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New to Straights- What should I look for?

tlentz

tlentz

Hey guys, so now I am tempted to find my first straight razor. I don't have much in the way of dollars to spend so I am wondering what should I look for at garage sales, antique stores, etc...? What brands are good and which ones should I avoid? Also what should be a deal breaker when looking at an old straight? Thanks
:straight::straight::straight::straight:
 
Prof. Moriarty

Prof. Moriarty

Whippeddog for your first straight razor, especially if you are strapped for cash. Get a sight unseen razor along with the Poor Mans strop kit and you are set :thumbup:
 
Merk

Merk

Hi, I am in the same boat as tlentz. I checked out Whippeddog, besides the 2 $100+ DOVO str8's, does it matter which of the other str8's I get? besides the "flawed". I would rather not go with that one. But of the other ones to choose, is there any suggestions for a 1st time straight shaver?
 
Prof. Moriarty

Prof. Moriarty

Merk said:
Hi, I am in the same boat as tlentz. I checked out Whippeddog, besides the 2 $100+ DOVO str8's, does it matter which of the other str8's I get? besides the "flawed". I would rather not go with that one. But of the other ones to choose, is there any suggestions for a 1st time straight shaver?
Click to expand...
I would just go with this one http://www.whippeddog.com/products/view/sight-unseen-razor and then with THIS. It is the cheapest best way to get into straight shaving.
It is how I started and the poor mans strop kit kept me set for a good half year.
 
dpetrzelka

dpetrzelka

For a first straight you want to have absolute confidence that it is a shave ready edge - that way you have the greatest chance for success in those early shaves.

I would strongly recommend the Whipped Sight Unseen as well - its how many of us started. The Poor Man's strop is also a wonderful place to start for your first strop - you get the strop, balsa and CrOx. That will keep you in business for quite a while.

On that note, I would not recommend starting with Gold Dollar - they have their place, and are a great canvas for future work when you get into honing/customizing. I have several, but wouldn't start there.
 
tlentz

tlentz

Thanks for the tips. What about old ones at antique shops or estate sales? Any particular brands? DOVO????
 
smalltank

smalltank

make sure NO rust/deep pitting (very dark spots) anywhere...and NO damage on blade (chips/dings)..try to keep the handle in as good condition as it can be..other than this..you should be just fine to buy any razors...
 
Slash McCoy

Slash McCoy

I freehand dog rockets
Larry's "cosmetically flawed" sight unseen razors are perfectly okay for shaving. In fact I would recommend that route if you are tight for money.

flea market and garage sale finds are typically waaaaaay overpriced. The seller generally doesn't realize what a piece of crap it is that he is trying to get twenty bucks for. Anyways, razors found in the wild practcally never are in shave ready condition. For that matter, new razors are never in shave ready condition, unless the vendor states that it is, and even then there is doubt. So pretty much any razor you buy will need to be honed. Larry's Whipped Dogs are honed and shave ready. Larry hones other people's razors, cheap too, by the way. Also there are plenty of guys on the board who will hone your razor if you pay postage both ways. If not, a ten spot will usually seal the deal.

Things to watch out for...
CRACKS. Any crack in the blade is an abolute deal killer. Any crack in the scales, likewise, unless you intend to re-scale.
BIG CHIPS IN THE EDGE. Small chips are easily honed out. Big chips are time consuming and will significantly reduce the size of your razor. Plus hardly anyone will take the time to hone it.
Heavy rust or pitting near or at the edge. (some surface rust or corrosion is acceptable.)
Made in Pakistan or any other 3rd world country.

Most razors made in Germany, England, Sweden, and France will be good steel. Most razors that are at least 50 years old made in the US are going to be good steel. Most Japanese razors will be excellent. Any of these great razors can of course be damaged beyond use or repair, though.

Keep an eye on the BST forum here. Often something is offered for sale that will suit you and your wallet.
 
Slash McCoy

Slash McCoy

I freehand dog rockets
tlentz said:
Thanks for the tips. What about old ones at antique shops or estate sales? Any particular brands? DOVO????
Click to expand...

I have had 2 out of 2 bad experiences with Dovo "Best". Dovo "Special" is ok. Premium models such as the Prima Klang and the Bismarck are quite good, generally.

Other brands? There are at least a hundred decent brands. At one time, there simply weren't many garbage razors or "razor shaped objects" made. The ones that were, have long since been tossed out in the trash. Most vintage razors, if undamaged, are good. Damage can consist of chips, cracks, pitting, or decades of bad honing. Ordinary wear can be quite heavy and still the razor can be good, if the wear is even and proportional. I have razors that are probably half as wide as they were when new. You know what? They still hone up good and still shave good. A razor honed by the same hand for 40 or more years can show a lot of way out re-shaping. Often this can be fixed, at the expense of considerable steel. Razors honed on narrow hones can develop a frowning edge. Razors honed by someone who lets the shoulder ride up on the hone can develop a taper. Razors honed by someone who is in a hurry or whatever can develop a smile. Razors honed with the hone resting on a table or bench sometimes develop a twist. The razor is not actually twisted but the decades of uneven wear can create the same result. Razors can be severely damaged by someone who knows nothing about razors picking up their deceases grandfather's razor and attempting to "sharpen" it. Kids drop them. Ignorant people open packages with them. They are sometimes stored in damp places for 30-40 years. But in good hands, many of these razors are salvageable, if the salvor cares to take enough time, and is satisfied with sometimes a much smaller razor.

Newer (less than 40 years old) razors of good quality are made by only a handful of brands. Most razor makers went out of business during or after WWII. The ones that are still making quality razors include, Revisor, Boker, Thiers Issard, new kid on the block Hart, Dovo (they do make some lemons, but they have some good ones, too.) and I can't think of any others but I am sure there are a few more. There are also small concerns enjoying a sort of boutique trade, with limited production and great attention to detail, often one man shops or one master razorsmith and a handful of helpers such as Maestro Livi or Herr Wacker but these razors typically start at around $400 or so. The newer high quality razors are unlikely to be found in flea markets or antique stores. Most new razors you find in the wild are going to be garbage razors. Any new razor under $50 with the conditional exception of the Gold Dollar and its ilk, is in the garbage category. The cheapest currently produced brand of non-junk razors I can think of is Giesens & Forsthoff, and their razors start in the high $50's.

So, obviously someone just starting out is best off sticking with vintage razors. Anyway, there is a major cool factor to shaving with a 100+ year old razor. And there are still enough of them floating around that they are pretty cheap. A lot of fairly nice fully restored razors go in the $100 range. A lot of fixer uppers go on the bay, as is, for $10-$20, but you need to know what dealkiller details to look for. BST is always worth a look, and if you don't see anything that suits you, then the Whipped Dog is your newbie one stop shop. Just remember if the vendor does not specifically say that the razor is shave-ready, you are almost certainly going to need someone to hone it.
 
oakeshott

oakeshott

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