Opinions/Facts on Special versus Black Star

Hi all,
I'm 25 and getting sick of paying too much into the pockets of crappy face-burning safety razor manufacturers, so I've decided to get straight. My girlfriend has a sweet pair of Arius Eickert barber scissors from Solingen; I figured I'd make it a geographical match and go with a Dovo.

I love all Dovo's designs, but I've narrowed it down to the 6/8" Special or the 5/8" Black Star (with red scales) for my first razor. I prefer the look of the Black Star but I'd rather go with the Special if there is anything superior about its make, especially if y'all think the 6/8" design would greatly improve my newb experience with stropping and honing. I wasn't able to find much info about subtle differences between the blades - are there any significant differences in quality between the blades or are the main differences the detail of the styling and the scales? Any additional info would be much appreciated.:)
Thanks
Paul

Welcome to SRP and +1 on what Commiecat said. Make sure the razor comes from a source that is shave ready. Read this from the FAQ:

Frequently Asked Questions - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Good luck with your purchase and your first shave. :)

Welcome to SRP. I don't know of the differences between those particular models. I do like a 5/8 or a 6/8 blade though and I don't think one is 'better' than the other. It is a matter of preference that is only gotten with experience.

Thanks for the tips -
I guess that kinda confirms what I was already thinking. :tu I'm going to purchase off SRD. After reading some horrific stories about folks new to straight razors who ordered pre-honed, pre-stropped razors and decided to give stropping a shot before their first shave, I've decided that the first thing to touch my blade will be a towel to whipe off the oil, and the second will be my face. I really want to feel what a well honed blade feels like before I try my hand at any maintenance.

Congrats and welcome. I would like to offer some friendly advice... take your time and don't expect perfection at first. You are buying from THE origin of sharpness, so your blade will be 100% ready. ANY feelings of discomfort, pulling, burn etc. will be a result of your learning to use a straight. It can take a while, but you will be glad that you decided to go down the straight path. Good luck, and we all have our stories... so we are all here to help!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by pollonious

I've decided that the first thing to touch my blade will be a towel to whipe off the oil, and the second will be my face. I really want to feel what a well honed blade feels like before I try my hand at any maintenance.

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I like to use a piece of kleenex tissue. Soft, absorbent and it won't mess with the edge.

Read this post here by SRP founder Lynn Abrams and follow the directions for dipping your foot in the water before you dive in. :)

Welcome to SRP! The info on Vintage Blades site (vintagebladesllc.com) says the Dovo Special is made from high carbon Swedish steel and the Black Star from high carbon Solingen steel. I have a Dovo Special in 6/8 that is a very nice shaver. While the 6/8 isn't difficult to use, I do find that a 5/8 is easier to maneuver. As a newbie, that may help you a bit, but it's definitely a personal preference thing. The Special is also available in 5/8. Whichever one you chose will be great.

As Del1r1um said, take your time. The learning curve is rather steep. Dig deep into the info here on SRP and watch as many shaving videos as you can stand. :D Two things to memorize before you start: Don't use any pressure and don't go sideways with the blade (slicing motion)! Good luck and let us know how you're doing.

i think you will be greatly satisfied with any dovo, i have the perlex and have been using it since may. i can not say enough good things about it. i have several old straights and my dovo is right up there with the great shaves

alright! I completed my order this morning. I went with a red pakka Black Star and an SRD 2" red latigo with the felt backing & .5 diamond spray. I've had good experiences working with wool in the past, so the felt just seemed up my ally. I was a bit unsure about whether I wanted a 2" or a 3" after reading around. They both seem to have certain advantages. I garnered from videos and posts that the 2" strops tend to offer more control while the 3" strops are easier to learn on and can be quicker. One thought I had is that starting with a 2" strop may help me develop a cleaner habit with the X pattern because I will be forced to use it more accurately. So a 2" may be a better strop to learn on in the long run even though the learning curve will be steeper. I know the 3" is supposed to help beginners keep the blade flatter, but the $20 extra bucks pushed me towards the 2" in the end.

I won't be using my razor for the first time just yet because I'm leaving for california in a few days, but I'll have something to look forward to when I get back!

paul