DOVO Bone Handle "Bismarck" 6/8 good for newbie?

[Josh123]

Do you think this would be a good beginners blade?

http://www.classicshaving.com/catalog/item/522940/2889128.htm

[Suzuki]

This is a fine razor, but you will need to get it honed by a professional.

In my view, the easiest and cheapest way to get your first straight is to buy a shave-ready vintage/used straight from a reputable member/e-bay vendor.

My first three straights were bought this way for around $30 - $35 each.

Hope this helps.

[joel]

Do you think this would be a good beginners blade?

http://www.classicshaving.com/catalog/item/522940/2889128.htm

I would say no. The gold on the tang/spine make the razor a bit harder to take care of, as the gold washes tend to attract rust. As an aside, also - when to try to hone it up at first, you'll likely muck up the gold spine when you're first learning.

I'd go with something simple/plain. :smile:

[Josh123]

good thinking. i wast attracted to the way it looked.

[Josh123]

How about this?
http://www.classicshaving.com/catalog/item/522940/219372.htm

I see at the online shop I can pay $20 and they will send it to someone to sharpen it up. Is that a good idea? I don't want to buy anything used.

[joel]

How about this?
http://www.classicshaving.com/catalog/item/522940/219372.htm

I see at the online shop I can pay $20 and they will send it to someone to sharpen it up. Is that a good idea? I don't want to buy anything used.

That one's fine - however the guy who does their sharpening claims to shave test every razor - so it'd be used nonetheless. Also, if you check out the forums here, there have been quite a few complaints RE: the quality of honing received from Classic's source.

I'd pick up a razor from Tony Miller. He has El do his honing, who is both exceptional, and consistent. :smile:

[Josh123]

Who is Tony Miller and where do I find him

[Ookla The Mok]

Tony Miller (http://www.thewellshavedgentleman.com/)

[Suzuki]

I'd pick up a razor from Tony Miller. He has El do his honing, who is both exceptional, and consistent. :smile:

+1 on Tony - you'll also want to buy your strop from him - his quality can't be beat and the qality of the leather on his less expensive strops is exactly ths same as the more expensive ones.

I still say go vintage for the razor!

[Josh123]

So, I buy the razor and then send it to him to sharpen it up. It doesnt look like he sells razors.

Chris, you say go vintage, can you link me up to some of your recommendations? I'm eager to buy. I want to get something decent. $60 to $140.

[Suzuki]

So, I buy the razor and then send it to him to sharpen it up. It doesnt look like he sells razors.

Chris, you say go vintage, can you link me up to some of your recommendations? I'm eager to buy. I want to get something decent. $60 to $140.

If you want to buy a razor from Tony, he does great starter sets that include a shave ready razor.

In terms of a good vintage blade, there are really too many to pick from, but here are some guidelines:

1) Any decent German, English or US manufacturer will do - some examples include:

German: Henckles; Dovo, J. Holler, Boker , Dorko, Crown & Sword (among others)

US: Really too many to mention - Genco is very good for the price, but there are tons of US brands that are very good.

English: Wade and Butcher, Joseph Rodgers, Mappin & Webb (among others).

French - Thiers Issard

Seriously, there are really a ton of great brands/vintage razors out there.

More important than fixating on a particular brand, is making sure the razor is in decent shape and most important, shave ready.

A decent shave ready vintage blade (full hollow 5/8 to 6/8) should cost anywhere from $35 to $50. In this price range, you'll be getting a solid performer, the blade should be clean (possibly some very small pits (far away from the edge) or watermarks - neither of which will impact shaving) with solid scales (nice tight pins, blade centered, no cracks, clean, etc...).

If you want bigger (which I wouldn't recommend) or thicker grinds (heavier blade) or a more sought after brand, you'll pay more.

Remember, for your first razor, you're not looking for yoru "dream" razor - rather just a nice functional and, most important, shaving sharp blade to get you started.

I would post a want to buy in the BST forum - you're sure to get a couple of offers in short order.

I like vintage razors for a couple of reasons - the history and the price. For $35 - $50 you'll get the same quality of razor you'd have to spend at least $100 for if you were buying new.

Just my $0.02.

[loueedacat]

If you want to buy a razor from Tony, he does great starter sets that include a shave ready razor.

In terms of a good vintage blade, there are really too many to pick from, but here are some guidelines:

1) Any decent German, English or US manufacturer will do - some examples include:

German: Henckles; Dovo, J. Holler, Boker , Dorko, Crown & Sword (among others)

US: Really too many to mention - Genco is very good for the price, but there are tons of US brands that are very good.

English: Wade and Butcher, Joseph Rodgers, Mappin & Webb (among others).

French - Thiers Issard

Seriously, there are really a ton of great brands/vintage razors out there.

More important than fixating on a particular brand, is making sure the razor is in decent shape and most important, shave ready.

A decent shave ready vintage blade (full hollow 5/8 to 6/8) should cost anywhere from $35 to $50. In this price range, you'll be getting a solid performer, the blade should be clean (possibly some very small pits (far away from the edge) or watermarks - neither of which will impact shaving) with solid scales (nice tight pins, blade centered, no cracks, clean, etc...).

If you want bigger (which I wouldn't recommend) or thicker grinds (heavier blade) or a more sought after brand, you'll pay more.

Remember, for your first razor, you're not looking for yoru "dream" razor - rather just a nice functional and, most important, shaving sharp blade to get you started.

I would post a want to buy in the BST forum - you're sure to get a couple of offers in short order.

I like vintage razors for a couple of reasons - the history and the price. For $35 - $50 you'll get the same quality of razor you'd have to spend at least $100 for if you were buying new.

Just my $0.02.

To my very uneducated eye, it seems like prices on ebay have gotten so out of control that you might be able to get a better razor new than old. Am I just not looking at the right razors on ebay? For example, henckels friodurs seem to go well above $100 and dubl ducks are totally out of control. I think I saw a plain henckels in ok shape go just over $50, which may be what you are alluding to. But generally it seems the razors under 50 on ebay have major blemishes.

[loueedacat]

by the way, I emphasize my eye on this stuff is very uneducated.

[voerman]

If you want to go new, send Tony an email. His razor is listed under shaving sets. He may not list it as a standalone item, but in my case, he sold me one along with a hanging strop and a 4 sided paddle strop. The razor was shave ready when I received it.

Lou

[jlander]

To my very uneducated eye, it seems like prices on ebay have gotten so out of control that you might be able to get a better razor new than old. Am I just not looking at the right razors on ebay? For example, henckels friodurs seem to go well above $100 and dubl ducks are totally out of control. I think I saw a plain henckels in ok shape go just over $50, which may be what you are alluding to. But generally it seems the razors under 50 on ebay have major blemishes.

I know what you are saying. However, Chris is refering to the BST and specifically to the non-trendy razors. Henkles made a lot of other blades besides the Friodur, Ducks are just insane right now as are gold wash Filly's, or PUMA's. You can get a good razor from one of the restorer's on the BST in the range Chris mentioned, but it won't be one of those.

[Ookla The Mok]

You could always post a WTB in the B/S/T area. There are a lot of guys here with a lot of razors, someone may have what you are looking for.

[loueedacat]

I know what you are saying. However, Chris is refering to the BST and specifically to the non-trendy razors. Henkles made a lot of other blades besides the Friodur, Ducks are just insane right now as are gold wash Filly's, or PUMA's. You can get a good razor from one of the restorer's on the BST in the range Chris mentioned, but it won't be one of those.

Thank you. That explains a lot - I was tracking henckels, dd and pumas.

At the risk of making them trendy, what are a couple of brands you like that are not particularly trendy?

[LX_Emergency]

That one's fine - however the guy who does their sharpening claims to shave test every razor - so it'd be used nonetheless. Also, if you check out the forums here, there have been quite a few complaints RE: the quality of honing received from Classic's source.

I'd pick up a razor from Tony Miller. He has El do his honing, who is both exceptional, and consistent. :smile:

Sacriledge!! He's a witch!! Burn im!! (Just Kidding)

Lynn is supposed to be quite good (the guy who does the Honing for Classicshaving) but I've never experienced it. He's a VERY nice fellow though and a B&B member as well. (Or at least he was a while ago. Don't know how active he is now.)

[jlander]

Sacriledge!! He's a witch!! Burn im!! (Just Kidding)

Lynn is supposed to be quite good (the guy who does the Honing for Classicshaving) but I've never experienced it. He's a VERY nice fellow though and a B&B member as well. (Or at least he was a while ago. Don't know how active he is now.)

There have been a few "unhappy" customers of late. Lynn is one of the very best when he is "on". I have 3 razors he honed for me that are outstanding pieces of work. I have just heard a few grumbles recently that his results have been a little less than his reputation indicates.

[jlander]

Thank you. That explains a lot - I was tracking henckels, dd and pumas.

At the risk of making them trendy, what are a couple of brands you like that are not particularly trendy?

I would recommend that you look for an American blade. Genco, J. R. Torrey, Shumate, Robeson, etc. If you want a European blade, then anything from Sheffield or really from Solingen would work such as Revisor, Taylor, Imperial, also, Wade and Butcher or Boker (these last 2 can get expensive but can also be found reasonable).

If you post a shave ready WTB in the BST forum, someone will probably contact you.

Hope this helps.

[loueedacat]

I would recommend that you look for an American blade. Genco, J. R. Torrey, Shumate, Robeson, etc. If you want a European blade, then anything from Sheffield or really from Solingen would work such as Revisor, Taylor, Imperial, also, Wade and Butcher or Boker (these last 2 can get expensive but can also be found reasonable).

If you post a shave ready WTB in the BST forum, someone will probably contact you.

Hope this helps.

very helpful and exactly what I was after. thanks.

I'm doing really well with my base model dovo that I got in a PIF, and am awaiting the famous pink le grelot buy, but at some point want to get some good but not crazy expensive old ones on ebay to play around with and work on honing and all that, so this is the guidance I needed.

[Daves]

I have a Red Dovo Bismarck and while it looks nice I find it difficult to hone. I now have 3 Dovos, a TI, and a Filharmonica. I don't have any problem with the others. At this moment it is not my razor of choice and I could not recommend it to someone.

Try the Dovo "Special." It is much better.:thumbup1:

DaveS

[Wahh]

I have a Red Dovo Bismarck and while it looks nice I find it difficult to hone. I now have 3 Dovos, a TI, and a Filharmonica. I don't have any problem with the others. At this moment it is not my razor of choice and I could not recommend it to someone.

Try the Dovo "Special." It is much better.:thumbup1:

DaveS

I second that. I have a 6/8 Dovo "special" and find it to be a great shaver that sharpens up nicely.

[Pyment]

I have decided to take the plunge and bought an older stainless reputed to be from the 1920's from a vendor in England. It sounds like it was a special order for a Dr. in Solingen. It is supposed to be shave ready. It is a 5/8 Bismarck-style round point , hollow ground. I had gone to the site looking for a Wapienica. Which turned out to be out of stock. This one caught my eye. I pulled the trigger and it should be on its way. I also am bidding on a few on Ebay that are shave ready, but they seem to be going for more than I am willing to pay. I will keep trying and watching the FS posts here and on other boards.

[Pyment]

I forgot to mention it also had a bone handle.

[jlander]

I have decided to take the plunge and bought an older stainless reputed to be from the 1920's from a vendor in England. It sounds like it was a special order for a Dr. in Solingen. It is supposed to be shave ready. It is a 5/8 Bismarck-style round point , hollow ground. I had gone to the site looking for a Wapienica. Which turned out to be out of stock. This one caught my eye. I pulled the trigger and it should be on its way. I also am bidding on a few on Ebay that are shave ready, but they seem to be going for more than I am willing to pay. I will keep trying and watching the FS posts here and on other boards.

Probably a very nice blade. Post pictures when you get it. There are 2 vendors on eBay (open_razor and stamps22) that sell Wapis if you still want one. They both have a good rep. I have bought from open_razor with good results.

[AustinC9]

Another thing to watch out for is ebay. I got scamed so be careful you know what your buying

[professorchaos]

Another thing to watch out for is ebay. I got scamed so be careful you know what your buying

I too have been scammed on EBay, but I have also been scammed on the B/S/T boards. Of course, more often than not, I have also scored some killer razors from both.