J A Henckels Friodur 8/8 Round Point

welshwarrior · 04-16-2008, 10:36 PM

I received this razor about a month ago after reading positive reviews on the quality of the blade and deciding to try a larger blade.

I ordered from shavingshop.com with the honing option and a few other bits and bobs. When stropping the blade I noticed my strop was getting marked slightly by the tip. I shaved but wasn't happy with the feel of the tip so swopped to one of my other razors.

Upon investigating the Henckels further it appeared that the blade was too large for the handle and when closed the toe of the blade was brushing the spacer around the pin. You can see some evidence of this in the way the blade sits when closed in the attached photographs. I called John Crowley at the shaving shop to discuss this and was told that no handle fits 8/8 width blades. When I asked why wasn't this mentioned on the website I was told "everyone who's spending that much on a razor should know that'. I asked if I could swap the blade for a 7/8s based on this and was told no because I had used the blade. A short while later John did call me back and say he would exchange the blade, but if nothing was wrong with it I'd have to pay a re-stocking fee. I must confess, I was a little surprised at this standard of customer service and have since decided not to send the razor back, instead opting to get it re-handled and to hone out the small imperfection in the tip myself.

As you can see from the photo, the blade itself is solid sturdy and beautiful, with a weight that I am looking forward to acquainting myself with. However, in light of the fact that it arrived with a small fault and was not shave-ready as purchased, I would struggle to give the product more than a 6 out of 10 at this stage.

thebigspendur · 04-17-2008, 02:13 AM

that's too bad because that should be a drop dead fantastic shaver.

Two of the basic rules of customer service are 1- don't assume the customer is knowledgeable about a product and 2-the customer is always right. As far as his claim about 8/8 razor not fitting scales correctly that's the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard in my life. I think the issue is he can't find the proper source for the proper scale and if that's the case he shouldn't be selling the razors in the first place or he should be selling just the blade to people who wish to make their own scales.

chilira · 04-17-2008, 02:35 AM

Wow, what a bummer. I was fortunate to get a Friodur 7/8 straight for a gift (purchased online without incident from Vintage Blades). The Friodur is the best shaving razor in my collection, which includes a 8/8 Wade & Butcher meat chopper, a 5/8 TI, a Dubl Duck GoldenEdge and a Dovo.

I decided to have custom scales built using linen micarta. I learned from Robert Williams that micarta is one of his favorite materials due to ts heft, toughness and resistance to warpage, heat, water,., etc..

Food for thought.

Chris L · 04-17-2008, 03:10 AM

I don't own one.......yet, but that Friodur does look wrong in those scales. Can other 8/8 Friodur owners make comment? Do yours look like that in the generic scales as purchased?

Thanks.

Chris L

Bruce · 04-17-2008, 04:30 AM

Chrisl,

Those are the wrong scales for a Friodur. Those razors which John sells have reclaimed blanks that are reground and hafted into non-Henckels' scales by Heribert Wacker. John. like Classic Shaving and Vintage Blades, gets a wrapped razor in a box for resale. While John may have been able to handle it differently initially, it's really the fault of our good Herr Wacker who didn't fit the blade to the scales correctly before shipping it off to us in the US.

Otherwise, it looks pretty nice. I'd have ground off a bit of the tip and called it good.

good shaving,

ghart · 04-17-2008, 02:07 PM

I got one of these 8/8 Henckels from the same source ~1 month ago, and yes, the handle didn't fit properly, so it's presently with Robert Williams for new scales (in micarta). I'm looking forward to getting it back, because it is a wonderful shaver…

George

Makar · 04-17-2008, 03:08 PM

I think Mr Crowleys a busy guy - that was certainly my experience. It would appear that some of the pressure may be taken off through lack of customer base. He is a member here of course.

Kenrup · 04-17-2008, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Makar

I think Mr Crowleys a busy guy - that was certainly my experience. It would appear that some of the pressure may be taken off through lack of customer base. He is a member here of course.

John is a very busy person in his day job. I'm not sure about why he wasn't able to get scales for these blades. I shaved with this same model this morning, it is a NOS that I tried out. The scales are factory and the blade nestles nicely in them.
John is a stand up guy so I would encourage some understanding and give him some slack. He will make things right.

Chris L · 04-17-2008, 06:24 PM

Also, maybe with a very thin file, such a problem could be corrected by filing down the spacer without having to remove the scales?

I know I have a thin "points" file used to clean the contact points on old motorcycles, etc that I could see working for that.

Chris L

shawn · 04-19-2008, 05:36 PM

I bought an 8/8 Spanish point from Vintage Blades and it fit the scales fine. I'm having it rescaled though because that big blade just deserves something nicer.

Shawn

VintageBlades · 04-20-2008, 05:37 PM

Just as a point of clarification, my Henckels Friodurs did not come from Herr Wacker, nor have they been reground. While it is true that the scales are not factory original, each razor was personally checked by me for fit and alignment upon receipt.

Bruce · 04-20-2008, 05:59 PM

And razor addict that I am, I decided that I had to have one of the 7/8 Friodurs from Mr. Vintage at Vintage Blades. And a fine blade it is. And fine, if ordinary, scales they are. And finely fit: the blade is centered and held with just the proper amount of friction. Mr Vintage's guys have done well.

And I'm as happy as a hog in a wallow.

juststr8 · 04-21-2008, 03:14 AM

I have had my eye on the one from vintage for awhile now, was wandering how they shave? did you have your honed from them? Vintage is great, you won't find better service anywhere.

Mike_ratliff · 04-21-2008, 03:57 AM

I have 2 razors from Shavingshop, and I had a good experience with both purchases.
Both however were nicer/custom handles, and not the basic plastic.

I found his honing to be satisfactory, I actually had Lynn hone one of the same blades when it needed a touch up, and the result was comparable.

Both blades are Wacker regrinds, and are awesome shavers.

It really is a shame he didn't disclose that the blade didn't close properly... anybody spending that kind of money of a razor would expect it to close properly.

cannonfodder · 04-22-2008, 09:46 PM

I have gotten several blades (2 8/8 Henckels and 3 7/8 Spanish point Henckels and a Dorko) as well as rescaled a couple for other people and had very good customer service. The Henckels are super shavers and the 8/8 blades are a touch longer than the 7/8. When I rescale an 8/8, I have to cut the wedge very short, a good 1/16 to 1/8 shorter than the same 7/8 blade depending on the cut. I think those Friodur blades are absolutely super shavers and take a wicked edge. They look much better in nice scales.

poona · 04-22-2008, 10:02 PM

Love the scalloped back on those.

I was almost about to purchase a 8/8 friodur from shavingshop then I seen these crocked scales first hand.

John Crowley really needs to sort this out else have a sale on all the 8/8's with these crocked handles.

Poor aftercare aswell tbh.

Bruce · 04-22-2008, 11:44 PM

juststr8,

My Friodur 7/8 from Mr. Vintage at Vintage Blades came un-honemeistered but very nearly shave ready. I touched it up a bit on a coticule, stropped it, and shaved closely and comfortably with it.

shawn · 04-23-2008, 01:10 AM

I opted for the Honed option from Vintage Blades and it is a great shaver. I think Lynn does some of the honing for Vintage but I don't know if that includes the Henckels or not.

Shawn

shawn · 04-23-2008, 01:11 AM

Dave,

That is not the Friodur I want to see in custom scales....

Shawn

RayG · 04-23-2008, 04:47 AM

I got a 7/8 from Shaving Shop with RW scales in ebony. The "new" razor had significant hone wear on the spine (I did not get the sharpening option), a dent in the bevel, rough sandpaper scratches on the top of the spine, and a chip where the edge meets the tang.

I am sending it back, and getting one from Vintage when, hopefully, I get a full refund.