New Bismarck Thread (& a Stropping Question...)

[Ryan82]

My latest (shaving-related) purchases arrived late last week, including my new 6/8 Dovo Bismarck w/ dark red scales. She came prehoned from SRD (by Lynn I'm assuming) so there was little question about the shave readiness. Gentleman, I have to say that she may not be a custom or the most expensive blade but she's a beauty for sure!

This is the first honemeister edge I've experienced. For sh*ts and giggles I didn't strop for the first shave just to see what the pro edge was like, as I believe Lynn advocates. She's sharp for sure. My second shave I stropped as I normally would and had a nice shave. Now, the purpose of my post is twofold:

1) I noticed that the fancy spine is, while quite nice, actually quite jagged. After I stropped I noticed that my strop had been "roughed up" a bit, meaning the spine scraped the leather (or more specifically at the top and bottom of the strop where I turn the blade for the reverse stroke). Has anyone else experienced anuything like this with a fancy spine? I was thinking of taping the spine with some scotch tape before I strop it from now on. Does this sound reasonable?

2) If any other Bismarck owners would like to share their opinions, pictures or stories by all means go ahead.

Cheers,

Ryan

[JimmyHAD]

Ryan, congrats on the nice razor. I don't have a Bismark so I can't speak to that particular worked spine. I do have a number of razors with worked spines and they do sometimes leave superficial scratches on the smooth surface of the strop. I haven't had one damage a strop to the extent that it would be a cause for concern. I do have more than one strop and I reserve one in particular for stropping those razors that might leave a mark.

[Pyment]

I have a Bismarck, but am at work ATM. I haven't had a blade do anything worrisome to my strop. Thank goodness, for that is one razor that would be out of the rotation and soon on its way out the door. I value my TM strop and wouldn't tolerate any blade that roughed it up.

I will examine both my strop and the Bismarck when I get home.

[crankymoose]

I have both a red scaled and a black scaled Bismarck, I just checked and the top edge where the spine work and gold trim are at is very smooth to the touch nothing on either of mine that would cause scuff marks to any kind of strop nor have they and both see regular rotation for the past 2 years now. If you run your hand down it does it feel smooth at the top or is there perhaps a burr that Dovo missed?

[Ryan82]

I have both a red scaled and a black scaled Bismarck, I just checked and the top edge where the spine work and gold trim are at is very smooth to the touch nothing on either of mine that would cause scuff marks to any kind of strop nor have they and both see regular rotation for the past 2 years now. If you run your hand down it does it feel smooth at the top or is there perhaps a burr that Dovo missed?

No, the spine is not smooth at all. The file marks are definitely jagged, which I assumed would have been that way on purpose. Having said that it sounds like the other Bismarcks are not like mine - I wonder if Dovo did miss something? I don't really want to Dremel it down as it might ruin my razor, but I really don't want to ruin my strop either (I have a TM 3" latigo). It's not a huge deal if I have to scotch tape it before stropping, but I've never heard of anyone else doing this before.

[dward]

Ryan, Ryan, Ryan.. Where are the pics??!! You know how much we love our razor porn!!

[Pyment]

I checked. No Jagged edges on my spine.

[majurey]

I know exactly what you mean about the spine and have had the same experience. BUT, there is no lasting effect on my strops. It's the same with all my worked-spine blades. No biggie, I really wouldn't worry about it. You should be rubbing the strops with the palm of your hand every so often anyway, and when you do this the marks all disappear.

The Red Bismark was my very first razor. Boy did I give that some punishment! I was such an impatient newbie that I ruined the edge many times, as well as having no idea what I was doing trying to revive it. It now remains a regular in my rotation. It's a very good looking razor IMO, and has just the right blade size. It is really a 5/8, but the spine's 'hump' (for want of a better description) makes it look 6/8.

But what constantly amazes me is how smooth a shave I get from it. Smoother than any blade I own other than my Livi. As my razors require touch-ups or bevel resetting, and I bring them back to shave ready, the Bismark is always the easiest to work AND gives the smoothest result. I have no idea why, but it must be something in the metal.

It's so well used that the gold wash is coming off now, but it's still a favourite.

[Ryan82]

You should be rubbing the strops with the palm of your hand every so often anyway, and when you do this the marks all disappear.

I usually do before each shave.

Like I said before I really like the look of this razor, and I also know what you mean about the "actual size" - is it just me or does this razor look a bit heftier than a full hollow when the hump is put into the equation? It's definitely beefier than my Duck and Genco.

[Ryan82]

Ryan, Ryan, Ryan.. Where are the pics??!! You know how much we love our razor porn!!

I know Dan, I didn't think about it until you mentioned it, I'm disappointed with myself. I'll get some pics out as soon as I figure out the USB connection on my computer.