Wapis are NOS, harder to come by than a couple of years ago.
I have got a few living in my closet :-)
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i was somewhat interested in checking one out until i read all the mixed QC reports...now, no way :nono:
The wapis werent near as bad as the Gold dollars, but they had their issues. Great shavers though once fixed(if needed).
The Wapis had a heel problem, although different from the GD's and DA's, it wasn't the form it was in the steel about 30-40% of them after a few honings had the steel in the last inch or so of the heel just fall apart... It was almost like they had a temperd edge and an un-tempered center..
Rolls back the hands of time...
http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...g-my-wapi.html
Note the difference in times.. Back then any honing problem was Overhoning :)
I never had any issues whatsoever with any of the Wapis I bought. They honed in about 2 minutes and I still have one left that I shave with now and again - same edge as I put on it over 5 years ago and still fine. All of mine were the SFK stamped shanks, which I seem to recall were a different (better?) batch or something... sorry, memory is not what it used to be and I couldn't be bothered using the search to find out if I am right or not - I am sure someone will correct me if I am wrong :)
Based on my experience with them, they shave in the same ballpark as any Dovo I've come across, and have a similar proportion of quality control issues. The only issue I have with the Wapi is the scales - certainly heavy and out of balance with the blade - but you do get used to it and many people simply rescaled them anyway.
The cheapest Dovo you can buy in Australia is about $120. So although 80 bucks for a Wapi seems just plain wrong to me, I can see why they might fetch that price. Makes me glad I bought mine when I did though.... :p
James.
mine are also the SFK models. no honing issues and the scales sort of grow on you after a while. guess i was lucky.