Straight razors - what's your experience with them?

[Sid Post]

I know this topic has probably been beat to death before but, my search so far has not been successful. If you have a link to a previous thread, please email me or add it here.

I have been looking for a straight razor. The few web sites I have found really didn't help me tell what difference there are in a particular brand (and the models) or, what differences in brands there were in general.

What brands or custom makers should I be looking at?
What features (steel) should I look for?
How much "kit" do I need to keep it sharp?

My primary intended use is for trimming hair on the back of my neck, around my ears and, other places a traditional razor doesn't cover well. This would most likely be a once a week Sunday morning thing when I get a haircut and attend to other non-daily grooming needs.

Should I just get a good, very thin, custom utility knife for this task? My bigger fixed blades are all to unwieldy for such delicate work (at least in my hands) and, my experience with pocket folders has not been good (due to poor edge geometry which results in tough uneven cuts).

Thanks!

 

[tmzinn1348]

Sid,

I have collected a few straight razors and have used them
off and on for years.

The best ones that I found of recent manufacture are made
by Henckles. Of good quality also are the Hess 44s from Hess
Hair Milk Laboratories in St. Paul Minn. I don't know if Hess
is still in business, you can web search to find out.

Probably the best hones for your kit would be Swaty hones,
however they have not been manufactured for many years. The
man who formulated them died and took the recipe with him to
the grave.

Second best are #00 Frictionite hones. Again, I don't know
if they are still being made. What with the barbers getting
away from straight razors over the years, a lot of stuff
has been discontinued.

I have in a pinch used a good translucent black hard Arkansas
rock for final honing.

The other thing to get would be a good strop. Some of the
knife sales web sites sell them. The ones with the horse
hide leather are the best.

You may try to locate a Frank Swaty hone on the Internet, Ebay
and the likes. Be prepared to pay premium prices for an undamaged
hone. Don't get one that is damaged.

I have charged a leather strap with jeweler's rouge and
had pretty good result, but don't overdo it, is will
roll the foil edge.

Good luck and let me know how you make out.

Thomas Zinn

 

[Jeff Clark]

I mostly buy razors at garage sails and flea markets. I got my Swaty hone on ebay a couple months ago.

 

[swede79]

I have a DOVO Bismark, and am thinking of buying an upgraded DOVO or Thiers. I love using the razor, but it takes practice.

I use the Spyderco Ultra Fine ceramic bench stone for honing, it works great. The strop I bought the the knife center, and use the J55 (or 56) paste.

It's lots of fun, but takes lots of practice. The old DOVO will bite hard when you start daydreaming....

 

[shengq]

It's great to see straight razor being talked. I am a fan of straight razor too. One question, is it still usable if an old razor hone's edges (not surface) were chipped? Thank you!

Sheng

 

[swede79]

As long as your honing stroke doesn't come near it, probably it's ok. If it forces you to change the way that you hold your razor during the hone, you might want to think twice. These blades are thin and delicate, and every once in a while I hone it badly, and have to take off the wire edge and re-do the hone. And that's with a good stone (and a lousy technique)!