First Straight: Narrowed it down to 3

[TYdeFan05]

I'll keep it as short as possible. I've never had a straight, but after more than 3 years of successful double edge shaving I'd like to try something new. I've read until I'm resembling this guy :blink:

I've narrowed it down to these three options:
Hart Steel 6/8" Polished, Round Point Straight Razor
http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/7779/hs68rpbocotefjmps1.jpg
Dovo Forestal, Full Hollow 5/8"
http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/3190/317cvjeduil.jpg
Thiers-Issard Le Grelot 6/8"
http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/7084/legrelotredstaminadetai.jpg

They are all around the same price and they all seem to have relatively favorable reviews. TI and Dovo are known brands and Hart is new but getting great reviews (hype?). I know I could "chance it" with a b/s/t razor and pray that the seller is selling me a great one. However, I think if I hate any of the above razors I can surely blame it on the user and not the equipment and most likely recoup a high percentage of my investment. I'm determined to make this straight edge journey a successful one, and I'll keep trying until I find the right one(s). Just thought I'd have some enablers help me take my first step.


Are any of these deal breakers or should I just flip a 3 sided coin :tongue_sm ?

[danjared]

You're overanalyzing it. Get a shave ready razor and get started already.

[mdunn]

If it were m choice of those 3, i would get the grelot - though you can't really go wrong.

Just make sure whichever you get that it comes shave ready

[Harvitz81]

Before shelling out a lot of money on a high end straight - I would pick up a shave ready one on BST in the $50-75 range and see if straight shaving is for you.

If not, you didn't spend a lot to find out. My 2 cents anyway.

[altshaver]

I would recommend a Dovo Best Quality in 5/8's or 6/8's size honed by your vendor of choice. They are relatively cheap, minimizing an initial investment. A new razor will also provide some ease of mind. You won't have to worry about issues that can come up with a previously owned razor.

However, if you are stuck on those three options, then I would try the Grelot.

Let us know how you are doing when you start shaving.

[St. Ignatz]

You're overanalyzing it. Get a shave ready razor and get started already.

Here here! The round point will reduce the blood letting a bit. Now shave already.

[TYdeFan05]

Looks like the Dovo Best is in the suggested price range, can be ordered shave ready, and will get me in the door. Sorry I wasted everyone's time, it's just my personality and profession to think things through. :blushing:

Many thanks.

[natchez]

Looks like the Dovo Best is in the suggested price range, can be ordered shave ready, and will get me in the door. Sorry I wasted everyone's time, it's just my personality and profession to think things through. :blushing:

Many thanks.

No need to apologize. We are all here to help.The Le Grelot is a limited run by TI until the blanks are gone and then will be no more, which is likely why folks recommended that to you. Better resale value, if you change your mind. But, a Dovo best is a good way to start and keeps your costs down and is always salable.

[danjared]

Looks like the Dovo Best is in the suggested price range, can be ordered shave ready, and will get me in the door. Sorry I wasted everyone's time, it's just my personality and profession to think things through. :blushing:

Many thanks.

Hey, if we saved you a few headaches and some substantial cash, I don't think it's a waste of our time.

[dakotaev]

No need to be sorry. If i were to chose between the 3, it would be the le grelot (only because I have a few and they're fantastic) hart in close second.

[life2short1971]

There are many vintage razors (almost all) that when found in like new as in unrestored condition are going to shave just as well as those razors you have above. That being said I have a Grelot in Rams Horn that is a superb shave that I am quite happy with.

[johnmrson]

Out of those three I'd probably get the LeGrelot first, the Hart seconds and once you've got those two, I don't think you'd bother with a Dovo.

[danjared]

If you really want a Le Grelot later on, there are plenty of vintage ones actually made by Le Grelot itself (and not Thiers-Issard).

[TYdeFan05]

If you really want a Le Grelot later on, there are plenty of vintage ones actually made by Le Grelot itself (and not Thiers-Issard).

That sounds like a very interesting option. I've recently started working on my vintage DE collection and it's a nice experience to wonder where they've been...especially the ones older than my grandparents. I think I'll hold off on all of the more expensive ones, especially since I'm not as afraid of the Grelot disappearing forever with the above option. :thumbup1:

[Gamma]

Buy whatever makes you feel good.
You're the one who has to hold it every morning.
Having said that;
The Dovo is a 5/8, the Grelot is a 6/8+ and the Hart is a 6/8.
The Dovo is full holllow, the Grelot is 3/4 hollow, the Hart is 1/4 hollow.
Dovo has top/bottom jimps, Grelot has top jimps, Hart has bottom jimps.
The Hart is honed with tape on the spine - How the Dovo and Grelot will be honed is unknown.
The Grelot has peened pins, the the Hart has Torxy looking pivot-pin nut thing...the Dovo seems to have peened pins - the wedge pin has a larger washer.
The TI scales are classic looking and wood, the Hart sports wood (?) scales that have no pin at the wedge which has a clean look, and the Dovo's scales are unknown to me but they're kinda short on style IMO.
All 3 are 'carbon' steel....but all 3 feature different steels. The Grelot's steel has some 'history' to it - the steel is older, but ground recently and its hardness is unknown to me. The Hart is brand spankin new HRC 63 steel, the Dovo is also new but the hardness is unknown to me.

If I had to choose from those 3 - I'd take the Grelot; vintage steel, 6/8ths blade that's 3/4 hollow, classic look, peened pins, easy resale if I get bored, good jimping, plus I can get it honed up without tape if I choose. Yeah, I'd be all over that in a flash.

The Hart is cool, but not cool enough. I'm not digging the Dovo at all.

[Kludt]

You are where I was about a week or so ago. I would say go check out larrys selection at whippeddog.com. Thats what I did and just got a decent enough razor form him for a starter instead of spending a bunch of money on something else. I also got his poor mans stop kit at the same time. I got the whole package for under $50 and I didn't get the cheapest razor in his selection. Even if you don't want to go through larry I would at least get his pdf document which is very helpful for new straight razor shaving guys. Also his razors come shave ready as well.

[MajorBurnz]

As everyone ahead of me has already stated: there's no need to shell out a whole load of money getting those razors you mentioned. Any decent vintage shave-ready straight will shave as well as those razors.

However, the TI and the Hart will hold their value, and if you find that straight shaving isn't for you, you should be able to get most of your investment back.

Even the cheaper razors will re-sell for about what you paid for them, so that applies across the board.

Just don't expect a $300 razor to shave any better than a shave-ready $30 vintage.

[maxman]

Don't forget you need a strop too.
You'll need one that you can learn on and a better quality one when you stop nicking the learning one.
I suppose they could be one and the same, but I wouldn't want to nick an expensive strop.

I'd say the strop is as important as the razor.

[Legion]

Don't forget you need a strop too.
You'll need one that you can learn on and a better quality one when you stop nicking the learning one.
I suppose they could be one and the same, but I wouldn't want to nick an expensive strop.

I'd say the strop is as important as the razor.

Yes, get the entry level strop from a quality maker to start with. You can get yourself a better one in a few months when you have had some practice.

Maxman, your new avatar is freaking me out. :blink:

[Shangas]

The T-I, because of its simplicity...

[sanfranciscian]

Just took out my Dovo special yesterday and had one of the best shaves i can recall. these Dovo's are the most overlooked razor's out there. I do own a Grelot and will never let it go, but IMHO get the best for now. I think you are correct that the Grelot window will not close for a little while yet.

Ian

[Escosse73]

You are where I was about a week or so ago. I would say go check out larrys selection at whippeddog.com. Thats what I did and just got a decent enough razor form him for a starter instead of spending a bunch of money on something else. I also got his poor mans stop kit at the same time. I got the whole package for under $50 and I didn't get the cheapest razor in his selection. Even if you don't want to go through larry I would at least get his pdf document which is very helpful for new straight razor shaving guys. Also his razors come shave ready as well.

plus one on this advice above ! I have a razor and strop kit on it's way to me .
Larry comes highly regarded and I reckon you learn the skill and techniques , with out going broke . Once you get the hang of it , then you could move up to a newer/better/ faster /stronger , err sorry (got carried away there by a theme from a certain million dollar individual TV show of yore) i mean name brand razor !


Good luck and let us know how you progress !

Cheers,

Scott

[maxman]

Maxman, your new avatar is freaking me out. :blink:

I'm a fan of internet memes, but that could be a whole other thread.
If you like, look up Me Gusta and you'll likely find what i'm talking about.

Anyway, back to the issue at hand.
It took me about 3 months of off and on shaving with a straight to get the hang of it. A few times I debated giving up. I stuck with it and I'm glad. I'm not going to tell you how to spend your money, but I will suggest that a restored blade with time and practice will let you know where you stand.
I'll also throw in another pitch for a decent strop.
Good Luck :thumbup1:

[Gamma]

I read some of these posts and it's like listening to my parents telling me what to do.
You don't shave with a straight because you need to, you shave with it because you want to.
There's no need to buy anthing other than the one you want.
Happiness is the penultimate goal.

[Nizzyrate]

Alot of people have already weighed in on this but I'll add my opinion too.

I prefer the hart. It's a very robust razor and I like the heavier grind. I think I shave better with it. The difference between it and my others isn't staggering but at the end of the day thats what it comes down to, which one do you shave better with not necessarily which one shaves better. You can't really know if you haven't tried a couple to compare.

I doubt you won't like it after you start so from that standpoint I'd buy whatever one looks better (because they will all perform well). If you think you would like to try some different blade shapes however, I suggest setting aside the money you've saved and trying out a cheap one or two with some different sizes and grinds and then if you have a better idea of what you prefer then use that to guide your choice of a really nice one.

But lets be honest here, who sets aside the money they've saved? Go for the Hart!

[cbird]

You should go with the one you like the best. Unfortunately, you will not know which that is until you have tried them all. I have a Hart, a Le Grelot 6/8", and a Dovo. I can say the Hart comes with the best edge. It is a big, beefy razor, while Dovo's tend to be more slim and light, so they are very different in feel, while the LeGrelot is in-between. If I had to choose only one it would be the Hart, with the Dovo a close second. The LeGrelot strikes me as the best beginner's razor, though. They are all fine, just choose one for now and eventually SRAD will bring you the others.

[tg16]

I agree with cbird and will add you're asking the wrong question. The question you need to really ask yourself is in what order will you buy the three.

[TYdeFan05]

I agree with cbird and will add you're asking the wrong question. The question you need to really ask yourself is in what order will you buy the three.

Enabler! :001_smile

I decided to go the conservative route and bought starter set #2 (item 16) from Harvitz81
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=203491

It comes with a strop (I've got one from Tony thanks to a generous B&Ber who shall remain nameless) but I'd like to save it until I get a lot more confident in my abilities. Given that I travel internationally for weeks/months at a time, packing a car payment's worth of expensive Fusions cartridges was no longer an option. Three years ago the 10 packs of Feathers with a DE were a step in the right direction. However, I'm motivated to condense my travel load to something even more compact, and less dependent on what the local stores have. It's surprising how hard it can be to locate some good quality blades in Jubail, Saudi Arabia. ( :biggrin1: )

I've got a long way to go and plenty of time to find the "right" presentation grade razor after I decide which style/grind/size fits me best. Thanks to you guys for reminding me to take it one step at a time. Then again, I'm sure others wouldn't mind it too much if my nice "learner" razor shows up on the B/S/T or as a PIF somewhere down the line.

Thanks again to all of those who weighed in. Chances are this will be a successful journey and I will give you plenty of chances to exacerbate my acquisition disorder.

[danjared]

Enabler! :001_smile

I decided to go the conservative route and bought starter set #2 (item 16) from Harvitz81
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=203491

It comes with a strop (I've got one from Tony thanks to a generous B&Ber who shall remain nameless) but I'd like to save it until I get a lot more confident in my abilities. Given that I travel internationally for weeks/months at a time, packing a car payment's worth of expensive Fusions cartridges was no longer an option. Three years ago the 10 packs of Feathers with a DE were a step in the right direction. However, I'm motivated to condense my travel load to something even more compact, and less dependent on what the local stores have. It's surprising how hard it can be to locate some good quality blades in Jubail, Saudi Arabia. ( :biggrin1: )

I've got a long way to go and plenty of time to find the "right" presentation grade razor after I decide which style/grind/size fits me best. Thanks to you guys for reminding me to take it one step at a time. Then again, I'm sure others wouldn't mind it too much if my nice "learner" razor shows up on the B/S/T or as a PIF somewhere down the line.

Thanks again to all of those who weighed in. Chances are this will be a successful journey and I will give you plenty of chances to exacerbate my acquisition disorder.

Given the direction you're trying to go, I think you made an excellent choice. You additionally don't really want to be checking in a $200+ razor at the airport.

[ouch]

Good luck and enjoy.

As for your original question, I have no experience with a Hart, but I have the other two razors. You may find a 5/8 to be more manuverable. The Le Grelot is a terrific shaver, but a bit slow and plodding compared to a full hollow 5/8. On the plus side, I would imagine the remaining stock of LS's to be rapidly dwindling, and when they're gone they're gone.

The Forestal is very pretty, with a terrific cocobolo handle. Where did you plan on getting it? The Superior Shave is out of stock, but they were selling it for much less than any other place that had it ($136).

Eventually you'll have them all. :thumbup1:

[Skyrider55]

You're overanalyzing it. Get a shave ready razor and get started already.

+1 My first straight razor was an eBay very rusted red-point that had a slight frown. (couldn't tell from the pics) I had to clean & hone it myself. I didn't know what I was doing. I survived. I learned. I used the internet found this forum. You're off to a great start. Jump in the waters fine!:biggrin1:

[Seraphim]

I read some of these posts and it's like listening to my parents telling me what to do.
.

None of your back-Sassing, young whipper snapper. And finish eating your broccolli!

[Rapier]

TI Grelot, cause you can always get the others later.

[Gamma]

None of your back-Sassing, young whipper snapper. And finish eating your broccolli!

Exactly.... too bad there isn't a scowling finger wagging smiley....:laugh:

[Slash McCoy]

Of the three, the TI will have better resale value. It will possibly go up in value, as a matter of fact, once they are all gone.

I prefer a 5/8 because it is more maneuverable under the nose and around the earlobe. A round point is preferred for learning. Full hollow will be less forgiving but wow what a shave, if it is properly honed and stropped. I had problems with my first straight, a Dovo, due to blade twist and spine inconsistency and stabilizer issues. Actually I sometimes wonder if it was a counterfeit, but the association remains in my head.

For those reasons, I would eliminate your three choices, though the Dovo fits the bill a little better. But the Dovo is a LOT more expensive than a good vintage blade, even a professionally fully restored vintage blade.

A first razor should not end up costing you much should you decide that straight shaving is not for you. Most vintage blades have already depreciated all that they will, until they are simply worn out from use and honing. Generally, you can resell a vintage blade for pretty much what you paid for it aside from any premium on it from being sold freshly honed. Others have mentioned Larry and I second that. BST? Most shave ready blades will be slightly higher priced than Larry. Fully restored razors like from classicshaving.com will be more expensive but still way cheaper than any of your three choices, and you will be more able to pick and match your desired criteria.

Another option, which might not be in keeping with your obvious desire to have a fairly high quality razor, is a Gold Dollar. Quality seems to be improving somewhat. I just got one from the main ebay seller, Mr. Parko, and it really honed up nicely with no issues. It was a #208 and I paid $9 for it, plus shipping which was pretty cheap. RupRazor specializes in reselling shave-ready Gold Dollars and they are pretty reasonable. No, the steel is NOT as good nor the heat treating as good as a premium blade, but they will hone, and they will shave pretty darn good, unlike most other Chinese razors or Pakistani or Indian razors. Of course a new razor will depreciate as soon as you open up the package, but if you just WANT new, then this option might be worth consideration.

All in all, I have to recommend Larry over any of your three choices, or any of my other suggestions. If he doesn't have a razor that exactly fits your needs today, just check his site in a couple of weeks and see what he has put up there.

Of your three choices, I think I would lean toward the TI even though I am not so fond of a 6/8 blade and I have a slight preference for a full hollow. It will prove to be the better value.