Is this worth the price?

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05-04-2012, 05:22 AM
deadman13

Is this worth the price?

ok, so im thinking of picking up another expensive hobby (to add to the collection: cigars, pipes, hookah, choppers, tattoos etc) and since i work at a cigar shop, we have a few razors for sale. mostly safety razors or "vintage" handles with mach 3 heads. but we have one straight razor there, its a Solingen Best Quality "Col. Ichabod Conk" with a "pearl" handle.

its 180 to customers, but i get a discount for working there. it has what appears to be a few nicks on the blade (near the middle, minute dark strips going towards the spine just a bit), and the blade gets awfully close to the scale when closing it (you can kinda see it on one pic) but it doesnt touch.

so anywho, i need to know if its worth getting this as a nice first blade, or if i should get the sight unseen deal with the richmans strop from whipped dog

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...3/IMAG1098.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...3/IMAG1099.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...3/IMAG1100.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...3/IMAG1101.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...3/IMAG1102.jpg
05-04-2012, 05:59 AM
ReardenSteel

You joined SRP in 2009, have 5 posts and are wondering if that is a good first razor? "You're killin' me Smalls" :) I would pass on it and go for the sight unseen deal. Larry will make sure you get a "shave-ready" razor. That Dovo is factory sharp. They're are not the same thing. You can always check the classifieds here for a decent razor as well.
05-04-2012, 06:04 AM
deadman13

yeah, i dont remember signing up. i thought today i was going to make some first posts and see about getting a nice razor, till it told me i was already a member... lol. sorry for being so, um, spacey? i think i see one in the classifieds that will make a nice first razor, one thats cheaper and much nicer and ready to go. ive emailed him, so im waiting on that. maybe this would be a second razor one day...
05-04-2012, 08:31 AM
sigit666

I think that's worth it, I'll buy it if i were you, but that's my imo
dovo best quality with regular plastic scale has cost the same price instead yours have pearlex handle.
& I dont think dovo col. conk w/ pearlex scale have that many available.
btw, the little scratches & blade not quite centered are quite common, that's not bad, most brand new & nos I've had the same condition except boker
05-04-2012, 08:42 AM
gugi

Quote:

Originally Posted by sigit666

I think that's worth it, I'll buy it if i were you, but that's my imo
dovo best quality with regular plastic scale has cost the same price instead yours have pearlex handle.
& I dont think dovo col. conk w/ pearlex scale have that many available.
btw, the little scratches & blade not quite centered are quite common, that's not bad, most brand new & nos I've had the same condition except boker

You forgot that this razor is damaged and needs a good amount of money added before it can shave, while the 'for the same price dovo best quality' can be had perfectly honed with a certificate for free additional honing in the future. Those pearlex scales are not the ones with the inlays, and to me they are not worth any more than $10 (actually less due to the poor fit).
BTW I've never seen scratches on a brand new dovo, though my first one was pinned off centered, which certainly bugged me. Every one of my NOS razors has been perfect though.
05-04-2012, 08:50 AM
deadman13

the "damage" might not be as bad as i think, or damage at all. was really hard to get a good shot of it. ill try tomorrow. this blade was on display for quite some time, and im sure people have played with it some.
05-04-2012, 08:56 AM
gugi

Quote:

Originally Posted by deadman13

it has what appears to be a few nicks on the blade (near the middle, minute dark strips going towards the spine just a bit)

This is significant damage, as far as razor edge is concerned. Anything over 100 microns is pretty significant. Trust me they can barely shave with the edge they leave the factory with, and this one is in much worse shape.
Of course, it's your money, so you can spend it as you like, if you have your heart set on this one get it, if you want you can even try shaving with it as it is before getting it honed by somebody with experience at these things, just keep in mind that that's not how these are supposed to be.
05-04-2012, 08:58 AM
deadman13

i may need to edit that. i dont mean nicks taken out of the blade. there just seems to be "dark" streaks (tiny) going up the blade. ill see if i can get a good pic
05-04-2012, 09:04 AM
gugi

Yes, that should not be there and its presence is enough to tell me the edge is no good (I've seen probably close to 1000 razors by now, and honed most of them, so I am not just making stuff up). However it seems that you are trying to find an excuse to buy it. As I said, if that's the case, just do it. It's far better to learn a lesson (and if you stick with straight razor shaving you will know what I mean in several months or a year) than having regrets thinking that you've 'missed on a deal'.
05-04-2012, 09:06 AM
deadman13

oh im not looking for an excuse, i can get these anytime from work. just thinking i may have misdiagnosed. i think ive already found better anyway, waiting to hear back from someone.
05-04-2012, 03:09 PM
thebigspendur

That's a lot of money for a Dovo with plastic scales-used.
05-04-2012, 06:59 PM
mcgyver74

I thought we don't do valuations here on SRP?

But I would vote for either the whipped dog or razor from SRD... I don't know what that razor you posted is worth, but "I" would not pay 180 for it :)

Good luck!!!
05-07-2012, 04:34 AM
onimaru55

Google " Dovo Best Quality " & you'll see they sell for as little as $80. Not a valuation just a fact.
05-07-2012, 04:38 AM
deadman13

at this point im kinda turned off on straights, just because its looking like close to $300 to get started. ive found razors to be between $60-100 (both used and new), strops to be another 100 and the brush, soaps & all the other stuff around another 100. gah
05-07-2012, 04:57 AM
Wullie

Quote:

Originally Posted by deadman13

at this point im kinda turned off on straights, just because its looking like close to $300 to get started. ive found razors to be between $60-100 (both used and new), strops to be another 100 and the brush, soaps & all the other stuff around another 100. gah

I got started for a LOT less than that. I did not start with brand new "everythings". I'm still using an 8 buck cup and brush I bought from Wal-mart and don't own a "new" razor.

You can figure out if you like it for a very little up front investment from Larry at whippeddog.com. Then if it isn't for you, you aren't out a tub full of money.

Only you can make that call.
05-07-2012, 04:59 AM
onimaru55

In 30 years time the razor & strop will still be going if properly cared for. Do the math, $300 is a pretty cheap investment.
05-07-2012, 05:03 AM
deadman13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wullie

You can figure out if you like it for a very little up front investment from Larry at whippeddog.com. Then if it isn't for you, you aren't out a tub full of money.

Only you can make that call.

ive been thinking about WD stuff, but the strop im looking at is out of stock and still $60. ive been talking to him about getting a razor as well, and i know this is just a "me" thing but im leery about "surprises".
05-08-2012, 01:05 PM
Deerhunter1995

talk about forgettign the srp brotherhood. 3 yrs and no post and now you want our help. lol id persionally go wit larrys deal hes a good guy and will hook you up right.
05-08-2012, 03:35 PM
LameBMX

Quote:

Originally Posted by deadman13

at this point im kinda turned off on straights, just because its looking like close to $300 to get started. ive found razors to be between $60-100 (both used and new), strops to be another 100 and the brush, soaps & all the other stuff around another 100. gah

Van Der Hagen Luxury Shave set, soap brush and cup for $30 <- lots of soap left after 5 months, getting 2 years out of a puck seems like it would be easy. Cheap yet servicable badger brush, occasionally you get one that sheds like crazy after a month or 2, but the mfg shipped me out a replacement quickly and it has been fine for months.

I got an Illinoise strop for about $30 bucks, called fromm on amazon. Be prepared to make a couple exchanges if necessary to get a good flat one. I am batting 50%, first was fine and second was wrinkled. I would avoid a mega bucks strop at first because you will nick it all up, better to nick up a cheap strop than a really expensive one.

I am currently in possession of my grandpa's razor and strop. Razor is well worn, but I am certain I could get a shavable edge out of it. Got it to shave arm hairs good playing around, old strop has enough of a section to work a blade on.

http://i381.photobucket.com/albums/o...f/IMAG0369.jpg

http://i381.photobucket.com/albums/o...f/IMAG0372.jpg

With care, you are looking at a 100+ year investment.
05-08-2012, 03:48 PM
gugi

Quote:

Originally Posted by deadman13

at this point im kinda turned off on straights, just because its looking like close to $300 to get started. ive found razors to be between $60-100 (both used and new), strops to be another 100 and the brush, soaps & all the other stuff around another 100. gah

Seems about right, except the strop can be had for a third of the price and if you buy it in a set it can be a pretty nice one with replaceable surface. Really good soap and brush could be less than $50 too, but yeah if you want to get a fancier stuff you will have to pay more.
At the end of the day you can't get a BMW for $300 either, so you'll have to either get what fits in your budget or give up the idea altogether, at least for now.
05-08-2012, 05:28 PM
LameBMX

Quote:

Originally Posted by gugi

Seems about right, except the strop can be had for a third of the price and if you buy it in a set it can be a pretty nice one with replaceable surface. Really good soap and brush could be less than $50 too, but yeah if you want to get a fancier stuff you will have to pay more.
At the end of the day you can't get a BMW for $300 either, so you'll have to either get what fits in your budget or give up the idea altogether, at least for now.

A good running yugo will get you from A to B too.