Thread: Top 5 Straight Razors...

Welcome to SRP. I agree with previous posters that the Dovo is a good place to start. The 5 top razors will vary with each of us based on personal preference.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Welcome to SRP. I agree with previous posters that the Dovo is a good place to start. The 5 top razors will vary with each of us based on personal preference.

I think a lot of newbies start off with a Dovo, of one sort or another (myself included) and then through experience or knowledge gained from other users try different brands and grinds.
Beware
dovo's don't come shave ready, so will need honing

The best razor in the world whether you are a rookie or seasoned veteran is the one you can master and maintain and gives you the kind of shave you want. Everything else concerning the razor is just window dressing.

Welcome aboard, Outlaw!

+1 on the Dovo as a good place to start--my second razor was a 6/8 Dovo Special from SRD (first was an old 5/8 Bengall from the classifieds here--both great). Check out SRD's specials--they often have a razor and strop deal that is significantly cheaper than buying them separately.

Another +1 for DOVO here, they're a great blend of price, performance and aesthetics.

My first razor was a DOVO Black Star and I quickly added a Bismarck after that. Both are amongst the top shavers in my rotation.

Take a look here for some sensible advice -- much like what you've gotten already:

http://www.theinvisibleedge.co.uk/ch...aightrazor.pdf

"Shave-ready" vintage razors can be bought for around $40 in the "Classifieds" on this site, Dovo "Best Quality" (bottom-of-the-line) for about $80 from SRD.

Either one should last many years, or until you get Razor Acquisition Disease (RAD). I have a mild case of that . . .

Charles

I have only been straight shaving for a few months, and started with a full-hollow Dovo Best Quality 5/8 from SRP (perfectly honed, btw - that thing could circumsize a gnat!). I have since acquired some vintage razors of different grinds from various makers and cleaned/honed them up myself with the techniques outlined in the Wiki section (a true fountain of wisdom).

I wish that I had known how much of a difference the grind makes when getting started, as I've since learned that a quarter hollow or a near wedge offers a very close, remarkably comfortable shave. As each face and beard is different, you may want to research the grinds a bit before making your purchase.

IMO, the brand of razor doesn't matter as much as the quality of the steel, but some of these other folks are much better qualified to attest to that than I am...

Originally Posted by CDogg

I wish that I had known how much of a difference the grind makes when getting started, as I've since learned that a quarter hollow or a near wedge offers a very close, remarkably comfortable shave. As each face and beard is different, you may want to research the grinds a bit before making your purchase.

There's a lot of plain "personal preference" in deciding which razor is "best". You can "research" grinds all you want -- you may end up loving a wedge, and somebody else may choose an ultimately thin, no-shoulder "singing blade" as his favorite.

If preferences were universal, we wouldn't have the variety of blade shapes, thicknesses, and so on, that we do.

Maybe there's a need for a "razor rental service", that would let people try different designs _without_ buying them. A "steel NetFlix" ? <g>

Charles

PS -- the practical difficulties in setting up such a rental service are immense. It's still an interesting idea.

Originally Posted by cpcohen1945

There's a lot of plain "personal preference" in deciding which razor is "best". You can "research" grinds all you want -- you may end up loving a wedge, and somebody else may choose an ultimately thin, no-shoulder "singing blade" as his favorite.

If preferences were universal, we wouldn't have the variety of blade shapes, thicknesses, and so on, that we do.

Very well said

I am a Dovo and Parker straight razor guy. I like those two brands by far and think they make top of the line straight razors especially for the price. I don't see the allure of buying an 800$ razor and don't see much of an upgrade really. So yeah.