Thread: decisions, decisions?

Im turning 30 in may and my wife has agreed to buy me a staight for my birthday As it will be somthing i will use, keep and cherish forever i want to choose the right one. I have my eye on the TI french nose silverwing, but i also like the dreadnought spartacus with bone scales, And i have recently seen some NOS Dovo 7/8 with various scales. All are Fantastic razors no doubt! and all in the same ballpark $ wise (one a little chaeper than the others). I would love them all, but will have to settle for one. Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Style is a personal preferance. TI and Dovo are both great shavers just be sure to have it shave ready when purchased. Also a good brush, strop,and shaving cream or soap will make the shave the best. But be warned I told my wife 3 months ago I wanted 1 razor to try now I have twenty new and used ones , and I know I'm not the only one.

i have a TI spartacus & it's a great blade, it holds an edge great i would highly recommend it, as we speak i'm thinking of getting another one
well worth the investment

I would take the Dovo for a variety of reasons, none of them rational. The size and looks of that razor are just right, and old Dovo razors are consistently good - something that cannot be said of new production TIs.

REVISOR!!!!!!!!!!!! Check out the 5/8's & 6/8's... They are sweet!

Rasiermesser

Dovos, TIs, Revisors..... they are all good. I would recommend that the purchase decision includes a good brush, soap and a good strop. Be "ready to go" with a complete package. That "ready to go" includes the ability to properly strop beforehand so you don't damage the new strop or the edge of the fine razor your wife is about to get you.

.....OH..... and happy birthday!

inspectorgadget,

+1 on flylot's advice. You should at minimum factor in the cost of a strop and brush as part of the initial investment.

As for your razor choice...Personally, I would go with the Dovo as a starter. They are good shavers at a reasonable price. If you purchase a combo of razor, strop, etc. the total cost will be less than if you purchase each of the items separately.

One other thing...You may think that you will only purchase one razor to cherish for a lifetime, but believe me, str8 razors are like rabbits--they breed incessantly. Few devotees of str8 razor shaving make do with only one razor.

Take care. Happy birthday and smooth shaving...

oh yes be warned. straight razor shaveing is sorta like horses . one wont do for long.same for guns, custom knifes exc. however do get one pre honed by someone who knows what he or shes doing.after that you must learn to strop or your edge will fail quickly.if i had to do it all over again i would go with the dovo and then buy a tony miller strop with the parctice strop . if your plan is to shave the rest of your life with one razor( and it can be done)then go frist cabin.when i started i had a old rusty razor that someone gave me and even after i got it shaving pretty well. i counld help but think that there must be something better some 40 razors down the road i found that i could stoped after i honed the frist one. its still in my rotation and gives a very good shave. but hey i had to know didnt i?as for brushs here i think you can save some money . my frist tweezerman was 16 bucks i think, works just fine. i got a few more that cost a lot more but still like my tweezerman it dosnt shed and gets used a lot. and get a good soap or cream. your stroping and beard prep will make or break your shave

I have the Spartacus, it's made from historic steel, and shaves like a champ. The razor has a slanted blade which in book= very cool.

I would recommend a basic DOVO Best Quality. Most online vendors will sell them shave ready for $80 or so.

Don't spend $200 or $300 on something you may not like in a years time.