Shaving: What are some good single-blade safety razors made from steel?

Safety razors You are right that you'll want to only consider razors that are primarily made of a durable metal.  There are a lot of other factors to consider as well like weight and size.  The most widely recommended safety razor to start with is the Merkur 34C. Merkur is a quality brand and this razor has the right combination of weight, size, aggressiveness (how close a shave and how easy it is to cut yourself), and more importantly, price.  Second in line would be the Edwin Jagger DE86 or DE89. For more information, I really encourage checking our website: http://www.bbsshaveco.com/pages/faq-the-gear In there I've gone through each piece of wet shaving gear, including the razor, and provided a basic rundown on what to consider when selecting and purchasing. I also provide some additional information about blades and safety razor gear. Razor blades I personally prefer Shark Super Chrome blades but preference is going to vary from person to person and also depending on what razor is used.  Standard practice for new safety razor shavers is to pick up a blade sampler so that you can try multiple different blades without committing to one brand that might not suit you. Googling "safety razor blade samples" should provide you with plenty of sources for blade sampler packs.

Your best option is to find a vintage razor and buy it. They were made of Bronze and were chrome plated and most of them are still around today because they are nearly indestructible.   Look for the brand named ones, like Gillette, Schick, Ever-Sharp, Star, etc...   Antique stores, on-line auction sites, friends and neighbors, are all good sources for these types of razors.   Here are some of my own that have come from the above mentioned sources;