Newbie straight razor check in

[slicerr2]

Hey guys so I was given my great grandfathers straight razors from when he was a barber. I had a beard for 4 years up to the point I got them and shaved with an electric razor prior to that. I have now shaved with one 5 or 6 times now and am really liking how its going. I nicked myself real good a couple days ago but outside of that its been totally smooth sailing.
I will say there seems to be a huge difference between the 2 razors I was given, the spartacus by thiers issard honestly shaves like crap compared to the other one which is just marked hoppe special made in Germany. I've heard German razors are better but is the difference actually this noticeable or could the French one have something wrong with it? They were both professionally sharpened had to drive an hour to find someone who would do it but I did. So thats my newbie questions id be grateful for any advice.

 

[silverlifter]

Welcome aboard!

When you say "professionally sharpened", was that by someone who shaves with a straight? Because two razors honed by the same skilled honer should really shave equally well.

 

[slicerr2]

Yea I drove to the knifewear shop in Ottawa and had a talk with the guy there and he said he has a personal straight and seemed to know what he was talking about. And like I said the hoppe shaves like butter I honestly don't even need to pull my face taught it just shaves like nothing. The French one I have to hold my skin taught and apply pressure which I dont need to do at all with the hoppe.

 

[DrStrange]

One of my favorite razors is an old Spartacus.
I shaved with it yesterday.

French Steel Week April 22-28

Our fellow member and all-round good guy @silverlifter started Japanese Steel Week, and it’s a shame to not follow up on a good idea. Anyone up for French Steel Week? I’ll start out a couple of days early. Jump in any time. 7/8 Vintage Spartacus, great steel and great grinding. I wish that...

www.badgerandblade.com

 

[slicerr2]

I will admit I have this weird desire to go out and buy more razors just to see for myself if I'm crazy. I already have 2 more at the sharpening shop that I picked up last week so might become my new obsession.

 

[DrStrange]

Yea I drove to the knifewear shop in Ottawa and had a talk with the guy there and he said he has a personal straight and seemed to know what he was talking about. And like I said the hoppe shaves like butter I honestly don't even need to pull my face taught it just shaves like nothing. The French one I have to hold my skin taught and apply pressure which I dont need to do at all with the hoppe.

A guy who knew what he was doing
would know if there was something wrong with the razor,
and also wouldn't have given it back to you not shave ready without saying something.

 

[Dan05]

Awesome that you have hand me downs from grandpa. I wish.

Any photos of them?

 

[slicerr2]

I mean it shaves fine just since I've only shaved with the 2 of them so far it just feels like the one is superior but like I said maybe its in my head.

 

[slicerr2]

Here's some photos the green box is the hoppe black is the thiers and the other 2 are photos I ripped off the Facebook add I bought them from as they are still at the shop

 

[Dan05]

Beautiful. You are a lucky guy

 

[Kaldane]

Might be my imagination or weird lighting, but that Issard looks like it could be a bit uneven between the faces (and I might even guess at the beginning of a "smile"). If you lay the spine and edge on a mirror, can you see any points where the edge isn't making contact and/or do you hear a "click" rocking gently back and forward?

I'm interested to hear what the guy in the shop said. Honers with any experience will bore anyone who'll listen (and many who won't) about natural or synthetic stones and grit progression. It's all I can do to resist throwing grit numbers about here, and I'm something of a novice (coming up on five years).

The mirror test should tell you whether the basic geometry is sound. If it's not, any work on the edge is likely to be unproductive before some pretty brutal work with a diamond plate or similar.

Let us know how it goes. Nice collection, by the way.

 

[Eric_75]

Hello from Nashville, TN.

Welcome to B & B!

 

[DrStrange]

Here's some photos the green box is the hoppe black is the thiers and the other 2 are photos I ripped off the Facebook add I bought them from as they are still at the shop View attachment 2000118View attachment 2000119View attachment 2000120View attachment 2000121

If you had something like two similar razor of equivalent quality,
it's possible that you might prefer one over the other for some minor variation between them
that falls within what different people might prefer.

Bevel angle or cutting angle is something like that.
Most folks prefer somewhere around seventeen degrees.
Some folks pickier than others.
Some folks don't notice so much.

 

[losing]

Welcome to B&B

 

[BigJ]

Lovely razor! And welcome aboard!

 

[Lightcs1776]

There is nothing better than having a razor from your Great Grandfather. Well, I have my Dad’s Bible, but I would love to have the DE razor I watched him shave with as a kid. Some of the issue may be practice/experience, some might be the sharpness of the razor. Keep working at it and enjoy the thought that your Great Grandfather once held that razor.

 

[NickCutlip]

Welcome to the forum !!