A good first razor

I have been using the Dovo Shavette system for a while now, the green insert with the longer and firmer blade that they say is the most similar to an actual straight razor, and am now thinking of making the jump to an actual straight razor. I have gotten comfortable enough and consistent enough that I feel I will be sticking with straight razor shaves and therefore ready to make the financial investment in a razor and all that comes with it.

My hesitance at this point is in not knowing which brand to start with, I know Dovo is good, but there are cheaper options, like the website, Vintage Straight Razor they have a Damascus Steel blade, but it seems to good to be true. Also the vintage razors out there, I like the idea of a vintage razor, but do not know which sites/dealers I can trust. So what I am asking is to be pointed in a good direction.

I do not want plastic scales because, well, I hate plastic, especially on something that is going to cost over $100.

Also, I no longer use a shaving cream brush because I have found that the American Crew Precision Shave Gel is better then any other cream/soap/butter I have used yet and I highly recommend it.

To good to be true usually is!:D

The classifieds here at SRP would be a good place to look for a vintage straight razor. Vendors Corner is also a good bet. I recommend Straight Razor Designs for a new razor.

Welcome to SRP. I can't find the Damascus you speak of, but you usually get what you pay for. I do not know that website personally, so I won't criticize or praise.
Thiers Issards and Dovo are 2 razors you will see sold on many sites selling new razors, they certainly aren't the only ones.
Straightrazordesigns is a vendor that many speak highly of and who is directly affiliated with these forums, and he sells those and others.
I own a Dovo, and a TI. Both are fine razors. But they are not my favorite.
I own approximately 2 dozen vintage razors of various makes and styles. Each has their own benefits over others. You can get a properly honed vintage from many a vendor here at SRP, look in the classifieds.
I would recommend however you see if you can locate a Senior Member here who could Mentor you.
I for instance have given away, loaned and or restored a vintage razor for someone starting out. Perhaps you could find someone who could do the same for you. You may be able to get to try various types before forking out significant money.
If you do buy a Vintage and don't like it you can usually turn it around and sell it for not much less than what you paid, if you have taken care of it. Chances are you will keep it and buy another, then another. Eventually you will have one you can pass on to a newbie.
Good luck.

Whatever you decide to buy, make sure it is honed by someone who knows how to hone. Most vendors on SRP officer razors for sale that the hone as well.

I have a feeling that that Damascus was mentioned on another thread, and I think it did fall into the too good to be true category, though I could still be wrong.
As I understand it Damascus razors that are worthwhile are fairly expensive.
There are often nice vintage razors in the classifieds here to suit various budgets. You will need to be sure that the vendor is selling it shave ready, or you will need to get it honed.

I would just have you reconsider the brush soap thing. I don't know what soaps/creams you have used but I've never found a gel type product that even came close to a quality shave soap. Of course I haven't tried yours but I've tried enough to be skeptical.

i have used that gel as well. not a big fan with straights or DE's. i agree wit thebigspender, keep trying soaps or creams. took me a while to really get my lather down. realized when i did that it was part of the reason i was getting a bad shave.

try the classifieds for a razor. if someone is posting for the world to know it is shave ready, it is. and you can spend what you want and not go outrageous. my first straight was like $20. loved it, still have it, don't use it any more as i like choppers more, but it has a place in my collection.

Im with Ed above and am sure I saw a thread on that razor from that site and was said to be a letter opener. Use the search st the top and use the vendor and razor types and you might find the thread. Im fairly certain it was gssixgun(glen) who said it was no good. Pm him and Im sure he will help on the quality of that razor. Good luck. Ed

Don't forget that you're going to need a strop as well (I'm assuming that you haven't been stropping your disposable blades), so factor that into your budget. +1 on checking the classifieds for vintage razors and checking one of the vendors that advertise here for new ones (like SRD). whippeddog.com also sells some good supplies (including razors) on the cheap, though they sometimes aren't the prettiest; still, worth checking out. Good Luck!

Ok, sorry I was gone for so long, just been busy and did not have it set up to have email notifications to responses. But all of your advise sounds really good. I have found a new cream (I tend to bounce around and try new ones when I find them) this stuff was at Walgreens, it's Cremo Shave Cream, in a white tube with a red cap, and use it with my brush again. I have also started using the pre-shave oil from Art of Shaving, don't know that I really notice that much of a difference, but it also didn't hurt.

I am still using my Shavette, but again looking at vintage razors. I have decided that if I go for a genuine straight razor it will be a restored vintage one with scales I made myself, but I am not in a big hurry. I view this now as more of a wood working project, getting the vintage razor in order to make the scales, and if I prefer it to my Shavette, all the better. So I am looking for a nice vintage blade with a crappy scale, so I will check out the classifieds here and the other sites you guys have mentioned.