Thread: First SR suggestions

This link should take you to the Wiki, it is a list of brands to avoid.
Brands of Straight Razors to avoid - Straight Razor Place Wiki
If you buy a razor from the classifieds the odds are are you're going to be getting a good razor, I don't think I have ever seen a brand to avoid in the classifieds. Then again I'm new to all this too.
Adam

Boker and Dubl Duck are two I know have a reputation of good razors. Boker is apparently still making or just started making them again. Antique ones I'm guessing should be good since the quality of steel and craftsmanship were of more importance back then than it is nowadays. So if I found one in good shape and a good price I'd probably buy it.

There's nothing wrong with chasing a particular maker or razor, but at this stage, try not to get hung up on a name. Any vintage blade in decent shape is capable of shaving well. They didn't make them for show in those days. If they didn't shave the company couldn't exist.

Honestly since I'm new and don't know much about what they offer it's kinda hard to be stuck on a name I know nothing about. It'll just depend on what I find and what I learn to make an educated choice.

Have a look also here

Good Straight Razor Brands - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Near any vintage Solingen brand is quality. But tons of great English and American brands out there as well. I agree with Ben - try not to get too hung up on brand names this early in the game.

I know the quality in german steel especially solingen, mainly from hunting knives and cutlery so SR steel will be just as good. As a matter of fact my father had a hunting knife made with german steel and it was indestructible and kept on hell of an edge. So, I was thinking it would be a solingen made blade. I could use more info on the different models of dovo and boker that seem to be good SR's to start with.

OK I have one possible model that might work for me the Dovo Classic 5/8. Seems to have good features like jimps, third pin, hollow ground, not a bad price, a no frills kinda deal.

Thumper15,

For a well-priced razor, the 5/8 Dovo Best (either full or half-hollow) is hard to beat

It was the first straight I bought when I got back into straight shaving, and it is still in my rotation. Very easy to look after - it responds very well to pasted strops - and is a very competent razor in its own right.

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ

The DOVO Classic 5/8 would make a great first razor, for sure. They are well made, take a good edge and are a reputable make.

I'd avoid GD's though. They are not well made and require some pretty major work to get them into a shave ready condition. They also dont shave that great and theres no real zip or zing to the shave. The scales are very cheap and plasticky and the grind on the blade is pretty poor.

You also have to grind off the hanging heel when you get them as well, and its never a good sign when the first tool in the honing progression is a Dremel! Definately avoid them.

You'll also need a strop, brush and soap so check the vendors corner here as well doe suppliers of those items.

Good luck and keep us posted!