An interesting point. Anyone who has ever delved into the world of quality management knows that "quality" does not equal "good". The concept of quality in this context differs from that of its common usage. And it can result in severe misunderstandings. I believe that initially, W&B razors were regarded highly because their quality is quite consistent, ie you will be hard pressed to find one that has been treated well over the decades or centuries that is actually defective. The same can, however, be said of basically any mass produced razor, such as Dubl Ducks or Dovos.
The stark contrast are mass produced razors from India or Pakistan, such as the notorious Zeepk razors. Funnily enough, their quality is consistent, in that none of them are fit for shaving with. If you are looking for an affordable letter opener, they should be on top of your list though.
Now that we have established that quality does not mean "it will shave like a dream", let us come back to vintage razors for a moment. They were everyday household appliances. Like television sets. We own a few of these. There is a high powered LED one in the living room, a minuscule flat screen in the dining room, a really cheap one in the sports room. But there is one that completely stands out. It is an early 1990s
Loewe. Once in a while, German engineering meets timeless design, and this tv set is the result of such an occasion. It will stay with us for as long as possible, despite its obvious shortcomings in the area of technical features. Given that DE razors are to straight razors what LED tv sets are to our trusty old Loewe, the analogy should become obvious - the straight razors still in existence were mostly kept for nostalgic reasons, because their owners were averse to change, or because they were actually capable of out performing DEs despite the lack of hone progressions and arcane pastes and sprays.
Therefore, chances are that any well cared for razor will be good. And by any, I mean any. I have yet to find a vintage Solingen razor that disappoints. They vary in terms of balance, handling, and other subtleties. But they will remove facial hair, and they will do it well. I presume the same can be said of Swedish and English razors, but I have next to no experience with them, so I shall refrain from passing judgement on them.
Let us then assume that the idea of vintage razors having only marginal differences in quality (ie "they shave equally well") is actually true. Then why would a certain brand demand significantly higher prices than others? Because people associate consistent quality with first-class quality. W&B razors are readily available in almost any shape or form. There are some that are reasonable rare, such as the notorious so called meat choppers. Realistically, the latter are awkward to use, and I personally find them aesthetically displeasing. Yet still, once manhandled with buffers, and clad in more or less tastefully executed custom (or, more likely, costume) scales, they will demand prices of USD 250 upwards. Is there a relation between price and performance? Not that I have noticed.
If you take other hyped brands, similar effects can be noticed. Dubl Ducks? A dime a dozen. Run-of-the-mill export razors with dysfunctional scales. Nice to look at and idiot proof in terms of honing because of their hollow grind. If you know how to fix the scales, have hones and a buffer, this brand has a good potential to make you reasonably rich in a relatively short time. Filarmonica? Probably thousands of them in the market - and that is only the NOS ones. USD 400 for something in ice lolly scales? Ummmm, no.
The real problem is that almost any beginner will be looking for a simple solution to the complex problem of shaving. And that either means wading through endless threads full of fanboy drivel, or asking in a forum to be presented more of the same. I once wrote a side-by-side review of a rather unknown Solingen 8/8 and the fabled Filarmonica "Especial Para Barbas Duras", and heavy criticism ensued. I am an avid follower of a heuristic tool called comparison, or to quote the fabulous Billy Bragg from his song
The Few: "What do they know of England who only England know?" Without comparison, all you can produce is an absolute judgement. Which is a contradiction in terms.
So... good shavers? Yes, many of those around. Outstanding ones? Not really, but still small groups of vocal people with a mental problem euphemistically referred to as RAD want you to believe there are. Buying recommendations? Stick to vintage blades of well known origins, and not much bad can happen - in general, and as long as no-one has mistreated these razors with power tools.
Regards,
Robin