Looking for an upgrade, need advice

So I am currently shaving the bootleg college way (whole kit sub 50 bucks lol).
I've decided I like it. Now I need more razors (RAD lol). But I actually do need more razors, as in two or three good ones. Can anyone help me out with some advice on the following topics?

German medical razors- They look exactly like wapi's and were made around 70 years ago. In particular Aesculap. My dad has experience with the scalpels and such and says they are of the highest quality, though a scalpel is not a razor, so maybe it doesn't carry over. Can people share experiences?

And I've read a few answers to this saying its personal choice, but would it be better to buy say, one Otto D. Hans, or something like two or three plain DD specials?

And can anyone recommend a sure-fire, consistant American brand? I currently have a French razor I'm going to try, but the one I've been using is Solingen and its great, and our kitchen knives are Solingen and they're the best, and my dad only uses German scalpels (mostly Tuttlingen, but a few Solingens, very similar), and I am German, so I have a particular attraction to Solingen blades. However I want to get the run of French, English, and American before I write them off and just go German? (Yes I know Wapis exist but I'm not really that interested, I'm interested in the German medicals mostly because of the German factor, and Fill's don't really look like my thing, sorry guys)

surefire American I would say Robeson.

Of vintage USA razors I would add Cattaragaus, Case, and Torrey. There are others but that is right off the top of my head. I would say for a rotation a few good solid performers would be better than a highly collectible razor like an Otto Deutsch Hans. If you have a lot of disposable income that is a different story but I would rather have 3 DD Specials than 1 Wonderedge if I was on a budget.

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Originally Posted by khaos

would it be better to buy say, one Otto D. Hans, or something like two or three plain DD specials?

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if you like the scales of the deutsch 2-3 times better than the plain ones yes.

and to add to the american brands that do not disappoint - clauss, shumate, case (that one like cattaragus has more of a following than the others).

and the reason that these are popular is because they were big. i'm absolutely certain that you can find a razor you'll like more than any of these brands with a name that nobody's heard of.

thanks for the help guys.
I think my plan is as follows:
I am going to set about acquiring an American blade that seems promising, with character (ie not necessarily a mainstream one) for not too much money. Worst comes to worst I can use it for my foray into rescaling. In the mean time I'm gonna look out for a few decently priced DD Specials (and before you laugh at decently priced DDs I'm looking for function, not form). I have an upcoming birthday next month and I was thinking of asking for a new Dovo. What's the low down on those steels? I hear talk of them all the time, but I have trouble distilling it myself. I'm eyeing the Ebony/Silver Steel Model. How does that compare to their other blades? I've also heard banter that they're unreliable, is that well-founded, or is that just the grumblings of die-hard vintage blade fans?
Thanks Again!

Sorry, gonna have to disagree. Too glitzy for me, too much going on. The ebony looks nice though. And the micarta. And the Bergische Loewe, if I had the cash lol.... *drool*

i've had the silver steel ebony and it's alright razor, but it wasn't anywhere close to my better shavers. the buyer loved it though.
i liked the way the dovo micarta shave better. it's significantly more expensive razor though. i've heard opinions of the bergisher lowe from terrible to fantastic.

the only way really is to try and decide for yourself. if you don't like it you can resell it and recover most of the cost. You'll take a bit of a loss on the level of 20-30%, may be more if you can't hone it and make sure that it's shave ready for the next person, but that's how it goes.
Alternatively you can check the classifieds every now for when somebody parts with theirs.

I personally stay away from what is described as a sergical razor. The was a razor designed for cutting samples in a lab. It would be hollow ground on one side, but flat on the other. I believe the do require slightly differnt techneque to use as a shaving razor.
I am lead to believe that other people have had great results from this type of razor, but it is not for me.

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Originally Posted by khaos

. And the Bergische Loewe, if I had the cash lol.... *drool*

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It's ok...... I have several Spanish point, worked back razors

mostly I like the grind on the Bismarck
we may be looking at the same thing, but seeing different things

I've seen several reviews that point to the Dovo Special as being one of the best new razors for the money. Haven't tried it myself, but I do have the Ebony, and it's a fair shaver. Not as nice as my DD Special or the WB, but decent. Honestly, for $100+ you're better off buying a restored razor from a reputable brand. Classifieds, brother.

Check out the classifieds. Best way to get a good razor at fantastic prices. I wouldn't get hung up over names on the razors. I've got a pretty good representation of brand names (Dovo to Wostenholm) and like them all. I even have a no-name generic razor that gives me a wonderful shave. :gl: