Thread: Dovo vs Bengall

Hello All,

Long time lurker, first time poster

I have, hopefully, a quick question/comment. I bought a new Dovo about 6 months ago (cheapest, white plastic handle, 5/8 - I think...). It now needs a hone, and I bought a Norton 4k/8k combo stone after reading some posts from the group. My father-in-law gave me his grandfather's (!) old Bengall 3/4 to practice on and things went really well - I'm shaving with this now.

However, I've noticed that the Dovo is taking considerably longer to sharpen than the Bengall. I'm thinking (hoping) this is just a matter of the different carbon compositions of the two blades, but I'm not sure. Does anyone have any experience sharpening Dovos?

I've got some experience sharpening both Dovos and Bengalls....usually the Bengall is much harder to hone, unless you got a stainless Dovo. The Bengall is a much better razor, IMO.

Joe,

Thanks for the reply. I'm guessing that my Dovo must be stainless steel - I don't know this for sure, but would make sense in light of your comment. I also agree that the old Bengall is a much better razor than the Dovo I bought (I wish I knew then what I know now...).

Anyway, if the Dovo is stainless it will still sharpen, just take a lot longer?

Thanks,

James.

I have a dovo stainless and I believe all the dovo stainless razors are so marked. Yes thay take longer to hone but not really tremendously longer. I would think the bengall would take about equal time as the dovo stainless.

OK. I'm at work at the moment and can't check my razor, but I'm pretty sure it isn't marked anywhere as being stainless steel. I know I should know what my razor is made of, but I received very little info. from the people I bought it off - I think they may have had even less idea than I had at the time, but that's a story for another time and forum, I guess.

The Dovo is definitely taking more work than the Bengall. Perhaps I am subconsciously pulling my punches with the shiny new Dovo

James.

Is it marked "inox" or some such? That's a common stainless indicator on german razors.

I have come across an occasional Dovo that didn't come up to the edge I like, but have never come across a Bengall in decent shape that didn't sharpen up really nice.

James

I have a dovo that has been reluctant to hone, however I have always found Bengall's good to hone. If you are still having ihoning ssues with the Dovo razor and you want to discuss, PM me as I just happen to live in Brisbane and may be able to assist.

John

You may be "pulling your punches" on the Dovo. I have a tendancy to think the new shavers should be quicker to take a shave sharp edge but in many cases they do not. I purchased a Straight Razor Place Thiers from Classic Shaving. It was a pain in the butt to get sharp in comparison with other razors I have honed.

Hello everyone,

Sorry for taking so long to reply, I've been away from my computer for a few days. However, I've done some research in that time and my Dovo is definitely not stainless steel.

After reading your replies (thank you - this forum is excellent) I went away and exhibited some patience. I'm happy to say that I've got the Dovo "shave sharp" - perhaps even better than when I first bought it (feels that way, anyway).

Just as an aside, on the weekend my father in law gave me another two razors: another (very rusty) Bengall ("+Extra+ Hollow Ground" - just looks bigger to me, but I'll have a read around) and a "Geo Wostenholm" in pretty good shape. Looks like I'll be gettin plenty more honing practice before I'm through .

Thanks again,

James.