The low down on classifieds...from a pro

Hi, I'm Matt...

I am a beginner (though i have hacked a line with a sharp knife in the field and I get competent quickly). I do not plan, despite the overwhelming assertion of the enthusiasts, to build a collection of blades. I want ONE right now, that my growing skill and steep learning curve won't out run immediately. I was offered a shave ready Dovo Prima and strop for $130, but research lead me to believe that this may not be the best i can do. I have a very medium beard. I want to not have to upgrade frequently. I understand the subjectivity of all of this.

Can anybody with experience chime on this? Troll the classifieds and point me to something, offer up something, or tell me to get the Dovo? And, can i get consensus from a handful of forum members?

Thanks to contributors, especially if this lands me the right blade for me...

That is a pretty good deal...

A Dovo Prima Klang new is around $190 and yer getting a strop too..

That is a deal that is pretty solid IMHO,


Making the basic assumption that the Razor and Strop are in good working condition of course, if you are unsure of what to look for please post a pic and I will be more then happy to take a look at them and give you an opinion

I really shouldn't frequent the classifieds, it's way too tempting. There's a beautiful Duck there with a beautiful spike point that I like the look of; I love an evil spike, my first razor had a spike point. Many say beginners shouldn't start with one, but it taught me respect quickly.

Also the Red Imp is nice looking too.

There's also a really cool W&B with really cool patina if you like old looking razors but it'd possibly be harder to hone than the Duck and you'd need to keep on top of the patina to ensure it doesn't turn in to active rust, esp at the pivot.

If I needed another razor (which I don't) I'd splash out on the Duck. They are supposed to be very nice razors and if you DO only want one, this would last you the rest of your like and be very nice to look at too.

Just my opinion, I have no personal interest in promoting any particular sales...

Seriously, I haven't checked out the classifieds for a while and it looks like you could almost shut your eyes and point to the screen and choose a razor and it'd be a nice one.

Sounds like a good deal, hopefully it's truly shave ready. Pics say a whole lot...

If I may offer up the advice of another who is relatively new to this, I would first point out that, as long as your first razor is in good shape and is really shave ready, there wouldn't really be any need to upgrade. In other words, there really is no such thing as a "beginner" and "advanced" straight razor, IMHO, regardless of the fact that you may read certain characteristics that are well suited for a beginner (5/8 or 6/8, round point). As long as you don't buy some cheap piece of steel (check the beginners' section of the library for a list of brands to avoid), you should be good to go.

Also, it is unclear what you mean when you say that Dovo package may not be the best that you can do. Do you mean that you think you can find a better brand than the Dovo in your price range, or do you mean that you think you can find a package deal at a lower price? Both may be true, though saying that one particular brand is better than another is totally subjective (and Dovo is a really good brand). You can, however, find a good setup for less money without needing to upgrade: 1)go to the classifieds and pick something you like, as long as it is shave ready- 5/8, 6/8, round tip, spike- whatever you like the look and the price of; 2) buy an Illinois strop (google), a Big Daddy from Star Shaving, or one of several at SRD (range of materials and prices); 3) buy a Semogue or Omega boar brush and a puck of soap or cream (for a really cheap option, go to walmart or walgreens and buy the Van der Hagen box set). It is possible to get this whole setup for less than $100.

On the other hand, if that Dovo is coming from someone you know personally, I would jump on it in a heartbeat- especially if that someone is an experienced SR shaver who can mentor you. If this person is also skilled at honing, then you would really be in fine shape. Good luck!

I would personally have gone for that dovo and strop if it was in good condition. My first razor was a dovo and I was thinking about the Prima alot but decided on a different dove. All doves in mine and probably most others experience all shave the same when honed the same.

Course there are cheaper options and you might be able to get a better razor. MIGHT being the key word. You could stroll through the classifieds here or on ebay or etsy if you know what to look out for and pick up a nice vintage razor for 20-30 bucks or go to an antique store and hope the people selling them don't know what they have and get a steal like I do. After you get your razor you could learn to make all your own soap and strops and all that other stuff but that will take you quite some time and you won't know what professionally made equipment and soap is supposed to be like to compare your homemade stuff.

Or you could piece a kit together like others have suggested and that may or may not be cheaper depending on your self control. I tend to gravitate to the most expensive things thinking they are better.

No matter what I would still have gone for that dovo and strop deal especially if it came from someone you know and could teach you to use it and maintain it.

Attachment 145562Attachment 145563

Thanks to respondents... you absolutely understood what I was talking about. To clarify about what I meant about "doing better", I did a good deal of opinion reading before I started looking at blades. There are opinions on grinds and such as to how different beard textures react to features. I wanted to know about the extra full hollow and my medium beard. Also, wondered about the price vs performance and life. If i did this right, the requested pics are above. If not, I will try again...

Oh yeah, I do not know him...there will be no "customer service". He does say it has just been sent out for "sharpening" and has been "sanitized".

Thanks guys

Get the Dovo...it's a nice blade.

FROM the PICS !!!

The razor looks to be in good shape, a couple of water stains but that is to be expected..

There is much speculation about grind vs beard I have found the really important part of the razor is the edge, there are subtle differences in the grinds to be sure but nothing that would stop you from shaving..

Basically this now falls back to your final decision, I don't see anything on that razor for me to say "No"

I will attempt to secure the blade and will advise. Thank you, gentlemen. I do get the sensation that I am speaking with another gentleman when I've communicated here. It will be interesting to me to see if you can judge a man by how he shaves...

Much Gratitude-Matt

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Originally Posted by matt1357111317

I will attempt to secure the blade and will advise. Thank you, gentlemen. I do get the sensation that I am speaking with another gentleman when I've communicated here. It will be interesting to me to see if you can judge a man by how he shaves...

Much Gratitude-Matt

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Can you judge a man by how he shaves?

No.

So you have encountered some disagreeables on here, eh? Fair enough...they are everywhere. Thusly, we will conceive in terms of probabilities instead of certainties...

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Originally Posted by matt1357111317

I will attempt to secure the blade and will advise. Thank you, gentlemen. I do get the sensation that I am speaking with another gentleman when I've communicated here. It will be interesting to me to see if you can judge a man by how he shaves...

Much Gratitude-Matt

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It's a great bunch of guys we have here, invariably I find guys here respectful, caring and well meaning. There's the occasional one or two who are argumentative or overly opinionated, but you get that...

You talkin' to me? ;)

Just my two cents, you can only know if you like it until you try it. You might like the extra full hollows; you might not. If you do not like it you can always sale or trade for a different one. I have a coarse beard and have shaved with extra full hollow blades without issues. It does seem like a food deal for the money....if the edge is dialed in right.

I have made the arrangements to purchase the blade tomorrow in the am. I dug a little with the guy to see why he was parting with it and got the response I was looking for: he has several, he is moving and needs to downsize and needs moving cash. When asked why the Dovo was the one that had to go he didn't specify, but did list his likes about the blade in knowledgable terms. My impression is that he knows what shave ready and dialed in is...fingers crossed. There will be new pics of the piece and the strop tomorrow for those who are interested in what my $130 got me...

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Originally Posted by matt1357111317

So you have encountered some disagreeables on here, eh? Fair enough...they are everywhere. Thusly, we will conceive in terms of probabilities instead of certainties...

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Er...what? But in any case, all the best for your first shaves. Read all you can and stay patient.

The shaves will invariably improve the longer you stick with it. The Dovo Prima Klang is a great razor and you are getting a really good deal.

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Originally Posted by Phrank

Can you judge a man by how he shaves?

No.

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Was trying to be humorous here...can see that it may have come across rather abrupt...apologies!!

Yes...no worries. I was simply saying that it is admirable to posses, as a trait, an unwillingness to compromise quality to save some effort. Those who wish to obtain quality without effort develop skill, which, in and of itself, requires effort. Not shunning effort takes character. Since nothing is absolute or certain, you cannot say that just taking the time to obtain the skill to achieve a superior shave or any other quality skill makes you a good person...but it certainly doesn't hurt.

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Originally Posted by matt1357111317

Yes...no worries. I was simply saying that it is admirable to posses, as a trait, an unwillingness to compromise quality to save some effort. Those who wish to obtain quality without effort develop skill, which, in and of itself, requires effort. Not shunning effort takes character. Since nothing is absolute or certain, you cannot say that just taking the time to obtain the skill to achieve a superior shave or any other quality skill makes you a good person...but it certainly doesn't hurt.

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That's interesting, and I agree....for me it was about enjoying the experience of shaving, the time to learn, the technical and the art behind it, and treating shaving like an, "experience" rather than a, "task".

It enables you to slow down, to think about what you're doing, and as a result, enjoy what you're doing, and gain a sense of enjoyment and satisfaction from the experience rather than just looking at as another task in your day. I find it sets the tone for my entire day.

Just my opinion....

There is an entire school of thought that what you just described, as applied to all tasks, is one of the pillars of happiness...

Many of us find shaving to be relaxing, some even describe it as Zen like.
http://smileys.on-my-web.com/reposit...-spoon-boy.gif

That's the word...find it in every task...in a lot of tasks that require steel and iron...

Ok, as promised...the Dovo Prima Klang and strop I got for $130. It turns out the guy purchased these here and, "two shaves ago", sent it in to "the guy on straightrazorplace that hones for them". Any feedback?Attachment 145692Attachment 145693Attachment 145694Attachment 145695Attachment 145696Attachment 145697

...now on to learning the skill...any suggestions for best presentation in the why and the how of all necessary skills?

Very nice...that's funny how you got them! Couple of months ago, I an older Dovo Bismarck, the one with the inlay on the scales, guy said he only used it once, didn't like it. It also came with a 3" strop, very nice. He said it came sharpened from the guy.

When it arrived, the strop had the SRD logo on it and when I asked him where he got it, he said from SRD...so, like you, I ended up with a nice razor, used once, for a great price!

You did well, blade and strop for that price....excellent...review proper stropping techniques, learning to roll the spine properly or you may roll your edge...not good. That's an important one, slow and steady.

Sure you've already reviewed the first shave video's and the techniques, again go slow, don't rush it, start just with the sideburn area and progress from there...as you mentioned, it's a skill, takes time to learn, but well worth it in the end!

Congrats!

My suggestions. make sure to pull the skin in the opposite direction you are doing the stroke to keep the skin taut at all times. Puff out your cheeks when doing that area and pulling your mouth to one side can really help. Use a very light, gentle stroke, like stroking your skin with a feather. Keep the spine angle very shallow, no more than one or max two spine widths away from your face at all times except for advanced techniques like scooping under the nose area which I wouldn't recommend quite yet.

Beware when you first start your stroke, that is where the vast majority of cuts and slices occur. Watch as many shave videos as you can before and read as much as you can about the theory beforehand. It will help, but ultimately, experience is the best teacher.

Stick with it, your shaves will get better and better. Guaranteed.

Cry havoc and lit slip the blades of yore!

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Originally Posted by matt1357111317

Ok, as promised...the Dovo Prima Klang and strop I got for $130. It turns out the guy purchased these here and, "two shaves ago", sent it in to "the guy on straightrazorplace that hones for them". Any feedback?

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I appears that you have made a very nice score! I would presume that you meant to write: Straight Razor Design instead of SRP!

I believe that you have a shave ready razor honed by one of the best there is in the entire world; Founder of SRP Lynn Abrams!

Thank you all so much...I am pretty excited (per norm) with the blade and the prospect of mastering a new skill. I am going to study for a while before the proverbial rubber meets the road...I have the patience and steady hands of a surgeon...but am also humble enough to do a lot of watching first. Right now I wear a beard. I will be beginning with lining up the beard and my neck...

Also, the guy said the blade shaves better warm (?). This is the opposite of anything I'd have done in the past. I usually try to keep my cold, rinsing constantly in cold water...

I use cold water to rinse also. But touching cold steel to your face may not be so pleasant. I think warming the blade up first is more a comfort thing than an effectiveness thing.

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Originally Posted by matt1357111317

Also, the guy said the blade shaves better warm (?). This is the opposite of anything I'd have done in the past. I usually try to keep my cold, rinsing constantly in cold water...

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There may be many things that were meant by the razor liking to be 'warm'!

Personally I 'think' that it means having your face ready to shave, lather applied etc, then the razor is stropped/thus being 'warm' right off of the leather!

This is how I do it here at home, however when I send a razor out that I've honed for someone else, I send it with the blade and edge oiled with instructions to just rinse the oil off with hot tap water and have a go with it! I guess that would put the blade in the 'warm' category!

I also rinse the lather from my razors with hot tap water!

"Steel likes heat" quote from GSSIXGUN!

Interesting...I suspect it is something to play with. I liked the sensation of cold steel in the past because it allowed me to easily track the blade on my face. Also I was under the impression that cold (contracted steel would be sharper (all else being equal).

This guy did specifically say "hot water"...

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Originally Posted by matt1357111317

This guy did specifically say "hot water"...

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Well if it worked well for him, I'd say try it first and then 'play'! Maybe Mike Blue can join in and help about the differences between warm and cold steel! :shrug:

I'm not Mike (obviously), but the temps your face can handle has no impact on steel. Some like a cold water shave, some like hot. I personally like it hot, but have done a few cold water shaves...but not by my choice.

Matt,
This would be a great time to find a "mentor". You will notice that most of us put our "location" of where we are. Finding a mentor would help make your journey much more comfortable. They don't have to be a "badged" mentor, just a shaving veteran.

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Originally Posted by shooter74743

Matt,
This would be a great time to find a "mentor". You will notice that most of us put our "location" of where we are. Finding a mentor would help make your journey much more comfortable. They don't have to be a "badged" mentor, just a shaving veteran.

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Shooter! Thank you, thank you and thank you! :tu :bow :tu :bow :tu :bow :tu

Having a location added would help so many of the new guys out! I’ve looked into making it mandatory and it seems that it would keep some of the new guys away as they don’t want people to know that information!

Having hands on help by a more experienced member would help so many!