What Straight Razor Did You Use Today?

I would say it's a lot like a Fili 14. Physically, it's just as big, maybe a little heavier. Probably a bit smoother, it does take a nice edge. Full hollow, and he grinds these by hand on a grinding wheel to a paper thin edge. Pretty amazing. I've had it under magnification and it never shows signs of any delamination after honing.

I do enjoy it, but they just don't hold their value. When I commissioned it I did so realizing I'd never be able to sell it off unless I was willing to choke down a huge loss. I could maybe get within a quarter of what I paid for it. There are a handful of very passionate LiviLovers in the world, and they simply go straight to the source when they feel the need to add another. Any other razor I have or have had, I feel if it ever came time to sell, I could recoup my money. Not this razor (OK, and probably not the tamahagane Iwasaki that was damaged in The Great Display Case Failure of 2014, though this is no fault of the razor).

Customs are not the way to go in terms of collectability. You get a custom because you want to have an example of that makers work and are willing to accept the financial consequences. One will likely never get their full investment back from the resale of a custom. I do have a razor commissioned with Tim Zowada, only because I love his razors and must have one before I die. I'll also add a Waterhouse sooner than later. But these will definitely conclude my acquisition of "Custom" straights.

Too many good NOS J-Wests out there!

 

8/18/15 SOTD
Two and a half days’ growth
Prep: Hot shower
Razor: Ontario Cutlery Co. 5/8 (Muted) Spike Point
Strop: Drygulch Chromexcel/ Linen
Soap: The Shave Den Iced Yin Yang (Lavender Lime with Menthol)
Brush: Omega 1066 Boar
Post Shave: Cold Water Rinse, Alum Block, Thayer’s Witch Hazel
Aftershave: The Shave Den Splash Iced Yin Yang (Lavender Lime with Menthol)

Apparently, you can shave on a razor with an incorrectly set bevel, but it takes extra passes and pressure, and isn’t all that comfortable. Back to the stones.

 

Yup, back to 1K. Get that bevel right!

 

Aye! Everything beyond the bevel set is simply stone-scraping if the bevel be off....

(don't know why I'm talking like a pirate.....matey)

 

Yarrrr!!!!!

 

Another day, another Wostenholm blade….This one is of comparable size to yesterday's big blade, but unlike that wedge, this one is full hollow grind.
Difference? Both in feel and audible feedback. This razor is a noise maker, requiring only a very light touch. Both provide extremely smooth shaves. Two different paths io achieve the same goal: darn near-BBS in three passes.

 

SOTD

Hot towel
Proraso green
Simpson S1 best badger brush
DD Goldedge SR
Clubman talc
Clubman original

3 passes for a dfs BBS shave
2x wtg
1 atg

 

8/20/15 SOTD
Two days’ growth
Prep: Hot shower
Razor: Ontario Cutlery Co. 5/8 (Muted) Spike Point
Strop: Drygulch Chromexcel/ Linen
Soap: Jabonman Lima-Incienso (Menthol)
Brush: Omega 1066 Boar
Post Shave: Cold Water Rinse, Alum Block, Thayer’s Witch Hazel
Aftershave: Pinaud Clubman with Menthol added

 

Big Frio bladed razor…..

 

6/8 Ern Crown and Sword
Seifenglatt Versailles
Rooney 25mm Silvertip
Soap Commander Love balm

 

Love the blade on that ERN, Lou!
I've had my eyes out for an ERN Crown & Swords in good shape...but my search has only been semi-fruitful!
If the blade is decent, the scales were shot; or nice scales and a tweaked blade...
This one was not too bad, but it needed new scales (no c&s emblem) and I prefer the square point on this size of blade...

 

SWMBO don't want me to use straights any more. Seems I have some scratches near the ears from my square and spike tips. So when she left I pulled out the. Goldedge.

 

What I am hearing there is that your SWMBO is asking you to practice more with your square tips, so you can avoid the scratches by the ears in the future. Is that how you took that?

 

Thinking maybe muting tips, and practice with them during my work schedule when she don't see me. And round tips while we have close interaction .
I need to go back to single pass anyway, starting to break out again.
The major culprit is the W&B Bow. I shaved with it the day before and made 3 passes.

 

Having completed it's California vacation at Kevin's home, along with my FEON in the return box he was kind enough to send his Otto Deutsch Hans for a seven day Iowa vacation (an unlikely destination, I know) so I can give it a spin!

Firstly, I must say I've always wanted an ODH, but generally they are pretty rough, as green celluloid seems to be particularly susceptible to celluloid rot and I'd like to find a nice one. So I've never gotten to shave with an ODH. Kevin's example is gorgeous. Excellent condition, I would say. So I'll be keeping it dry, cool (no warmer than room temp) and in a dark place (a sealed storage box with desiccant packs) during it's visit.

What first strikes me about the razor, is the similarity in workmanship, fit, and finish as my Dubl Duck Wonderedge. Similar weight, similar balance, very similar "feel". I gave it 20 strokes on Neil Miller linen, and 30 strokes on Neil Miller Cordovan (I miss Neil...). Used MdC Fougere as it's makes about my favorite shaving cream. Lathered with my Rubberset 400 with the original boar knot. If you ever score an Rubberset 400 with the original knot and it appears to be in serviceable condition, KEEP THAT KNOT! Literally the best knot I've ever experienced.

I did my standard two pass shave. Almost no touch up required. Even on that weird part of my neck where my beard brows at like a 65 degree angle. No cuts, nicks, weepers. Smooth and sweet. When finished, no redness or irritation. The big test I've found when I think I've had a good shave, is to use a heavily mentholated alcohol based AS splash, in this case, I selected Alt Innsbruck. Zero burn. Just a gentle cooling followed by that divine AI scent. Final result: doggone near BBS after two passes without touch ups. By my standards, this was an excellent shave, and Kevin has a seriously smooth edge on this baby. I look forward to the next six!

 

Mike, I'm happy both razors arrived on time and intact. Also glad you had a good initial test drive. The ODH is very reminiscent of the DDs and vintage C-MONs. If you like that style of razor, the Hans is bound to please. Look forward to your reviews.

 

Jr Torrey. I recently traded a 7/8 wade and butcher for this. Being from mass I feel the need to have torrey razors up the wahzoo. This is by far heaviest blade I have and the hone wear is rough. Figured it's just because it's a near wedge.

 

Revisor 8/8

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Shave with the razor I learned to shave with a 7/8 Herder

 

Early morning shave with one of my favorite razors….