Thread: Calling All Experts

An unfortunate case of straightrazoritis has befallen me. You see, my thoughts are now consumed with upgrading from this measly disposable straight I've bee using for some time now. Any who, I am here for some advice in terms of whether I've come upon a good buy.

Link : STRAIGHT RAZOR VERY OLD DOVO 2 Pcs Set - eBay (item 160436786464 end time May-30-10 12:01:24 PDT)

Do you experts out there consider it a catch? If so, what maximum bid should I shoot for? Thanks in advance for all the help.

Welcome to SRP

In general we don't talk about $$. Short of what we bought something for and not much else. You may get some PT's but nothing in open forum.

Check out what they cost new at sites like Classic Shaving and Straight Razor Disgnes, their links are floating around the forums

I think that the only 'catch' you're going to really find is in the classifieds here. It's still got nearly a day to go with, no doubt, several snipe bids placed....and for what? There might be an issue with the bevel, its likely to need honing, cracks, chips...it's a gamble. It's like walking up to a roulette table and asking if 'red' is a good bet and how much should you bet.

With the classifieds, you're not as likely to make a gamble. It's shave ready, with no damage unless specified. Those razors are from shavers selling to other shavers.

Originally Posted by gr8st

An unfortunate case of straightrazoritis has befallen me. You see, my thoughts are now consumed with upgrading from this measly disposable straight I've bee using for some time now. Any who, I am here for some advice in terms of whether I've come upon a good buy.

Link : STRAIGHT RAZOR VERY OLD DOVO 2 Pcs Set - eBay (item 160436786464 end time May-30-10 12:01:24 PDT)

Do you experts out there consider it a catch? If so, what maximum bid should I shoot for? Thanks in advance for all the help.

We do not offer advice on prices and Ebay auctions!

Dovo makes a good razor and makes new ones today.
I think I might be older than the razor is...

Do ask the seller if the blade is free of chips and cracks.

Compare what you are willing to pay with the price of a
new Dovo and also compare with the price of a nice clean blade
from the Classified at the top of this page....

Expect to have to send it out for a professional sharpening...
factor in that cost when you calculate what you are willing to pay.

Its a 50 /50 prop. between getting a good one or a not so good one from Ebay. Chances are it will need honed. I agree with the other members shop the classifieds, SRD, Vintage Blades, etc. Unless you are looking for one to restore then I would try maybe antique shops at least there you can pick up and see close up what you're getting into.

Welcome to SRP. The strop is too short for my tastes. The razor will undoubtedly need pro honing so add twenty bucks to whatever it finally goes for as well as the expense of sending it out and turn around time. OTOH, if you go to one of the fore mentioned vendors and get a razor and a strop set you'll be starting out with a brand new razor and a proper strop with leather and a fabric component. Straight Razor Designs does not charge for the initial honing and includes a certificate for a second honing at no extra charge. If you go with them and also buy a strop upgrading to the 3" premium 1 or latigo is a good idea IMO. Read my sig below and follow the link to the SRP Wiki beginner's guide for more pertinent info.

You're asking for advice and the members that have posted to this thread before me are giving you good advice. eBay is generally not the place to find a great razor at a ridiculously low price. Many of the members here, myself included, have attempted to do this with remarkably poor results, again, myself especially. One ends up accumulating a large number of razors in poor condition which then causes the problem of getting rid of them, a process which invariably loses a lot of money. Buy yourself a good razor from our classifieds or from one of the many excellent vendors that advertise here. Face it, everyone and his dog that is interested in our hobby scrutinizes eBay, there are very, very few bargains. The few bargains that exist occur when a hapless seller lists a razor under, say, electronics or something equally improbable.

Hm, I suppose there was a lot I had yet to consider. Thank you all for the kind recommendations and I will surely come back in the event I need more clarification.