Straight Razor for Shaving?

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My safety razor shaving experience from USMC boot camp in 1970 was not positive. Shaving for inspection HURT. But maybe it was cheap government issued razor and blades. I don't know. As soon as I could get better razors, I did.

Today I shave with a not top of the line multi blade razor - three blade Gillette Mach III. They last as long as anything and are about 40% less at the cash register.
 
The three blade Mach three was my standby forever but the switched production of the blades to somewhere different and the quality is garbage compared to 10 years ago. It caused me to go on a mission looking for better. I’m going to order a Viking single blade holder. I do want to try a straight razor but the cost of entry seems quite high for me right now. I’m buying up ammo and fixing the house for now.
 
I used to use a straight razor. I first tried it using a German blade from Solingen or someplace, which I bought for a reasonable high price. I could never get it sharp enough though. Perhaps the steel wasn't as good as the guy made out. But I was 20 at the time and didn't know much about steels.

Later I used the disposable blades in a razor designed for hairstylists. It was still technically a straight razor though, and I think I still have it, but blades became harder to find. It worked well though and the blades were cheap and seemed to last longer than a modern safety razor design.

For the 18 months I spent living in a tipi at a wolf sanctuary in the mountains of southern Colorado, I shaved once every week or so with an $11 carbon steel Mora. As I also used it to cut up dead horse, cows and roadkill to feed out, I cleaned it, sharpened it on a DMT credit card sized sharpener, and stropped it on my Filson belt before every shave. For a cheap knife it did a fantastic job.

Sounds like BS, but that's the genuine truth. Never anything more than a small nick here or there.
 
WrongHanded said:
I used to use a straight razor. I first tried it using a German blade from Solingen or someplace, which I bought for a reasonable high price. I could never get it sharp enough though. Perhaps the steel wasn't as good as the guy made out. But I was 20 at the time and didn't know much about steels.

Later I used the disposable blades in a razor designed for hairstylists. It was still technically a straight razor though, and I think I still have it, but blades became harder to find. It worked well though and the blades were cheap and seemed to last longer than a modern safety razor design.

For the 18 months I spent living in a tipi at a wolf sanctuary in the mountains of southern Colorado, I shaved once every week or so with an $11 carbon steel Mora. As I also used it to cut up dead horse, cows and roadkill to feed out, I cleaned it, sharpened it on a DMT credit card sized sharpener, and stropped it on my Filson belt before every shave. For a cheap knife it did a fantastic job.

Sounds like BS, but that's the genuine truth. Never anything more than a small nick here or there.
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I buy it. Mora will take an edge.
 
Well I did a thing...and bought a Viking Blade safety razor from Amazon the other day. It came today and I just got finished shaving with it and it was truly a different experience. I have been using a brush and soap method with a disposable razor for the past 4 years and can tell a difference when I use the can cream vs. my soap.

I think I found my new weekend shave routine, and possibly my new weekday routine if I can get the hang of it. Next up is the shavette with disposable blades to see if I like it.
 
I'm a semi straight razor guy. I wanted away from Gillette since they're antigun and tried other big names but didn't like them. Then came Harry's. The neat thing is their cartridges have a straight edge on the front end to use for hard to get spots. Available in CVS and Costco around here so you don't need to subscribe.
 
alfsauve said:
I'm a semi straight razor guy. I wanted away from Gillette since they're antigun and tried other big names but didn't like them. Then came Harry's. The neat thing is their cartridges have a straight edge on the front end to use for hard to get spots. Available in CVS and Costco around here so you don't need to subscribe.
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Those nick the mess out of me for some reason
 
I haven’t ever had to change the blade on my Wahl clippers and I cut my hair with them too. Doesn’t give you that baby smooth face but never so much as a nick on the face.

 
Golfanaticshooter said:
What the hell is the matter with you people?! Dollar Shave Club anyone? Lol.
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Hasn't been a dollar for years. Even then, it was only a dollar a razor if you got their cheapest product.

I like safety razors, but there are a couple of places (underneath my nose, chin) where they don't work for me.
 
hso said:
Yep, I've shaved with a knife for a couple of weeks, but just to do it instead of necessity. It certainly illustrated what type edge would do the best job. The simple Mora made it easiest. I have used my SAK as well.
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Getting an SAK that sharp is impressive work! :thumbup:
 
It’s funny to talk shaving with a knife here. I tried it with my ZT0456. That’s actually part of what spawned this idea in my mind.
 
bdickens said:
Old fashioned safety razor here. Oh, the money and landfill space that would have been saved if I had started with one!

Shaves way better than any of those multi blade disposables.
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Not in my experience. My best safety razor shaves are on par with a Mach 3 or 5, only the Machs don't nick my chin, or shave the skin above my lip if I press firmly! :what:

I do save a lot of money by doing most of the shaving with the safety, and using disposables for just a few areas (chin, under my nose, neck).

John
 
I've never found a disposable I really liked. I figure I've done pretty sell on the 'landfill' part of that by using the same Gilette Sensor Excel for the past ~35 years. I also try to get as much use out of a blade as I can.

I tried the straight razor. Not for me. I tried a safety razor. Also not for me. Maybe if I'd have stuck with it a few more times, but I'm not all that interested in different kinds of shaving.
 
Dont know if I want to try a straight razor . Lately I've been using a safety razor I used to use the disposable ones, those get expensive , and have lots of waste. I had an electric for a while that was rough in the hide! Now Im using a shaving mug , soap and a brush , and my safety razor its a good shave reasonably priced .
 
460Shooter said:
Spent about $80 and got myself a Parker butterfly safety razor and 100 Feather razor blades (real sharp). Just tried it and it works great. Managed only 2 nicks.

Think I made the right choice.
View attachment 1071091
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If you keep getting nicks with the Feather blades, try Astra’s. They are not quite as sharp as a Feather and might cut down on the nicks. Everybodies face is different.
 
justplainbob said:
I can send you a few Astra’s to try out, save you from ordering a big lot when they might not work out for you.
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Thanks man. I’m good though. I shaved dry (need soap still, but did wet the blade of course ) and this was my first time. So I think I’ll be ok. Just need to slow down a bit.
 
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