Thread: Dovo Diamant....

Hello everyone,

I am new to straight shaving and I bought a Boker Edelweiss as my first razor. I thought, based on an internet video that I saw, that the razor was shave ready out of the box but it obviously wasn't. Anyway I did a hanging hair test and it didn't pass. Long story short I am thinking about buying another razor from either Hart Steel or Straight Razor Designs (because both come shave ready). I started looking at the Boker's that SRD has to offer and they are pretty much all sold out. I started looking at Dovos and they are mostly sold out. The only one I found that they currently have in stock that I think I might like is the Dovo Diamant. Does anyone have any feed back on how they shave, how the finish on them lasts, how they take and keep an edge, etc? I have heard some bad things about the gold lettering that Dovo uses on their razors. Some people say it falls off easily and stuff. IDK I guess I am looking for a suggestion. If not this razor, then what?

Hi SB - from my understanding, no razors from the factory come with a shave ready edge. They all have to be touched up to be shave ready by an experience honemeister. The closest I've heard from a honemeister was the the Theirs Izzard come the closest to shave ready, but still need to be honed.

There are far more experience members here who can give you some advice, but, like I said, no "factory edge" is shave ready.

Hey simpler,

I bought a Diamant a year or so ago and also have a couple of Harts. The Diamant has only touched flesh about a dozen times (I rotate through a number of razors) so I can't give you a long term read on the durability of the black finish or the lettering but it is perfect so far. Just about any of the current production Boker or Dovo razors will be good shavers if properly honed and will hold edges well assuming that you do your part. I'd rate the workmanship of the Bokers a bit higher than the Dovos but the difference is slight and both make very good razors.

The Harts are in a different category as semi-custom, artisan produced works of art. They hold their edges exceptionally well in my experience.

Whatever you decide to buy, just be careful to buy it from a reputable dealer. You can't go wrong with SRD - it'll be honed by you-know-who and will be genuinely shave ready.

rs,
Tack

Is there any truth to what people say about the difference in price of the different Dovos only being due to the difference in lettinger and cosmetic stuff? I read a post someone put on here saying that the Dovo Best Quality used the same steel and produced the same edge as all the other carbon steel razors in Dovo's line-up. Is that true? I know that you don't get little functional things like Jipping or w.e. its called with the Best Quality razors but is that the only fuctional difference between the best quality and the higher priced Dovos?

*lettering haha

the jimps are the lines on the tang for grip, they all have jimps. the carbon razors are all the same the difference in cost is scale material and gold

the difference in cost is based on size of the blade, type of scale material, any cosmetic additions like:blueing, goldwash, decorative spine, and type of steel: ss, 01 carbon tool, T135 ( thieres issard' choice).

You should send your Boker to be honed. Take a look at member services.

I know you have your heart set on the Dovo, but the Ralf Aust Model 1402 is only $99.99 instead of $159. I have one and it came shave ready. Gave it a real good strop and it works great. Save $60 for now and get a good shave.

I have read that there is only one razor blank maker left in Solingen that supplies them for all the remaining razor grinders there. Razor makers elsewhere may use different alloys (TI, for example) but the difference is slight. There are differences in blade style, finish, decoration and in scale material, shape and finish of course but not much difference in pure functionality.

Consider the difference between a Craftsman and a Snap-On wrench: each is a high quality, properly sized tool that will last for many years but one is more pleasing to the eye and hand as well as delivering that intangible pride of ownership that makes it worth the extra tarrif. A quality razor is a tool that will serve you for a lifetime and may be handed down to the next generation.

The old saying that life is too short to drink cheap beer applies here too. Buying quality has no down side but, in the end, buy whatever pleases you.

rs,
Tack