Thread: Recommendation for my dad

Yes there are brick&mortar stores, but it's important that the razor is honed after the factory, as the factory edges are rarely very good.
The stores that would have somebody qualified to do this honing aren't that many and I don't think I know of anything in your area. Your best option probably is to buy it online at straightrazordesigns and they would outfit you with a strop too. IIRC when you buy them both you even save a little bit of money.

I want to buy from straight razor designs because there is an affordable set that comes with a strop, however the return policy isnt to my liking.. it cannot be returned if used. I'm afraid my dad will need to use it before deciding if it is the right one for him or not. I found some on amazon.com.. they are Dovo, but will they come honed/sharpened? (I am planning on getting him a strop anyway but I don't know if he's ever even used one haha). What's the difference between half hallow and full hallow.. is one better than the other?

Amazon.com: DOVO STRAIGHT RAZOR Solingen Germany Best Quality WHITE: Industrial & Scientific

Amazon.com: Dovo Carbon Steel Half Hollow Best Quality Razor, 5/8" Black Handle: Beauty

Amazon.com: Dovo Best Quality Razor, Half Hollow, 6/8", Blond Handle: Beauty

Amazon.com: Dovo Best Quality, Full Hollow Carbon Steel, 5/8", White Handle: Beauty

Thanks for all the help btw... I will definately be pointing my dad in this direction after he recieves his razor!

Also, would you recommend that the strop be the same brand as the razor or does it not matter?

Jabeile, buying from straight razor designs would far outweigh getting one from amazon. Any of the razors you linked would shave the same. There might be slight differences between the 5/8 and 6/8, but the difference would be so minute your father would not be able to notice them.

One of the most important parts of learning to shave is starting with a razor sharpened to shave ready condition. With straight razor designs (SRD) the razors come professionally honed by one of the best in the business. If you buy from amazon you have no such guarantee, even if it is advertised as shave ready.

Secondly, SRD has an amazing offer where they will give free sharpenings for life if you buy from them this holiday season. Given the quality of sharpening they offer, this is an amazing deal. Usually a razor will need to be sharpened every few months, and sending it off to be sharpened usually runs about 20 bucks plus shipping. To have the best sharpeners out there do it for free every time is an incredible deal.

Please, do your father a favor and don't buy from amazon.

As to your strop question. The strop does not need to be made by the same company as the razor. Ruprazor has some nice strops worth looking into if you don't want to spend too much.

Originally Posted by jabeile

I want to buy from straight razor designs because there is an affordable set that comes with a strop, however the return policy isnt to my liking.. it cannot be returned if used. I'm afraid my dad will need to use it before deciding if it is the right one for him or not. I found some on amazon.com.. they are Dovo, but will they come honed/sharpened? (I am planning on getting him a strop anyway but I don't know if he's ever even used one haha). What's the difference between half hallow and full hallow.. is one better than the other?

The razors on amazon will come sealed in their factory packaging, so no, they won't be honed.
I don't think any vendor (amazon included) would allow you to return used razor, because they cannot resell it as new anymore. I mean you want to buy your dad a new razor, not one that somebody has used before, don't you (otherwise you can buy something in the classifieds section of this site)?
Not that there's anything wrong with used razors, I have well over 200 of them and probably less than 5 that I have bought brand new, but human psychology is what it is. Given the choice of brand new razor+strop and the same razor+strop used once or twice most people will pick the brand new option for the same amount of money.
Plus if somebody plans to try it for less than a couple of weeks before giving up, they probably should just not bother. It takes at least few months to get reasonably proficient at this type of shaving.

If your dad doesn't take into straight shaving the best option is to resell the set on ebay or in the classifieds section and get a fair amount of the money back.

Most of the Dovo razors have the same grind - it's hollow, but on the stiff side. Their prima klang or singing razors are more hollowed than that. More hollow razor gives more feedback when honing, stropping and shaving. If you take a look at the wiki section there is a chart of the levels of hollowing that J.A.Henckels used decades ago when they made lots of razors.

With shaving being such a personal preference type of hobby, especially when it comes to straight razors, you might be better off getting him a gift certificate for SRD, that way he may research and choose the particular razor, strop, soaps, and brush to his liking. I know it seems kind of impersonal, but him being able to chose may make his experience all the more special, take the time to maybe even show him this site, the information, and impart on him what information you have received here as to the good brands and what a truly shave ready razor is. You being able to teach him something might be more of a gift to him than the razor itself. Who knows, maybe someday you too will join the ranks of straight razor shavers...

Originally Posted by ras4jeep

With shaving being such a personal preference type of hobby, especially when it comes to straight razors, you might be better off getting him a gift certificate for SRD, that way he may research and choose the particular razor, strop, soaps, and brush to his liking. I know it seems kind of impersonal, but him being able to chose may make his experience all the more special, take the time to maybe even show him this site, the information, and impart on him what information you have received here as to the good brands and what a truly shave ready razor is. You being able to teach him something might be more of a gift to him than the razor itself. Who knows, maybe someday you too will join the ranks of straight razor shavers...

This is actually a great idea. Men love researching this kind of stuff. You could also go half way and buy a nice strop, soap, and brush and give him a gift certificate to buy his own razor.

Originally Posted by jabeile

What's the difference between half hallow and full hallow.. is one better than the other?

Hi Jabeile,

I agree with everyone above; buy from a dedicated razor vendor, not from Amazon.

Nobody expressed an opinion on the grinds, so I'll give mine. The more hollow the grind, the touchier the shave. Half-hollow, quarter-hollow, and wedge grinds are a little more forgiving to beginner shavers. Full-hollows are the commonest ones on the market now. I have and shave with full hollows, but also have (and prefer) a quarter-hollow and a wedge.

The only drawback to the SRD offer is that they don't have any Dovo Best half-hollows. There's a vendor in Florida that sells professionally honed Dovo Best half-hollows for $70.00. Here's the link: Dovo "Best Quality" Straight Razors

I wouldn't worry too much about return policies. If you start with a good blade it holds its value pretty well.

In fact, I'm interested enough in a Dovo Best half-hollow that I'll back you up if that's what you get your dad. If it doesn't work out for him I'll buy it for what you paid.

Best wishes.

Originally Posted by roughkype

Hi Jabeile,

I agree with everyone above; buy from a dedicated razor vendor, not from Amazon.

Nobody expressed an opinion on the grinds, so I'll give mine. The more hollow the grind, the touchier the shave. Half-hollow, quarter-hollow, and wedge grinds are a little more forgiving to beginner shavers. Full-hollows are the commonest ones on the market now. I have and shave with full hollows, but also have (and prefer) a quarter-hollow and a wedge.

The only drawback to the SRD offer is that they don't have any Dovo Best half-hollows. There's a vendor in Florida that sells professionally honed Dovo Best half-hollows for $70.00. Here's the link: Dovo "Best Quality" Straight Razors

I wouldn't worry too much about return policies. If you start with a good blade it holds its value pretty well.

In fact, I'm interested enough in a Dovo Best half-hollow that I'll back you up if that's what you get your dad. If it doesn't work out for him I'll buy it for what you paid.

Best wishes.

That seems like a really great idea, getting him something, while also allowing him to chose his razor. Best of both worlds, also, depending on the razor, i know a lot of people on here would be more than willing to buy a new, or almost new razor and strop from SRD should he not like it or decide to not keep using it. The best of luck.

Happy Holidays

A great idea for a gift! I'd recommend SRD over Classic, as it will come shave ready. He'll be able to shave with it right after tearing off the wrapping paper. Otherwise, he'll have to send it out for honing before he can use it.