What to buy next?

[Yonjuro]

Hi Gentlemen

I have a very good DE and Feather DX and am looking to further enhance my shaving stable and experience

Anyway, I am after a SR that I wont need or want to upgrade soon.

I am setting a budget of around $400 - $500 for the razor and for something hand honed ie - actually shave ready. Probably 6/8 in size?

Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

In my limited knowledge the Dubl Ducks seem highly regarded.

Should I look at new - ie TI or Dovo Silverwing or go refurb??

Any help will be greatly appreciated

Many thanks !

 

[mainaman]

for new razor in your price range,
TI
Wacker
custom.
If you want something that no one else has go for custom razor, you also can
take part in the design of the razor.
TI makes great razors, so does Wacker if you want to go with them.
I do not think Dovo has anything that is in the 400-500 range.

 

[Bacchus]

For your first razor, I would not go with a custom or a really high end razor. You don't know what you like yet! Go vintage, it doesn't matter if it's not the prettiest thing around, if you get into this hobby, you will be getting more
If you do want a high end razor to start off with, see if you can find a Le Grelot, superb razors and I haven't read of someone not liking them yet!

 

[leighton]

Your money is better spent in a high interest bank account while you work out the intricacies of straight razor shaving and then splurge on something that expensive.

What you want are the following:
A restored vintage razor, because they are the best value for your money. Just buy something that appeals to you because it really doesn't matter all that much what you buy at this point. Just buy it from someone known for their edges.
5/8" is what I recommend. A good medium size. Spike v. round point, doesn't really matter. Just have the seller round out the spike a little bit so you don't poke yourself.

A Tony Miller Strop with the practice strop option. Your going to get one eventually, might as well buy it now and use the practice strop for the first few months while you longingly look upon the beauty that is the Tony. Just be sure to make sure you've got your stropping down perfectly or the nice strop is going to get nicked.

And thats it! Yes, only two items; well three, technically. You need no more.

 

[azmark]

Seriously put that money away. I bought a new Dovo and then bought a J.Bagshaw & Sons for $75 and it looks freaking awesome and shaves no different than my new Bismarck.

 

[SiBurning]

Your money is better spent in a high interest bank account while you work out the intricacies of straight razor shaving and then splurge on something that expensive.

Much harder to find these days than a good, cheap straight. Maybe a Greek bank.

 

[Lavaine]

As a new straight shaver, I have to echo Leightons comments. Save your money, buy a vintage straight, and go from there. Once you buy one, you'll probably want to buy another in a different grind, and maybe a third in a different size. By doing this you'll have better idea of what you want when you decide to drop that $500 on something really special. The best part of buying vintage is that, if you take care of your razors, you should be able to sell them and recoup most of your costs to help finance that fancy blade.

 

[Yonjuro]

THanks for all the responses Gents.

Sound advice indeed, I will need to research much more.

I was told by my pop (grandfather) a long long time ago (I am 41) when he was alive to always buy the best tool for a job that you can afford. His reasoning is that this way - you wont need or want to replace it soon.

I gather there is a big learning curve so I am happy that I have asked for advice here before dropping the big bucks.

Maybe I should look at a the previous budget to include a good strop and pastes?

THanks again - this is a great forum

 

[leighton]

Well, its not that the $400 razors are not worth it, its just that you can get similar or the same performance for much less. At $400, a lot of what your paying for is either exclusivity, customizeability, or aesthetics. And newness too, but more on that later.