So the DE guys are having all the fun over in the safety razor thread with their "best blade" poll. Now, there are so many straights out there, I would never pretend to try and put up a poll with manufacturers or even blade widths. But what about countries/areas of origin? I'll stir up a little controversy here and ask which blades do you think are better?
Tell you what, send me one of each, and I will do a full review all I ask is that I get to keep the one that I like, HEY I am doing all the work here.
Sorry Palmetto, but I just can't make the call, even on something as generic as country of origin. I'm not trying to get out of a decision, it's just that I've got wonderful razors with Sheffield and Solingen steel, not to mention Sweden and the Heljis (or did they source their steel from outside??). I probably tend toward Sheffields I guess - I've got more of them than Solingens. But, my two most favourite razors are a Friodur and a Helji ??? It's like trying to rank my children I just can't do it. Yours wussily, James.
Blair, This is a tough call. I have several vintage blades from each country including the good ol' USA that are fantastic shavers. I also have a Heljestrand from Sweden and it also is a great shaver. Therefore, I find myself not finding a place to vote. I like all my blades but dont favor one more than other. Well...I really like my Shumates but that more of a sentimental value because they were my first blades. I find that German, English, Swedish, Spanish and American vintage blades are fairly easy to hone and keep in good shape. just my humble opinion. Raf
I have to admit, the poll itself is kinda worthless. I mean, there's USA, Swedish, French, Spanish, and Japanese blades that are of good quality and good shavers. But I was hoping to stir up a discussion just like this, so even if you don't vote, let us know which ones you like!! FWIW, I like Sheffield blades a lot, but my two favs are an old Shumate and my grandpa's Torrey.
I like them all, voted German as my majority of my blades are German. I have alot of TI's and like them too. Love my Spanish Filly, just wish I had more of them. Love the English blades too, I guess I vote all the above The American made are sweet too, best of all made by forum members
This poll is begging for an American choice option. The best blade I own is a Chandler custom. Joe put an unbelievable edge on this thing and it impresses me as a superior shaver every time I use it. My vintage U.S. blades (Torrey, Genco, Columbia) shave as well or better overall than my Swedish, Sheffield, or Solingen razors but I love them all.
Oh yeah, that's a beauty alright :drool From a different perspective, I prefer vintage blades to the newer ones I have - admittedly, all my new ones are Dovos. Maybe I'm kidding myself, but the steel feels harder on the hone (they're carbon, not stainless) and the shave is a little "scratchier". So I kinda tend to associate that with Solingen steel, and feel the Sheffield is "softer" somehow.... James.
Of the vintage blades, I like Sheffield, Swedish, and Solingen steels. I don't want to cause a boil, but I don't know as I would compare Dovo's with the rest of vintage Solingen wares. I like the older stuff a little better. I didn't say Dovo's were bad, now, so don't bust my chops over it. I have between 1,200 and 1,500 razors. I actually lost actual count about a year ago. If I had to narrow them down to 10, I'd definitely like one of them to be a "Joe Chandler" custom. He has made significant progress with his attention to detail in the past couple of years and I would prefer one of his over a TI or Italian razor any day. Of the new steels that I have experience with, I prefer ATS-34 which is very close to the Japanese steel 154CM. I use those two steels in my knives as well as my razors.
And my wife thought I was bad when I had over 3000 Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books. I ended up donating most of them to the local library. Hi praise indeed for Joe Chandler. Not enough of you guys to go around. Works of art of hard to come by.
This would appear to be member "Joe C" http://shop.writerferret.com His work looks amazing. I want to get something from him in the future.
