A1 SS - What's The Deal Here?

[mjclark]

Picked up this stainless steel straight from you know where brand new for £2.50.
I got it for honing practice and obviously wasn't expecting much.
But actually it's rather nice - 6/8 hollow ground, no embossing, no etching, no stabiliser and no jimps, with chunky plastic scales.
And almost shave ready.
After a decent test shave tonight I'm going to refinish it and am hoping for a pretty finei result.

But how can something this cheap and basic be so good?

 

[Seraphim]

It's easy- because razors are simply heat treated hunks if steel. It's not that difficult to bang out something halfway decent.

 

[SliceOfLife]

Where is this You know where?

 

[mjclark]

It's easy- because razors are simply heat treated hunks if steel. It's not that difficult to bang out something halfway decent.

Ah ha! What with this and all the schooling in honing I'm getting, it really feels like theuu mysteries of straights are being revealed to me.
The initiatory secret seems to be that actually it's really accessible

Where is this You know where?

Everything begins with an "e"!
In UK there's loads of these "A1 Quality German" razors on there

 

[mjclark]

Just had a full shave with the A1.
This is my first experience with a stainless steel straight and I'm pleasantly surprised.
Putting a good finish on the blade only took a little more perserverance than with the carbon steels and I got a nice edge on it giving a crisp efficient shave.
It didn't leave my skin with the nice exfoliated and massaged feel I get from carbon steel, but it was a good clean result.
Also, as I was wiping the blade I realised I was a lot less anxious about corrosion, which is a useful bonus.
Wonder if I should get a Gold Dollar next...

 

[Puerco]

Is this really stainless? Because a lot of Gold Dollars are also advertised as being stainless steel and they are not.

 

[mjclark]

Is this really stainless? Because a lot of Gold Dollars are also advertised as being stainless steel and they are not.

Yes this one is stainless as my face could tell you.
I would much rather have carbon steel if possible because it leaves my skin with a much better finish, and it will be a lot easier for my inexperienced honing skills.
So if Gold Dollars are carbon then that is a plus point for me and now I want one more