Thread: Best Straight for $150-250.00 Straight Razor suggestions. What do you think??

+1 on BeBerlin's Dovo comment. If you have funds leftover, something tells me you don't have a strop, brush, and shaving soap/creams yet.

Then spend a lot of time reading while everything is in the mail!

Dovo Bismark is an ideal choice for a first razor as BeBerlin suggests

Ever seen a Dovo Bergisher Lowe?Beautiful razor,but at the outer limit of your budget.

Originally Posted by TrevorMiller

Thanks guys. I was really hoping to get some quality for under $250.00.

I'm not sure whether I mis-understood this or not. Sounds like you feel disappointed... I haven't got long experience in the hobby but I would argue that you are buying quality even with entry-level dovo, especially when you skip blades on the brands to avoid list.

It's just a matter now much bling you want from your razor. 250 dollar razor necessarily won't shave you twice better as a 125 dollar blade, but it probably will be more fancy. You should look through what razors are available and see what you find esthetically and functionally pleasing. If this is your first razor, I would not get too hung on it, since your tastes might change after you use it for a while...

Good shave really boils down to blade, technique and preparation of beard. Remember to pay attention to prep too. Quality soaps/creams are a big factor to shaves too.

What about a TI "LeGrelot"?! These are excellent daily-use razors. They may not have the same level of history or collectability as others mentioned here, but I would say for a durable edge and a great, consistent shave, you can't do better. And you can buy them easily from either Vintage Blades or Classic Shaving.

Lots of good choices here and a lot of personal preferences. The Classifieds will get you some better prices, but if you want to buy new, here is a short list of some that come to mind:

Dovo - BL, Prima Klang....SS Micarta, Bismark, Best Class
TI - Le Grelot

But that is only 1/2 of the picture as these other items contribute a lot to a great shave:

Decent Badger Brush
Decent Shaving Soap
Decent strop
and....possibly a pasted paddle strop

Then it is off to buying additional straights.......so try not sweat bullets on your first straight razor purchase. There will be others.

Good Luck,

Pabster

I'd take a look at the "5 favorites" thread (should still be pg 1 or 2 of this section). Pick up 2-3 of the names you see a lot in good condition off ebay. Send them to someone from classifieds to restore/hone. And then shave. Or if you can find them shave ready off classifieds for a decent price, you can save yourself the restore/honing step.

Originally Posted by wedwards

Uhm...thats like asking whats the best meal I can get - everyone will have a different opinion based on their experiences, skill level, and other factors.

You might want to provide a bit more detail about yourself and your straight razor shaving history in order to get any worthwhile recommendations.

Im not exactly looking for the details per say or any straight in particular at all. I am just interested in what you guys would personally get for the money ($150-250) if you used it to shave everyday. As long as its a straight. I would love to hear what you guys would do then go from there

I'd probably get a new Dovo Tortoise Special 6/8 (or 5/8) and a heavier grind half-hollow+, name vintage, from the classifieds. That would give you 2 different grinds to play with and a back-up razor.

Originally Posted by Sticky

I'd probably get a new Dovo Tortoise Special 6/8 (or 5/8) and a heavier grind half-hollow+, name vintage, from the classifieds. That would give you 2 different grinds to play with and a back-up razor.

Absolutely! Take it from these guys Trevor. As mentioned I picked up a couple razors from classifieds. I figure I'd practice my stropping/honing with those as well as ones from ebay. The latter I use more really as ones from classifieds are even better condition and don't need much work.

It'll save you a lot of grief should you roll awesome edge of new razor on strop. I made that mistake and henceforth I figured not use those razors much in rotation but to use them as benchmarks to compare the honing to. It's really great guideline. Even though shaving for few months now, by no means am an expert. I just test shaved 3 razors the other day and it's not up to par with Dovo's. I re-honed one of them and it's sharper than it ever was. The other one still needed work as it was tugging in spite of it popping hairs. Take care mate and keep updated