I've been using my fili 14 DT for a couple months now... Every time I use it there's something special there... I think maybe it's the steel? The geometry? I dunno but it just out shaves everything else I know??! Why?? Care to venture a guess!
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They are typically half- to three-quarter hollow. Please correct me if you have full- or extra-hollow examples.
It's the steel. I read somewhere that when the Arabs invaded Spain they introduced their steel. I forgot the name of the steel but...it is the steel. I have had same size, grind blades from Solingen and other places but the Filarmonica blades are special. People have been talking about them being over priced for years and there is a reason for the high prices; they hone quicker, easier and shave consistently better than any other vintage brand, no matter if it's the 12, 13, or 14. False modesty aside, I've owned hundreds of razors from all over and this has been my experience.
Once in a while there will be a blade that hones as easily and shaves as smoothly as a Filarmonica but the next blade from the same brand won't perform the same way. The craftstmanship and quality are superb and their consistent performance is the proof.
Don't get me wrong there are other great brands such as Le Grelot, F.W. Engels, Puma, Dorko, but if I had to pick one vintage razor to keep it would have to be one from Spain.