Hate it when such things happen…
Portland Razor Co. No Longer Producing Straight Razors
- Thread starter Acmemfg
- Start date
<signh>. But I imagine this is NOT a growing sales product category unless one is able to create/rebrand a category (ie, straight razors ease so on). Hmmm
That's too bad. I think they already backed off quite a bit and it's basically just been a side hustle for a while now though. Always liked the company and wanted to try one of their own made razors.
Steve56
Ask me about shaving naked!
I don’t understand the part in parentheses, but to a long time user (I started at 17 and am now over 65, though I did not use SR in my working days) the issue is that modern makers can’t grind a razor as good as the vintage ones, for the most part.
If you’re in to quarter hollows, half hollows, you’re good with modern makers, but if you want a true Filarmonica Especial full hollow grind, lots of luck finding that in a modern razor. Maybe Victor @bluesman 7 or Koraat can do it, but not many others. I do not have one of Victor’s razors but he has a rep for thin hollow grinds.
The problem is that in the ‘olden days’, a young man could apprentice as a razor grinder/maker and work through to retirement with a pension in Germany, England, Sweden, or France. Now they grind until a better gig comes along, so razor grinders never accumulate the long time experience that it takes to make a truly finely ground razor. Vintage vs modern Thiers-Issard grinds are a good example.
I’m unsure if SR use is growing or not, but no argument that the segment is not large. But good razor prices are high and continue to grow, indicating increasing demand. SR shaving has its issues with the general shaving base, namely the three learning curves, shaving, stropping, and honing, and the time to do all that maintenance. That time and maintenance is why I rarely used a SR in my working years, if you’re 20 years old and 20 minutes late, a SR is not the tool of choice.
But once you pay the admission price of a razor, maintenance hone, and strop, you can shave for the rest of your life for the price of soap and aftershave. It is a very ‘green’ way to shave - forever.
I suspect that SR fell out of favor primarily because the average user could not or would not maintain the edge as sharp/comfortable as a DE blade. But DE shavers have their own vocabulary of wounds (weepers, razor rash, razor burn, ‘resting’ your face for a day or two) that don’t exist in properly honed SR world. You won’t hear experienced SR users mentioning any of these wounds.
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I have been using their stainless razors in the shop, and was hoping to get four or five more this year. very sad to see them go.
does anyone know where I could look for another quality razor that can survive the barbicide after stropping without needing touch-up?
does anyone know where I could look for another quality razor that can survive the barbicide after stropping without needing touch-up?
Steve56
Ask me about shaving naked!
Might try Henckels Friodurs if you like stainless, they’re plentiful and prices are reasonable. IDK about the Barbacide.
That's too bad. I got a Portland Razor probably 10 years ago. It's still a great razor. Problem is, once you have one or two straight razors, you really don't need any more (unless you like to collect).
Replying to my own post because I just went to their website to see what they have left. I'm sorry, but the razor I bought (sold out now) they have listed for $500?! I think I paid $150--which according to the inflation calculator is $200 today.
I get that there's not a lot of money to be made selling hand-made straight razors in 2024. But no one is going to buy a $500 razor to try it out for the first time when they can buy a Dovo for $150. I got a Ralf Aust with Olivewood scales about 5 years ago and I think it was $200 (and it is a superb razor).
$500 gets you a full blown custom razor these days from a lot of the usual suspects
Honestly I don't think the level of hollowness has much of an impact on shave quality. I've been shaving with straight razors for past 10+years and have tried everything from a faux frame back to a wedge and if honed the same they will shave the same . Only difference is the stiffness of the blade , which stiffer can be a good thing /more forgiving if you have thick hair growth or are new to sr shaving . The only reason I think they weren't selling well (Portland razor) is the price they charged for level of finish, I know of multiple independent makers that sell arguably nicer razors for around 2-300 and will look way better. I think if they cut their price in half and did better finishing work instead of that 400 grit belt finish they would have done better. If you are going to sell at custom price point it needs to look way more finished.
Steve56
Ask me about shaving naked!
I agree pretty much, but the degree of ‘hollowness’ does affect how the blade feels while shaving. To some, this is a big thing, to others, not so much. I like both Filarmonica 14s and JRazor half hollows, and framebacks.
Also agree that coarse finish = low price, a coarse finish just looks cheap.
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I think part of the problem is they hit the market right during the barbershop boom. There were dozens of makers on the market at that time. They tried to focus on the professional barber’s trade with a razor that could be sterilized and used for detail/edging work too. Market kinda evaporated.
