Thread: Razor Preference --- Plain or Ornate?

Originally Posted by dylandog

I fear that Jay may have taken it as a dig against cowboy boots, or people wearing cowboy boots with formal wear. I hope not! . Cowboy boots and a suit – excellent. The point was I can't see anybody wearing cowboy boots and one of these:

Not at all, I've just been away from the keyboard for a while. As Jeagerhund said, from my prospective, a fine pair of handmade boots and 100X Stetson or Resistol go with just about anything.

I haven't worn a frock coat in twenty years, but it didn't distract from the boots too much.

And please, don't judge Texans by President Bush. He is a transplant that is still trying to "figger out" what Texas is all about.

How would y'all characterize the Dovo Bismarck? The bone-handled one.

It has a bit of the gold work on it, but I don't think it's over the top. It's a classy razor, in my opinion. And plus, with normal use, it's going to fade some, and without the gold, the razor's shape is great. Nice file work on the spine too. Almost as though a chiropractor did it.

Originally Posted by Blade Wielder

How would y'all characterize the Dovo Bismarck? The bone-handled one.

It has a bit of the gold work on it, but I don't think it's over the top. It's a classy razor, in my opinion. And plus, with normal use, it's going to fade some, and without the gold, the razor's shape is great. Nice file work on the spine too. Almost as though a chiropractor did it.

I like the looks of it.The overall blade & handle are classy IMHO. The gold looks good with bone handle, and as you say, as it fades it just looks better, like any fine tool.

I think the white of the bone scales tones it down a bit and the gold work is simple and nice. It doesn't hit you hard like some of the others.


Justin


P.S. I wish we had a 'thumbs-up" smiley that wasn't so smiley --- just a simple "I feel ya " smiley.

Justin

Agreed Justin - this one's kinda fruity... i actually feel uncomfortable using it

Cheers
Ivo

Yeah, I agree with that. The bone is simple, you're right; and with only a bit of gold accenting, it makes for a handsome razor overall. I think the gold on the spine is a nice touch, and a bit of gold lettering on the blade itself is a common sight on many a razor. But I think I could do without the gold on both the shank and the tang. I mean, these are the areas of the razor the owner is going to be touching the most, so the gold is obviously going to wear off in no time.

I'm sure I'll like the razor quite a bit. What attracted me the most was the bone handle. I like razors that are made out of creatures!

Speaking of which, I just got out of the bathroom after a shave. I used my new ivory Erik Anton Berg razor that I purchased from a member here. (By the way, whoever bought the other razor in that pair, please chime in with your thoughts on it.)

It's not ornate. A rather plain design. The scales are very thin, so it's a super light razor, being a full-hollow 5/8 or so. It's my first ivory razor so I was excited to try it out for the first time. A little earlier I took it to the hone and put a pretty good edge on it. Then it was to the strop and then to the shave. I used my Shavemac (faux) ivory Silvertip brush and a dab of Taylor's St. James shaving cream. The razor really worked well. It felt like an aristocratic shave, it being made from endagered elephant ivory, likely. (Although it was probably killed a hundred years ago.) I had a couple days' worth of growth and the thing reduced it to BBS.

After finishing and drying the razor, I made a spot for it on the top shelf of my oak, mirrored medicine cabinet for my razors. It now sits alongside the 6/8 tortoise shell Dovo with spike point; my big Thiers-Issard "Red Stamina" 7/8 with wooden scales; and my Wade and Butcher oblique point (6/8) full-hollow that is in excellent condition and shines like it's brand new. German... French... English... Swedish. Diversity never looked so sharp.

I'd put the Swede between the German and the French -- just in case!

Originally Posted by OLD_SCHOOL

From what I have seen around the forums

Thats just going from pictures I seen here and not actual experience.

Other forums......????????? Who......What........Where.........What..........

Have fun,

Lynn

Originally Posted by izlat

yeah, on that point - I think it's pretty funny how many men agree wholeheartedly with this for the little things, then go and get married

Cheers
Ivo

Maybe our "personally available" choices in the vast variety of women were not so vast - making marriage that much more palatable!
We can't ALL be Ivo the heartbreaker!

BTW - I must prefer older, plain razors with patina (read: water spots, corrosion and in at least one case a hacked-off toe) Oh, and a nice flat spine. That's just based on my personal collection If it shaves well, I'll use it. But I particularly dislike most abalone and gold. I love a lot of the exotic woods and I think Buda's uniquely shaped scales are very cool.

Oh, that reminded me, I like the look of those old W&B (and others) with curved spines.