Thread: How many razors do you have, and why so many?

The number of razors I have is apparently "not quite enough". I may need one more. But the last time I thought I needed one more and got one more it turned out I really needed 2 more so I still needed one more. I think I'm into the low 30's.

Damn I have got to catch up....I only have 9!

A big part of the fun is the search, I love antique stores and am always looking for thing to re-sell (not usually straights though). I have only paid more than $20 for a few (and never more than $50 ) and some as low as $5. some need some restoration (part of the fun) or just a good cleaning and honing.(had to get enough razors to make the hones pay for themselves). good deals can be found!

I have 3, and will likely acquire more.

The first I bought was a Dovo to get into wet shaving.

The second was a Gold Dollar. This I bought because I had a few shiny new water hones that needed testing, and I didn't want to screw up the expensive Dovo trying to learn to hone a straight razor. I was also curious why the 'good razors' cost 4x what the 'bad razors' do. Suffice to say that I understand, and do not regret the purchase as some of my best shaves have comes from this and my other cheap razor.

The third is a pre WWII straight I bought off ebay made by Germany Cutlery Works. Again this was curiosity. The razor has a curved blade. I wanted to know how the different profile would shave, and how a vintage steel is compared to modern blades. It was also a fun and easy restoration project, because the blade wasn't that badly aged and the scales were in good condition.

I will likely obtain and restore more from Ebay and antique shops for grins, and possibly an easy flip. Time will tell though. I rather enjoy the art of honing objects be it knives, razors, or anything else really.

I am down to 20 or so, as I have been selling off my full sized razors, and soon, some of my shorties as well.

Why so many? As I was leaning, I wanted to try out different grinds, different lengths, different types of steel (German, English, etc..), different widths, etc... So my RAD went wild.

Now I am down to 3 or 4 favourites, so I feel like I can let the rest go.

Hi, my name is Rick. My last razor purchase was more than a week ago! But then my last two straights were from family members passing stuff my way. I'm trying to not go buy those half dozen Gillette DE's I saw {only $12 each}. My new purchasing has slowed so I can get into replacing scales on straights. I got brass rod, washers, an anvil. Still need a 4oz. hammer. Oh, scales? Band saw I saw at the pawn shop...I'll get back with ya later.

how many - 80 in various conditions
why - cos I love variety & I can only have 1 wife

I've got around 55 straights at the moment. I've really reduced the number in the last couple of years. I was at one point over 150.
I love finding diamonds in the rough, restoring them, honing them and then shaving with them. Some of them I keep and they get added to the collection and others I sell on and that allows me to buy more razors.

At one time 20 , during giveaways and like PIF I am down to 10 , with one more being made, then it will be 11 I use everyone of them but I think this is as far as I will go , tc

Originally Posted by Marshal

The second was a Gold Dollar. This I bought because I had a few shiny new water hones that needed testing, and I didn't want to screw up the expensive Dovo trying to learn to hone a straight razor. I was also curious why the 'good razors' cost 4x what the 'bad razors' do. Suffice to say that I understand, and do not regret the purchase as some of my best shaves have comes from this and my other cheap razor.

This is the reason I chose the Gold Dollar despite seeing somewhat mixed reviews. If I understand you correctly you now know why the cheap ones are cheap and the more expensive are considered worth it, but you still got a decent shave with it.

I knew I didn't want a 66 just from everything I had seen and read the mix was way more negative. However, the 208 I kept reading about how it wasn't going to win any contests but it gets the job done. I may have spent 5 dollars on razors in the last 3 years, so looking at a 70 - 200 dollar razor made me shake. I considered vintage but for the rest of this year if I was going to get it, I had to get it cheap and from Amazon. L0L. Also I am just getting it because I liked the new barber I went to who used one to clean up my cheeks and for now I am just scraping my cheeks so I don't need a ferrari to shave 3 square inches, a Kia will work while I learn to drive a stick. I won't sweat the mistakes as much with it like I would a ferrari.

This statement if I understand it made me feel better about my choice of first ride. Getting one that had been worked on by a pro, with lifetime honing means I can concentrate on learning to wave it around for now and get into honing this summer maybe or next year when i can afford a nice set of stones.