Hi guys just to say thank you all very much for your replys so and if you think of anything else please keep it comming. I think I will be saving my money and buying a custom made razor I completely agree with what you saying about buying a few and trying them but I will have to save for this and I would rather have one amazing totaly unique razor than a few run of the mill ones. At least that way when I show my mates there a bit of a story behind it. Maybe when I'm a bit older and my kids have grown up i cam buy some to start a collection. Marverel thank you for your input koraat looks amazing I am interested to know I'm assuming you have some straight razors and you now have a feather ss I wondered how the two compare? I switched from bic disposables about 3 yrs ago and I haven't looked back and haven't used a different razor since I shave every 3 days with my feather. As always thank you everybody for your input you guys are amazing like I say anything else please keep it comming Thanks Nathan Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk
@nathan It depends on how much you want to spend. You can get a brand new, shave ready gold dollar straight razor for $10 and under on ebay. Some are good and some are quite hard to hone. They are a real mixed bag...but cheap. If you want to spend $30-70, you can get a vintage razor. No names are obviously the cheaper side, but I would recommend a Wade & Butcher, thiers-issard, or wostenholm. For around $50-$100, you can get a really nice vintage or even a brand new top maker like dovo (though it would be a lower end dovo...which are still quite nice). Vintage names to look for would be thiers-issard, wostenholm, dubl duck, puma, and wade and butcher. Your most expensive route will be to buy a new "fancy" straight like the spartacus or a really big (7/8+) vintage razor. I have a vintage thiers-issard spartacus that i will sell very reasonably, however, if that's what you are looking for. Just pm me
Well - since you are familiar with a Feather shavette I guess you'll feel comfortable with a straight razor relatively quickly. I wouldn't say a straight razor is easier to use, but I think it is a bit more forgiving. The Feather blades are scary sharp and punish your mistakes promptly (had to learn that the hard way ) With a straight razor I can use a bit too much pressure or screw up the angle slightly without turning the shave into a bloodbath. On the other hand the Feather shavette is more manoeuvrable. Most straight razor blades are much longer and you'll have to get used to moving a bigger chunk of steel across your face. .
Banking on a custom razor may be the way to go. But I do want to clear up that you would not be stuck with "run of the mill" razors if you spend $40 - $80. Here's two examples that I recently bought. You can Google both and you'll see they are anything but run of the mill. By the way, both of these are either NOS or virtually unused. It just takes patience and regular looking around on eBay. Razor #1 cost me just under $25 delivered. It's a 13/16 AA Suzumasa. It's a Japanese razor. A quick look Google search will give you an idea of the quality: Razor #2 is a vintage 1920s 7/8 Kropp. Again, you can do some basic research for the quality and reputation. This one cost $85 delivered to my door. Good luck no matter what you decide to do.
If that Japanese Job isn't Swedish Steel I will Eat My Kilt..Those Kropps are Superb Shavers..They Don't get Seen Much in Forums & Don't have the Accolade of say a W & B but they are the Cream of the Crop...Kropp a Cream of the Crop..I Should have been a Poet.. Billy..
Go for it, save up and get the custom of your dreams. It's true you can get some great vintage razors cheap but I'm a fan of the modern razors. It's nice having something unique and it can become a family heirloom.
Keithmax that is my plan save some money and buy something that is truly Unique And individual to me. Now all I have to do is chose I can't stop looking at koraats website there are so many choices. I can't stop looking. Hahahaha. Reptile point looks very interesting. Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk
If you have decided to go with a custom...here are two pieces of advice: 1) Don't concern yourself with money. This is the absolute most expensive route to go, and if $500+ will make you or break you, then just forget about it. 2) You are realistically going to have to look in the $500-$3000 dollar range (of course, that is only a jumping off point...you can certainly pay much more), so only get what you absolutely LOVE. Their are some gorgeous ones out there. Make sure to go with a top craftsman. Here are some of my suggestions of the best razor artists and some websites: Jacob Ray Joe Edson Robert Williams Mastro Livi Joe Chandler Tim Zowada Charlie Lewis Bill Ellis Devon Thomas Brian Brown Cedric Christ ( Ali’s Blade ) Butch Harner Bob Allman Josh Earle Alex Jacques Max Sprecher Kenny Powel Buddel ( fine-razors.de ) Jenes Sandor Snail Forge - Bruno Shave Smith Koraat Knives http://customstraightrazors.com/wordpress/ http://shavesmith.com/custom-straight-razors/ http://jacobrayrazors.com http://customstraightrazors.com/wordpress/
Thanks for your recommendations dandy. I'm sure the sky is the limit with razors if you wanted to go crazy. I wasn't planning on spending 3k hahahahahahahahahahaa. Looking on koraat without any changes it's 220 euros I think. I have no reason to dobt you and you clearly know ur stuff if I need to spend that much maybe I will just get one off the shelf. Thanks again Nathan Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk
Ok so just had a quick look on koraat at the sort of thing I'm looking for and the price has come out at about 330 gbp. There was a lot of good reviews for koraat and dandy you even recomend them in your last post however I'm a little confused as that's no where near the money you were talking about?? So would that still be a good razor.?? It says on their website. All our products have the same quality standards, independant of the price. A low priced razor will shave as good as a high priced one. Now I'm confused??? Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk
Don't be confused - 300 £ or € sounds about right to me. Though you surely CAN spend a fortune on a custom razor, you don't HAVE to, to get a good one It all comes down to the question of what level of custimization you want. Titanium Scales or damaskene steel for the blade, maybe some jewel or mother of pearl adornments, add to that a bit of filework o the spine ... stuff like that can easily triple or quadruple the price. But all that isn't necessary if you just want to get a unique razor that shaves well. I am very happy with my slightly modified Basic II Koraat for 180 €
All the ones I listed are have high quality blades. Depending on the amount of "custom" and "rarity, " along with materials used and supply/demand...the price can go way up. 330gbp is about equal to $410 in American dollars, so that's about in line for what you would pay. They are on the lower end of what you could pay, but they do have some that are more expensive too. Some of those guys like Robert Williams and Jacob Ray can get real expensive. I was just trying to give you a reasonable range of prices and a strong list of custom razor makers that you could trust. If you get the time, I would recommend going through that list I gave you just to make sure you are getting exactly what you want. Some of their creations are breathtaking.
I will be sure to have a look and thanks again for your input. You are clearly a fountain of knowledge when it comes to cut throat razors. Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk
I am but a drop in this ocean in this forum. There are some seriously knowledgeable individuals on "The Shave Den."
been looking for a kropp like that.know a ebay seller that put them on auction,but they go for around 200$ and above. 85$ was a steal
I thought so, too - couldn't believe it. So was the Suzumasa. Lately there's been any number of fantastic razors going begging. I'll PM you a vintage one I can't believe hasn't been snatched. I'd take it but have one very similar to it already.
I spent 265 Euro + shipping for my Koraat. The razor is excellent and Ulrik is a pleasure to work with, he will send you a pic of the finished razor to make sure it is what you wanted. The big bucks come when you want damascus or special scale material. Here are some of the pics Ulrik sent me: I have several custom PRC razors ranging in price from $300 - $650 + shipping. The expensive one attached below is made of Damascus steel and honey horn scales. I am very happy with my PRC razors too. When I ordered the Damascus razor I asked for a 7/8 but when they finished it was 6/8 so they asked if that was OK or should they make a new one for me, I asked for them to make a new 7/8. The did that without question so I can say their service is good. They just have a longer lead time than Koraat. If you want to drop big bucks you can with a Mastro Livi. I have one of his non-custom razor and it shaves like a dream. His custom razors are $$$$$.
