Help me choose between these razors...

Hi, i've finally come to the time to choose my first straight edge, i've read all the guides, did all my searches, and i've come between a choice of 3 straight edges:

The Dovo 5/8 SS Ebony
Dovo 5/8 Micarta
Dovo 5/8 Prima Klang

I've read most of the reviews on them, and almost everyone recommends all three...

Vintagebladesllc.com is offering a sale price for $129.99 for the Ebony and Micarta so i'm kind of stuck between the two...and i'm willing to pay a bit more for the Prima Klang ($160.99 on straightrazordesigns) if there is a difference worth paying for the upgrade... I'm also going to buy a $30-40 vintage razor to practice on before, but these razors are my main "first razor" options...

I'd appreciate any advice, ideas, thoughts on which to get before i bite....thanks a lot.!

-Oh, and i do have a pretty thick facial hair (Mediterranean / Eastern European) so i was wondering if a 6/8 would be better for me...

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Originally Posted by jasburbak

-Oh, and i do have a pretty thick facial hair (Mediterranean / Eastern European) so i was wondering if a 6/8 would be better for me...

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I'd say the micarta, but that's also the only one I've had from among these three. Compared to the other stainless the blade is cryogenically treated, which I think makes the steal harder.
People with thicker beards seem to prefer stiffer grinds so that'll argue against the singing type, but I don't think that matters as much and you'll only find out if try both types down the road after you get good at shaving with a straight razor.

I've got the 5/8s Micarta. It shaves very good nut the scales are a bit thicker than normal. THe choice whould really be which you would be happiest with at this time in space :). There will probably be a next time and you can buy the alternale one then...or after the next...or after the next...or after the next...or after the next...or after the next...or after the next...or after the next...or after the next...or after the next...or after the next...or after the next...or after the next...or after the next...or after the next...or after the next...or after the next...or after the next...or after the next...or after the next...or after the next...or after the next...or after the next...or after the next...or after the next...or after the next...or after the next...or after the next...or after the next...or after the next...or after the next...or after the next...or after the next...or after the next...or after the next...or after the next...or after the next...or after the next...or after the next...or after the next...or after the next...or after the next...or after the next...or after the next...or after the next...or after the next...or after the next...or after the next...or after the next...or after the next...or after the next...or after the next...or after the next...or after the next...or after the next :gl:

I only find larger blades better for days when I have quite some growth - the 5/8 just gets lost there (also EE type :)

Other than this, even people with very coarse beards can get amazing shaves from 5/8 very hollow blades - but maybe this is only the case with more experience. I think when I was starting out I did have a preference for larger and somewhat heavier blades, and I have noticed the same pattern for others...

Cheers
Ivo

All three are great shavers.

If you have not shaved with a straight razor, I recommend that you consider buying a vintage razor from the classified section. You can get a nice starter razor that is honed properly for under 40 bucks. That way, if you find that straight razor shaving isn’t for you, you will not be out of a lot of money.

Just something to consider…

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Originally Posted by jasburbak

The Dovo 5/8 SS Ebony
Dovo 5/8 Micarta
Dovo 5/8 Prima Klang

Vintagebladesllc.com is offering a sale price for $129.99 for the Ebony and Micarta so i'm kind of stuck between the two...and i'm willing to pay a bit more for the Prima Klang ($160.99 on straightrazordesigns) if there is a difference worth paying for the upgrade... I'm also going to buy a $30-40 vintage razor to practice on before, but these razors are my main "first razor" options...

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Any of these will work well. After all, the are from Germany... Only recommendation I can make, however, is to ensure that the razor is less than two years old, as Dovo used to have QA problems before that time. This could result in your getting a rather pitiful razor made by an apprentice, or an überrazor made by a master - either way, the price would be wrong (albeit that this would matter less in the latter case). This information was conveyed to me by a friendly razor shop owner who's seen hundreds of them over the last three years.

The price itself is certainly right, as their current going price in € is something like 130, i.e. USD 190 or thereabouts.

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Originally Posted by jasburbak

Oh, and i do have a pretty thick facial hair (Mediterranean / Eastern European) so i was wondering if a 6/8 would be better for me...

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Unless you really, really want one of the Dovos above, I would strongly recommend getting one of their new basic line razors: Rasiermesser DOVO 5/8" The Different Scent: - less expensive, and every bit as good. Or maybe better. The ½ hollow might be easier to use with your beard for the time being. As far as width is concerned, I find that 5/8ths offer a nice compromise between stiffness, and ease of maneouverability.

Coming back to your idea of getting a razor from the Classifieds: You can get 3-4 from there for the price of a Prima Klang (which, just for the record, is not pronounced "prime-a clang" but prima Klang) - which I would not recommend because it is an extremely hollow ground razor that might, at least for the time being, not play nicely with your beard.

While my beard isn't all that coarse my chin whiskers make a steel brush look like a marshmallow. In spite of convential wisdom I find my closest shave delivered by a TI extra hollow "singing blade" razor. I just can't plow thru it like some of the videos on YouTube where the guy makes half a dozen long passes. So in the tradition of always being odd man out of those options my vote would go to the Prima Klang. That said, at the risk of sounding like a politician I agree with those who suggest a less costly used option.

Pros...extra hollow blades are harder to make so they are generally done by guys who know what they're doing which might eliminate some of the quality control issues. They are generally made of steel which allows you to get them scary sharp if you wish without worrying about microchipping because the blade is too brittle. They make a "cooler" noise when you strop them.

Cons...expensive, may not be the best option for your beard type, easier to damage the blade (sometimes fatally) if carelessly handled or by improper stropping technique, a little less forgiving for newbies to hone, and did I mention expensive?

Any of those razors are nice razors. You should do fine no matter which you choose.
Welcome to the world of straight shaving and to SRP!!!

You won't go wrong with any but I would recommend the Micarta.

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Originally Posted by jasburbak

does anyone know which one is newer? Thanks for the heads up on the quality issue, i want to buy one that is made within the last 2 years...

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both vendors will have only recently made razors. SRD didn't even exist 6 months ago, and i really doubt vintageblades has any stock from 2 years ago.