Are 'Filie's' worth it?

[Yorkie]

I've seen some Filamonica Doble Temple for $105 plus postage (works out at about £60 odd plus postage)

Are the worth this price?

Will the scales be original? They look like wood ones and aren't sure if these have been added (attached a pic)

Also seen some Filies with black handles but they aren't as good condition going for $55 plus postage (about £40) and some Henckels for $85 (about £54)

The scales look lovely on the wooden Filies but the price of the black ones suits me more (prepared to spend some time refurbing them myself) or would the Henkels be better?

Cheers gents.

I'm new to all this, but wouldn't mind some decent straights to get going as the ones I've got (Kropp and J.M.Smith) are for practising my honing on.

 

[mainaman]

#12 is 5/8 I think, the one with black scales has the original scales , the one with wood(?) looks like a rescale job.
Recently someone posted they bought #10 (4/8 I think) on the IBay for ~ $80.
The wood handle Fili is in much better shape than the other one looking @ the pictures.

 

[professorchaos]

Fillies are good razors, but probably not the $200+ they are getting on Ebay.

 

[mdunn]

Fillies are good razors, but probably not the $200+ they are getting on Ebay.

i agree, youre paying a fair bit extra just for all the 'hype'

 

[gugi]

I like the no.12 on your first picture - the scales are not original though.
The Kropp is really good, even if you don't think much of it because you paid only few quid.

 

[GsSixgun]

It is pretty hard to get the SMOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooth of a Vintage NOS #13 or #14 Filly...

I say that with utmost confidence as I shaved with Gugi's #13 Doble Temple this morning

 

[Yorkie]

i agree, youre paying a fair bit extra just for all the 'hype'

Hmm, these ones I mentioned were well under the $200 mentioned. As said, one was $105 (with the wood scales) and another was $85 but a bit scruffy.

Just had a shave with my Kropp after honing it on my dad's oilstone (far better than mine). Face is a bit sore as I haven't mastered honing yet and I don't have a strop only a smooth leather belt. Ended up using my normal multi bladed modern thing but finished off using my Smith which feels very different to the Kropp. The noise it makes is a lot higher and it's a lighter touch - dunno how else to explain it.

Going to persevere with the straights and try to get them better honed (will have to find a strop I think)

 

[professorchaos]

The oil stone is probably not fine enough for finishing a razor. You might be able to shave off of it, but shaving comfortably is another proposition altogether. Of course that depend largely on personal preference...

 

[Yorkie]

The oil stone is probably not fine enough for finishing a razor. You might be able to shave off of it, but shaving comfortably is another proposition altogether. Of course that depend largely on personal preference...

Hmm, maybe I'm better off investing in a proper stone for straights and a strop and working on my Kropps instead.. Will have to read up more on Strops.

I managed to get a really nice edge on the back part of the blade and the tip so much that I could nicely take the hairs off the back of my arm (now have a bald spot) but not very well in the middle.(chucked a pic of my Kropps in for comparison)

This is still all very new to me but I intend to get there in the end..

 

[gugi]

Hmm, maybe I'm better off investing in a proper stone for straights and a strop and working on my Kropps instead.. Will have to read up more on Strops.

your best option actually is to have somebody with the hones and the experience to use them do it for you.
and yeah would be nice to get a proper strop, although I have no idea how to go about it in the UK.

 

[Ookla The Mok]

I agree that someone with experience on the hone is your best bet off the bat. Additionally, razors honed by GsSixgun can split atoms. **i have proof**

 

[gugi]

Additionally, razors honed by GsSixgun can split atoms. **i have proof**

Me too, and in two days I will shave with the 'Sharpest edge Glen has ever put on a razor' (sorry Erick, the title now belongs to another razor ).

 

[Thebigspendur]

A few years ago you couldn't give them away and then Classic started selling "the last ones" for about $100 and that started it.

Like anything else sure they shave great but so do a lot of other vintage razors that are much cheaper. Just as a comparison I have a 7/8s max Dornier that if you shaved one side of your face with a Filly and one with Max you couldn't tell the difference and it less than half the price.

 

[Yorkie]

I like the no.12 on your first picture - the scales are not original though.
The Kropp is really good, even if you don't think much of it because you paid only few quid.

I've got a cellar full of equipment at my disposal care of my dad (used to work for BREL here in York in the good old days) including a drawer full of oilstones of which I pinched the best one the other day as mine is hollowed from sharpening wood chisels. My technique isn't good enough yet or I'm doing something wrong so I'm going to stop honing my straights in case I end up ruining them. Also the more I try and end up with results I'm not happy with the more I'll get fed up with them so I'm swaying to the idea of sending my Kropp off to Razor Sharpening UK get sorted after Royal Snail has had its weeks holiday... (postal strike) Just bought myself a brush and cream (from Morrisons of all places) so just need a strop and fleabay will do me fine for that. Once I get one I'll be sorted.

I'll probably end up making some scales for my Kropp as the ones on it are cracked at the back pin. trouble is I haven't got the time.. It'll have to be a project for another day.

Think I'll stay with the Kropp for now if folks think they are decent enough, saves me a few quid anyway unless something really nice catches my eye..

Thanks for all the replies

 

[gugi]

that's a good idea. it would've been my choice as well.

 

[Lo'Tek]

I love my Fill., but I agree that I've had a good shave from so called "lesser quality" razors. Though I will eventually upgrade my scales to burl or stone or something else as well. I feel it should raise the value IMO. I think orig. Filly scales are cheap looking. I would pay high for another Iwasaki though.