Cut throat razors?

ziggy925

ziggy925

Joined
Oct 4, 2009
Messages
105
Anybody know if Cut Throat razors made in Pakistan are any good? I found one on eBay. I was looking for a razor to actually shave with and I'm wondering if there are any bargains out there on the Net. Never used a straight razor to shave before.

I want to save money, but don't want to kill myself shaving. :eek:
 
Definitely not. Don't ever by a Pakistani razor unless it's for novelty purposes. I'd recommend visiting the forums devoted to wet shaving and poking around in their For Sale sections. ;)
 
I have not seen any good cutlery come out of Pakistan,period.Dovo and Boker make good razors.Maybe out of your price range though.
 
I've heard of Dovo and Boker. I'm just toying with the idea of shaving with a straight razor -- being the knive nut that I am -- and was wondering if I can do this on a shoestring budget. I really have no price range, and realize I will need a stone and strop specific to shaving as well. I just don't want to spend a lot of money on something that I may not use for very long.

Could I buy a good razor -- new -- and get by with a newly lapped stone on eBay and an inexpensive strop? Or, am I just dooming my shaving experience by trying to save money?

What about one of those straight razors that use disposible blades for the experience, and to see if I really want to do this?

TIA
 
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Don't go the cheap route.

I've used straight-razors off and on for over thirty years, and have sharpened a few for customers. In theory, it's very easy to sharpen one, but an improper stone, or poor steel will make you suffer. You'll either pay with your wallet or with your hide.

As for the disposable blade versions: Just buy a double-edge safety razor instead.

Regardless of how you go, don't rush the shave itself, and prepare your skin properly beforehand. I won't bother you with how I've come to know this.
 
I have a double edge safety razor, but I use an electric most of the time. I want to experience shaving with a straight razor, and I'm assuming (we all know what assume means) that one of these straight razors that use disposible blades will do that for me. No stropping. No sharpening, but the same shaving experience. Before I saw these disposible things I was afraid I was going to have to spend a bundle, only to find out I don't like it. Apparently, barbers use them now.

I love taking care of my knives and sharpening. If I enjoy the shaving part of owning a straight razor the rest is easy to me -- with some experience.

BTW, thanks for the input. I do realize that trying to save money on a project like this could hurt me, litterally, in many ways. If I like the shaving part I'll spend the buck, as I always do.
 
You can get everything you need to start straight-razoring for ~$130. That's new stuff, not refurbished old stuff.

Dovo basic razor ~60
a good strop ~30
a badger brush ~20
lather soap & after shave balm ~20

However, this stuff will last you a long time, even the soap/balm will last you a long time. In addition, if you buy lower end products, you can drop those prices down even more, but I suggest getting a badger brush instead of boar, and a good strop is a big help.

Good luck.
 
You mention new razor and I think they usually charge around a hundred for one.
If you keep an eye out you often see excellent quality razors in antique stores for about ten or fifteen dollars. One of the good things about straight razors is how easy they are to clean. You can even boil them in water to sterilize them. The antique stores are often good places to look for hones too. A strop is just a leather strap. If you want rouge for the rough side jewelers will usually have some.
Some people make the strop to hook onto something and pull it tight when stropping, some people glue the strop onto a flat piece of wood.
I can still get shaving soap and brushes in the drug store here.
 
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scafool said:
You mention new razor and I think they usually charge around a hundred for one.
If you keep an eye out you often see excellent quality razors in antique stores for about ten or fifteen dollars. One of the good things about straight razors is how easy they are to clean. You can even boil them in water to sterilize them. The antique stores are often good places to look for hones too. A strop is just a leather strap. If you want rouge for the rough side jewelers will usually have some.
Some people make the strop to hook onto something and pull it tight when stropping, some people glue the strop onto a flat piece of wood.
I can still get shaving soap and brushes in the drug store here.
Click to expand...

This is really good advice, except a proper strop is worth the money and should NEVER be rolled.
 
DO NOT buy or try to use a Pakistan straight razor. Your face is not the place to experiment with -and you will be soured to the shaving experience if you use a lousy blade.

The only "knife" I have ever failed to sharpen was a Paki razor that I bought for kicks. Couldn't even get it to cut arm hairs even after weeks of stropping (given that I have restored a few dozen straight razors, I doubt that it was my technique).

If you don't want to spend too much, look for used but serviceable straight razors on eBay. There are also dedicated straight razor forums where people sell & trade used razors. The guys there love to help 'newbs' with their first razor & shave.
 
The Pakistani razors can't take an edge. You can get an vintage razor for under $30 in an antique shop or at the online auction site. Almost all the antique brands are good ones, some more expensive than others though. However, you'd need to send it in to get them sharpened, which would cost another $20. Unless you have a set of very fine benchstones, then you could hone them yourself.
 
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