Bergischer Löwe Owners

Hi guys.. This post serves as a warning to new BL owners and perhaps requesting feedback from existing ones.

By God is this razor pretty, but what do you all think about design? That rubber strip sure looks nice. Got my razor, must have shaved with it 5 times- each drying it with a hair dry and then oiling it every time.

Today the rubber piece moved aside by itself and behold, red rusty mist and when wiped off like black smudges underneath it.

Which bugs me! Because when razor came the black rubber piece was immobile and there was no way to dry underneath it without loosening it which you wouldn't want to do when new. But when it starts moving you get to see the disasters it has caused.

I know that many just cut it off before they started experiencing problems. Good decision. Now it's too late for me because it hides the damage it caused. Guess when it wears off and needs to come off for good, that's when I'll get depressed as for now it covers it well.

Sigh :(

Yes - this is an old standing issue with the BL - was going to grab one myself but was told there's just to many issues with them! The rubber band being the main one. You'd think Dovo would learn by now to remove the thing or do something better. I know one vendor now who won't sell them, because they keep coming back with this issue!!

But yes, they are a sweet looking razor!!

It is all in how you use and care for it, imo.
Mine is close to four years now, and looks just as it did when new.
The trick is to never get the tang wet.

I don't use water, except at the end only to carefully clean the blade 😔

And I blow-dry it and oil it. Oh well.. Can't do more. At this point will wither try to preserve it and not use it as much, or the opposite make it my daily shaver and not care as much.

The rubber piece will continue to cause problems no matter what I do , I believe.

Problem with these BL blades is the unknown. Of course we dry and maintain our blades, it's when we think we've done the work, and somehow something creeps in we don't know about, that the surprise of some rust occurs, and the fact is, the likelihood of condensation getting under that rubber band is much higher than a blade without it. You'd think Dovo would have tried to remedy this design flaw.

For the experienced user who knows how to take care of a blade, chances are minimal. As was explained to me by Phil at the Classic Edge, it was all the beginners who purchase this blade, rust occurs, and suddenly he's got lots of these blades coming back in to deal with...it's just not worth the headache to sell these blades....bad customer experience, much larger investment in time and resources to "fix" what shouldn't have to be fixed.

I have had other razors, NOS though, that have rubber sleeves, notably filarmonica and boker razors. Although some had particularly tight fitting sleeves, a little ingenuity got them all movable, after which I used a rust resistant treatment like tuf-glide. Never had an issue with them. One make (fili) was definitely inox, the others could have been too, only makes sense with a grip like this, but even inox rusts.

I can't really see the mindset of putting one these grips on a non-stainless razor FWIW, kind of like filling life-vests with lead: pointless.

Regards,
Neil

Why wouldn't you just take the rubber off...?

Problem solved :hmmm:

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Originally Posted by kwlfca

Why wouldn't you just take the rubber off...?

Problem solved :hmmm:

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Because it looks a bit naff? It was designed to have a certain look... presumably people buy it partly for the look.

Regards,
Neil

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Originally Posted by Neil Miller

Because it looks a bit naff? It was designed to have a certain look... presumably people buy it partly for the look.

Regards,
Neil

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I don't know what naff means, but if it were me, I'd just take the rubber off...but that's just me I suppose.

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Originally Posted by kwlfca

I don't know what naff means, but if it were me, I'd just take the rubber off...but that's just me I suppose.

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Naff UK slang for Poorly thought out, not to be confused with its etymology.

What's it look like under the rubber?

I thought the tang was gold plated on that razor, shouldn't that prevent rust?

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Originally Posted by kwlfca

What's it look like under the rubber?

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Blackened and pitted? Only joking.

Don't know, but if I bought it for the looks I would not be very happy at having to cut part of it off.

The bokers look ok without the rubber, they have a kind of hammered effect under it. Filis without the rubber look like someone lost the rubber.

Regards,
Neil

I would've taken the rubber off earlier, now it's too late the rubber hides the damage otherwise it'll be too ugly.

What it looks like.. Hmm.. Under the rubber if I were to move it to the side there's like a dark grey stain almost black and the gold wash is slightly faded.

Back in the 70s a very popular feature with cars was a vinyl top. Take the vinyl off after a few years and you had solid rust. Some vehicles at least had a normal paint job under the vinyl but most American cars had primer and that's it.

it's all in the name of style. Practicality means little.

The BL rubber had absolutely nothing in common with Bokers or Filarmonicas. It does not even remotely fit close enough to avoid trapping moisture and no matter how careful you are (Birnando I know you will chime in now), moisture will get underneath and ruin the gold wash. If anyone is considering buying one, take my advice and remove it. Full stop.

A few years ago I had a Filly Barbas Duras that was absolutely stunning - then I read about the rust issue when water gets under the rubber band. Thought about it for a few days, tried to get some Camellia Oil under it and wasn't convinced I'd been successful. That bugged me for a few more days and then I remember someone saying they'd injected oil or some other rust inhibitor under the rubber using a syringe. Thought about that one for a few hours but as that Neil Young song goes - "I've seen the needle and the damage done..." So I sold it... Problem solved.

No comfort to the OP, I know, but this thread has certainly put me off buying one.

Regards,
Len

What are you guys doing? Putting a blade underwater is just asking for trouble, especially when it is so much easier and neater to simply wipe the soap and whiskers off onto a cloth or tissue. No water means a far less chance of rust. I dont think the rubber grip on the BL is the issue here.

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Originally Posted by nun2sharp

What art you guys doing? Putting a blade underwater is just asking for trouble, especially when it is so much easier and neater to simply wipe the soap and whiskers off onto a cloth or tissue. No water means a far less chance of rust. I dont think the rubber grip on the BL is the issue here.

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Sound advice, indeed. BUT accidents happen no matter how careful you are. The OP seems to have been particularly careful, a bad design is not his fault.

Regards,
Neil

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Originally Posted by AirColorado

A few years ago I had a Filly Barbas Duras that was absolutely stunning - then I read about the rust issue when water gets under the rubber band. Thought about it for a few days, tried to get some Camellia Oil under it and wasn't convinced I'd been successful. That bugged me for a few more days and then I remember someone saying they'd injected oil or some other rust inhibitor under the rubber using a syringe. Thought about that one for a few hours but as that Neil Young song goes - "I've seen the needle and the damage done..." So I sold it... Problem solved.

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Good taste in music there, Aircolorado!

Regards,
Neil

Thanks Neil - been listening to his stuff since about '70 - The Needle was one of the 1st song I learned on guitar, still play it.

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Originally Posted by AirColorado

Thanks Neil - been listening to his stuff since about '70 - The Needle was one of the 1st song I learned on guitar, still play it.

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That's exactly what I said, amazes me to hear my son play it now on my old Martin, which he's only allowed to touch once every leap year....he can stick to his Washburn!!

If I had an old Martin I'd keep it in a gun safe!

Definitely off topic - but since we're here... bought my 7 year old a Fender Squire. Would have gone with an acoustic but his fingers aren't that big yet. Besides, he thinks ACDC's Thunderstruck and Ozzie's Crazy Train are the best songs EVER. Figured an acoustic would gather dust - and I want to keep him off my Strat.

OK back to our regularly scheduled programming...

This is my next razor purchase ... Sorry to hear that the rubber is giving problems... I think I'll just cut it off when I get it

Like some kindly said, from day one drying carefully, blow drying as well and oiling.. There's no room for more.

I read about the issues beforehand but thought these only marred the uncareful, but no.

So for new owners, ya cut it off right from the beginning. Although it won't look as pretty.

The thing is you need to use water at some point wiping it off with a towel doesn't remove all soap residue and then instead u will get stains on the blade. Have ur pick :s

Has anyone considered using a sealant like epoxy etc? Though I admit that seems like more work than should be necessary when buying a razor worth $265 or £185.

I've had my eye on a Dovo BL for a long time now but the rubber grip has given me pause...

The problems associated with the rubber tang band are the reason it is off my list. I wish they would bring out a new model BL exactly the same but without that silly band.

Bob

Buy the BL, if the rubber grip bothers you cut it off.

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Originally Posted by nun2sharp

Buy the BL, if the rubber grip bothers you cut it off.

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For the money paid that would bother me even more.

Bob

I did immediately take off the rubber before it's first use. Beautiful gold plating on the tang was waiting underneath and I've never regretted it. The razor is a great shave.