Thread: The minimum amount of stones for a factory DOVO

Originally Posted by d. m. ellington

If you can find one, the Moravian Hone made which use to be sold by Success Barber Supply in Moravia Iowa is a fantastic maintenance hone. It is a two sided barber hone. I have used one for over thirty years . It works well with 5/8 hollowground carbon steel razors.

Just one hone, and a strop, has served me well for years.

I have 4 barber hones and 2 of them were made by The American Hone Company (AKA - Success Barber Supply, IA).

The most recently obtained is called the "Little Devil" barber hone. I've read that some guys use this hone as a lapping stone for other hones. But I think the "Little Devil" (I think it's a type of carborundum synthetic hone - very fast cutting) is, so far, the best razor hone I've ever tried, and it's now the only hone I use. If you can find one I highly recommend it.

I also have a hone called the "Reliance", a two sided combination barbers hone (the other of the two AHC hones I have), but I really like the "Little Devil" the best.

In addition I have a vintage yellow Belgian, and another synthetic grey colored hone called a "Mell-o 40/20", but I still prefer the "Devil" to all of them.

Too bad American Hone Co went out of business. Success Barber is still around, but their "Hone Lady" passed away.

But, I agree that getting a factory fresh Dovo ready for shaving is a very minor operation. In fact, I'd try just stropping the razor first to see if that were enough.

I know that in many cases a good stropping will work (depending on stropping skill, of course). I think to assume that the razor needs a honing out of the box, by default, is sort of like deciding to re-charge your car battery before trying to start the car.


Scott