Thread: hen and rooster stainless ?

vintage DOVO SOLINGEN straight razor HEN & ROOSTER - eBay (item 160320077608 end time Mar-11-09 18:44:03 PDT) I recently purchased a Hen and Rooster (DOVO?) off of Ebay. I love the condition and the shave I get using this razor but I question if the box that came with it is the proper match. For one thing, there is nothing on the blade to indicate that Dovo is the mfg. Another thing is the magnetic properties of the metal. It is highly magnetic for a stainless steel blade. Could the description of this razor be incorrect?
It is listed as inoxidable Sweedish stainless steel made by Dovo. I copied the link to it on Ebay above.
I need some opinions, educated guesses, and if available, a definitive statement regarding the match of the coffin to this razor.

Your help is appreciated,
Don

when i saw it on ebay i decided that the seller has no idea what they're talking about.
in my book it's hen&rooster razor in a dovo box,

I've got the identical razor. Mine came in a presentation box of sorts with the H&R logo in the satin when you open the lid. Mine honed up to be a darn good shaver. I just went and checked and darned if it ain't magnetic. I had heard that some stainless steel is magnetic and some is not. I guess it has to do with what is in the alloy.

Jimmy,
You're right about it being a really good shaver. I'll put it up against my TI and Dovo Astrale anyday. It does strop into shape pretty quickly- another thing that makes me think this is definetly not stainless.
The scales are jigged bone that has been dyed red. Is that the scales you have on your Hen and Rooster or (as I believe) were the original scales replaced ? You wouldn't happen to know what Dovo razor goes with that box ? Maybe I should start looking for a Swedish SS Dovo.
Thanks,
Don

Don, the scales are original to the razor. I have seen them on ebay and elsewhere in both red and in green jigged bone. I have the vague impression that I have seen one in black bone but I'm not sure. Here are a couple of photos of my H&R along with the box and slip case. In the second photo note the SKU label that denotes the razor as having red bone scales. BTW, here is a link to an article explaining the magnetic properties of some stainless steels.

Actually those razors are distributed through Frost Cutlery here in the U.S who bought the rights to the Hen and Rooster Logo several years ago. I would guess they are made by Dovo. The real deal hen and Rooster razors and knives are marked bertrum who was the original owner going back to the 1800s. Now if you can find one of those razors you would indeed have the holy grail. I know a guy who has 9 of them but I'm not talking.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Actually those razors are distributed through Frost Cutlery here in the U.S who bought the rights to the Hen and Rooster Logo several years ago. I would guess they are made by Dovo. The real deal hen and Rooster razors and knives are marked bertrum who was the original owner going back to the 1800s. Now if you can find one of those razors you would indeed have the holy grail. I know a guy who has 9 of them but I'm not talking.

I still have a couple of pocket knives marked either C.Bertram or Gutmann Cutlery. Gutmann imported them for awhile. I have had H&R pocket knives marked Voss and one other name that I can't think of right now. The old C. Bertrams were darn good knives. The later ones may have been good too but I can't say from personal experience. Other then the recent razor I never had one of the old ones.

The stainless steel used in quality edged tools is martinsitic, usually 440 stainless or some modified version of 440. All martinsitic stainless steels are magnetic. Austinitic stainless (such as 304) is not, but it is considerably softer than the martinsitic steels and not fit for a quality blade (though it is used in some cheap knives).

I have two hen and rooster razors bought 3-4 years back . One on Ebay and one from the knifecenter. That was a brief period when these were showing up.

Both of mine had nothing special plastic flexible scales. Both of those blades though are among my best, effortless, smoothest shavers.

Perhaps the bone type scales serve the blade better.

I reccomend that anyone that has the opportunity to buy one. They are great!
MikeB

Careful... the picture in this thread says Solingen on the blade. I found one (a couple suspect but one definite) that had a tang stampign rubbed off but you could still make out _____STAN. And it did not say Solingen on the blade.