Thread: I want two or three identical straight razors. Suggestions.

Originally Posted by Euclid440

You could roll the dice with a couple Dovo. Even if they have issues, they can be made to shave.

Or pick up a couple of Union Spikes. They are great American Steel made during the heyday of the Little Valley razors and can be purchased for under $25 in good condition, (requiring some clean up) or spend up to $50 for a pristine example. At those prices you could get 3 or 4.

Stay away from the Green translucent Gold Spike, they are notorious for Cell Rot.

There are 28 Union Spikes on eBay right now. Spikes were also made by other companies.

Great shavers, easy to hone. (shoulder less) and they are all alike in steel and performance. For new honers they are great razors to learn to hone on and are not expensive.

If you want to spend a few dollars more for lifetime keepers, look at a couple of Case Red Imps. The 132 shoulder less is very much like a Union Spike shoulder less, but with Case quality. Most have dull red scales but the steel and grind quality are first rate. Usually in the $50-100 price range, but occasionally under $20. Super shavers.

There are 12 on eBay now.

Second the Union Spike. It is easy to accumulate several in approximately the same stage of wear, and they go pretty cheap. Nice razors, too. My second favorite production razor, after the Bismarck (Dovo and the pre-Dovo of the same pattern). They are nimble shavers, straight edge, simple to hone. Just watch out for that notorious point when you shave with one.

Entry level Dovo razors can be far from identical. I wouldn't use them for a benchmark. If you step up to the Silver Steel or Bismarck or other midrange blade, yeah you can get consistency, at a price. The recent production Gold Dollar 66 razors would work. Even better, the 1996 or the nearly identical W62. I know you said good quality, but they are fairly consistent in grind these days, and the steel is and for a good many years has been fairly good. It will get your hand in the game cheap. You could expand your sample group to 20 and get the 20 of the #66 on fleabay for $74 shipped. I would give you my favorite seller's user name but not sure if that is allowed here. The 1996, W62, or the classic models at 200 and above will be ground better, with the edge and spine in much better alignment. i.e., not twisted or warped. If you want Solingen steel, Revisor's plane Jane 5/8 razors would fill the bill at a little more than entry Dovo price, but less than Dovo midrange price. More consistent grinding than the GD66 of course. I would avoid ZY, Titan, etc due to the large bevel angles being outside the standard range. The GD66 is a little fat, too, actually, but not so much as the others. I think you want something that hones and handles in sort of a mainstream manner, right?

I think your best option would be the Union Spike. Price is nice, steel is nice, grind is dead consistent, easy to hone, and when you are done experimenting you have some nice shavers that didn't cost much.