enjoy using a flexible full hollow. I still can't get the problem/touch-up areas as well w/ a flexible blade, but everywhere else, I can use the full hollow with ease.

The heavier grind is less demanding of technique, and for me, gave confidence to try more in stretching and stroking, which I could later reproduce w/ any other blade. The temptation is to substitute pressure for good technique - because you can. So many blades later, I'm a sucker for a particular size (6/8) and grind (on the light side of 1/4 hollow) and profile (slightly smiling edge).

All this is to say that as you continue, you'll find some easier and more pleasurable than others. You got your first taste. While I can shave w/ a 4/8, I have never found them pleasant. Some guys have one or two just for the mustache. Naturally, tastes differ enough that some guys just think they're great. You'll find yourself drawn to one or more particular types of blades, and you'll crow at their performance - and love their shaves. 'Here's to lots of fun & satisfaction as you find your preference.

Now I understand why some people have 300 razors...all in the search for THE one.

I like Torreys, but if you are new to honing, it is possible that you simply honed that one better than the others.

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Originally Posted by Utopian

if you are new to honing, it is possible that you simply honed that one better than the others

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+1 to this! I find that my favorite shaver is usually the one I most recently honed. Is it because one razor brand or type is better than another, or because I'm getting better at honing each time? Most likely the latter.

No, people don't have 300 razors looking for the one. At least I don't have that many. I find there are some few razors out there that just seem to exhibit a combination of qualities that make them outshine others but that doesn't mean any quality razor can't give you a BBS shave. I suspect if you had the time and patience and the skill you could bring all razors up to the highest level but you're really slicing hairs here (pun intended).

If you're talking vintage pieces there are many factors that can affect how it shaves and sometimes simple honing ain't enough to get them where they ought to be. It may take an additional level of skill to correct defects or work around others. Even with new razors they are hand crafted and show variability which translates into different shaving qualities and abilities which brings us back to honing skill.

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Originally Posted by thebigspendur

No, people don't have 300 razors looking for the one. At least I don't have that many. I find there are some few razors out there that just seem to exhibit a combination of qualities that make them outshine others but that doesn't mean any quality razor can't give you a BBS shave. I suspect if you had the time and patience and the skill you could bring all razors up to the highest level but you're really slicing hairs here (pun intended).

If you're talking vintage pieces there are many factors that can affect how it shaves and sometimes simple honing ain't enough to get them where they ought to be. It may take an additional level of skill to correct defects or work around others. Even with new razors they are hand crafted and show variability which translates into different shaving qualities and abilities which brings us back to honing skill.

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Mmm...interesting so sounds like my thought process was off...so the brand of razor doesn't make much if any difference in the quality of shave. Style of razor perhaps but not brand? Then why is there a list of "good" vintage brands of razors? Is that just because typically those brands are easier to get in to shave ready condition?

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Originally Posted by volleykinginnc

Mmm...interesting so sounds like my thought process was off...so the brand of razor doesn't make much if any difference in the quality of shave. Style of razor perhaps but not brand? Then why is there a list of "good" vintage brands of razors? Is that just because typically those brands are easier to get in to shave ready condition?

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I'm still a "beginner" in my own right, but I'd say your on the right track now. There ARE brands that have a better reputation than others...BUT I think it's more a a quality control thing. I hear stuff on here like "XXXX brand razors are good, I have several good shavers from them in my collection. But every YYYYY brand razors, every single one, have been good shavers."

It's my own experience that the STYLE/GRIND of a razor makes more difference than the brand. To date my best shaves are still with my least valuable razor. Some no-name, softer-than-most-steel, 6/8. It's far and away my heaviest grind though.

As far as the list of "good" brands I think that was put up there because there is a list of very very "bad" brands that aren't worth jack. The "good" list is an attempt to help the newly initiated not through their money away. (Don't worry about memorizing the list. Just remember Solingen, Sheffield, and old. If it's old and has Solingen or Sheffield written on the tang somewhere you've got a really good chance of having something worth buying.)

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Originally Posted by volleykinginnc

Mmm...interesting so sounds like my thought process was off...so the brand of razor doesn't make much if any difference in the quality of shave.

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No, that's not correct. There is a discernible difference between the steel of different razors and that does affect the quality of the shave. My suggestion that your better shave from the might have been because of better honing was not meant to discount your original post. The razor, the honing, and the user all affect the quality of the shave.

My 2 cents, FWIW. I am a newbie, but I have 10, 11 maybe 12 razors in rotation (not sure, gotta recount). THere is a variety, and I would say there are definitely differences in the way they shave. 2 are Honemeistered, brand new razors, but I don't get the same shave from them as my HMC Cutlery that I got off eBay and honed myself. The HMC is definitely alot lighter, thinner than the new Dovo and TI, and maybe that is why I like that shave better. I seem to lean towards my thinner, more flexible blades as far as which I think shave me better.
Again though, let me state I am a Noob, and still learning, but these are my observations.

A lot have been saying and i am agree most of them. I will add couple points.
Torrey's could be PITA sometimes.
i have seen Torrey will never take proper edge.
I have a lot Torrey's will take wonderful edge.
Shaving is different story. It is not just depends from 1 factor.
Technique
preparation,
Sharpness of the blade,
Age of the patient.
hair differences ,
angle while you use straight , etc so many factors.
This is why if you want to get great shave you have to count all factors in.

My point is that if you have a quality razor you can get it to a point where you will get the shave you want out of it. When you talk types of steel and grinds that's what gives you the variability in the shaving experience which is the sum total of differing feel and your variability in technique but the end result should be the same.

I think just considering the variability in manufacturing you will see some differences among samples of razors even the same brand and model. In some circumstances you can even things out depending on the variability and whether it's enough to be considered a defect or just a normal minor variance which will not affect your shave, you will know it.

So the bottom line is a quality razor will give you a quality shave no matter the metal or grind or size. Intrinsically these factors make no difference. It's you the shaver who has to deal with the differences which translates to what you prefer and what works better for you.