Thread: 5/8 or 6/8

OK- finally got the Dovo Ebony Silver Steel 5/8, and as promised- my review.

Keep in mind this is my first big boy straight, having graduated from the shavette. It arrived in the mail from Vintage Blades LLC along with my russian leather strop with the padded handle. Both are beautiful. The razor (personally honed by Lynn Abrams) was not as heavy as I had expected- guessing I may eventually graduate up to a larger razor in the future. The ebony scales are gorgeous, and the filligree on the back of the spine are equally so.
As for the shave itself, it took me a little while to get used to it. I think I was a bit over-cautious (it was honed by Lynn afterall). Once I relaxed a bit, it seemed to go better. Did the first pass WTG with a bit of a learning curve, but for the second Cross-grain pass, it was like butter. I won't say I achieved true BBS, but not too shabby for a noob.
If you're still in the market, I'd say it's a nice razor to start out with for sure. Again, my only real complaint is that it's not as heavy as I might like, but that's personal preference.

Good luck with it!

Its hard to go wrong listening to Glen!

#1, please let's stop perpetuating the myth that stainless is any more difficult to hone than carbon. It is not.

Perhaps there are certain hones that do not work well with stainless, but that is not a problem with stainless, it is a problem with the hone.

I have had four different stainless razors, all were as easy (or difficult..) to hone as any of my carbon razors.

As far as shave quality goes, the two stainless Henckels Friodurs I found to not be so smooth shaving, the two Dovo stainless I have (Renaissance 6/8 and stainless 5/8 #41) are as smooth and sharp as any of my carbon blades.

Care for carbon razors is not too difficult, as has been said, but you do want to be dilligent with them. Stainless razors are MUCH simpler than that though. So, if you want wash-and-wear ease, go stainless. If you want carbon (a lot more choices of razors in carbon, by the way...), then don't let having to pay an extra couple of minutes post-shave hold you back from getting one of those either. There are many vintage razors that are all carbon, and they have such style and lines that you will never find in a stainless razor.

Hear hear!!!
Thank you Seraphim... I am glad to see this post