Thread: Life-long razor for <$100?

Originally Posted by MJB

I saw that, was going to pull the trigger but went with a Dovo 6/8 Best at RoyalShave instead.

Congrats on your purchase! I am sure it'll serve you well for many many years!

I am fairly new and also in WA, first razor I bought was from the bay, vintage and liked nice, however I knew nothing about razors, after a lengthy email exchange with onimaru decided not to use it and get something else, he gave me lots of assistance, and has honed 2 of my razors. I would suggest not getting too hung up on new or plastic scales, scales can be changed and a good blade lasts centuries in some case. My 2 razors that I use both came in a round about way via this site, were about $50 each and are perfectly good, though not fancy. Once more proficient I might trade up, or not - maybe just fancy up the ones I've got.
Bear in mind that a good vintage razor may already be honed dependant on the source, usually new ones aren't. This will save you a good $40 with postage both ways.
You are obviously going to need a brush, strop etc. i would advise some sort of pre-shave, glycerin is very cheap, works and you can use it in your soap to make good lather.

I've used my factory edge Dovo 6/8 twice now, and I have to say aside from being just a bit less "civilized" than a Dovo 5/8 I bought from SRD, this thing shaves nice. I've stropped it about 150 times, but this puppy is working out well. I may have to rethink this whole factory edge thing....

Originally Posted by MJB

I've used my factory edge Dovo 6/8 twice now, and I have to say aside from being just a bit less "civilized" than a Dovo 5/8 I bought from SRD, this thing shaves nice. I've stropped it about 150 times, but this puppy is working out well. I may have to rethink this whole factory edge thing....

Sometimes you get lucky and get a good one that received a bit of extra attention. Sometimes you don't, IME.

I just got a brand new Boker tree brand 5/8 full hollow with micarta scales for 99 bucks American including shipping and handling from Ebay so I think you'll fair ok.

So far, some of the best shaving razors I have are vintage engels and a nos sta-sharp. You can find the engels on ebay for less than 100.00. As to a new razor, the best low cost new razor I have is a Dovo inox in ebony scales (Lynn honed) that cost about 138.00. I did buy one of the new Hen & Rooster razors last year...to be "blunt" it's junk. One of my relatives has what I will call a "real" Hen & Rooster, and it is a very fine razor, not at all like what is being sold under the same name today. Return the Hen & Rooster if you can or use it as an interesting paperweight or for practice on a strop/hone

Originally Posted by Paul38

So far, some of the best shaving razors I have are vintage engels and a nos sta-sharp. You can find the engels on ebay for less than 100.00. As to a new razor, the best low cost new razor I have is a Dovo inox in ebony scales (Lynn honed)at cost about .00. I did buy oopenerthe new Hen & Rooster razors last year...to be "blunt" it's junk. One of my relatives has what I will call a "real" Hen & Rooster, and it is a very fine razor, not at all like what is being sold under the same name today. Return the Hen & Rooster if you can or use it as an interesting paperweight or for practice on a strop/hone

aww cmon, you could use it as a letter opener at least. :-)

When I first started to pursue my straight razor interest I got took a few times before I found srp. First was a bud k Krieger and then I found vintage straight razor .com and bought a GB Buckingham and when I verry first got it it looked like a genuine quality blade to my novice untrained eye so I went straight and got another that hadn't been honed for me to practice honing n stepping on. Then I bought a crappy cracked hard and warped strop from em. And then I found SRP and got a dovo, hones, a good strop. I was wondering why I had to strop the GB buck 6 times per shave and it was still uncomfortable. Man how I wish I would have found SRP first. I blew about 200 to 250 in hard earned cash before I knew any better. But I'm all good now.

Originally Posted by Swerve

When I first started to pursue my straight razor interest I got took a few times before I found srp. First was a bud k Krieger and then I found vintage straight razor .com and bought a GB Buckingham and when I verry first got it it looked like a genuine quality blade to my novice untrained eye so I went straight and got another that hadn't been honed for me to practice honing n stepping on. Then I bought a crappy cracked hard and warped strop from em. And then I found SRP and got a dovo, hones, a good strop. I was wondering why I had to strop the GB buck 6 times per shave and it was still uncomfortable. Man how I wish I would have found SRP first. I blew about 200 to 250 in hard earned cash before I knew any better. But I'm all good now.

Mistakes can help us onto the right path.

The answer to this is very simple. Purchase a "shave ready" vintage in the classifieds here as your first razor. You will get a great lifelong razor that will give you the best chance at a good shave especially when starting out.