Printable View
I have been shaving with straights for a few weeks now. I am using a Dovo Best Quality 6/8 and one in 5/8. I bought these because of the price point. I really enjoy these razors and my shaves have been real good. What I am wondering is if the blades on the more expensive Dovo's are markedly better. Just wondering if I am missing out on something. I really don't care about fancy scales at all, just interested in the blade.
The consensus seems to be that on the higher priced models, you're paying for a prettier razor, not a better razor. I have a Dovo in the medium price range and it shaves no better than some of my lower cost blades. Keep in mind however, that the opposite is not necessarily true. A razor that generally priced at next to nothing is usually worth just that.
Ive never been one for modern Dovos, although I have owned two before and can recommend them as good steel. I have often wondered myself about this question you ask in the OP, and have read that different blanks are used for the Best Quality models than the Prima Klang and certain others that I can't remember.
Obviously the Inox models are of different steel but as far as the latter, I can not say for definite. Perhaps a vendor that will have sufficient experience with practically all Dovo's models could give you a true answer. Lynn?
I have several including vintage Fritz Bracht, The newer Bismarcks, The Inox, and a few others. Other than the Stainless model, I'm guessing the steel is the same and your paying for etching, and fancier scales, better materials...The vintage shave as well as the new ones...Your not missing anything my friend....
Can't answer about the Dovos, but I have virtually the entire range of TIs, from basic-simple-cheap to top-of-the-top-of-the-line, and they all shave identically. Beautiful, super-sharp razors, and I recommend them highly, but buy the more expensive razors for the looks and pleasure of having a beautiful razor, not because they give a closer shave.
In other words, does a Hyundai drive everywhere that a Bentley can?
I can only say that I have about 6 new Dovos, and they are all good except for the Astrale, which is markedly poorer that the others. I don't totally know why, but it does not take or hold an edge the way the others do.
IMO, if you are only a few weeks in, it's not very likely that you'll notice much of a difference between blades that are similar in steel/grind/size. If these three factors are the same, other variables will play a much larger role than the differeneces in the steel.
You are usually paying for bling when you buy the more expensive Dovo, I have 4 of them 2 vintage, 2 newer and from the econo model up to the pricier versions. Never met a Dovo I didnt like!
You have a point there. 4 months ago I did not know that "Dovo" was the name of a razor company! It's funny though how one razor can stand out as somehow not being up to snuff among others. Maybe as my first, it just suffered more strain that it could bear!Quote:
Originally Posted by holli4pirating
Poor soul, he was always so high-strung!
I don't think they are easily found these days, but I purchased a NOS 5/8th french-tip Wapienica which came pre-honed (wasn't advertised as such) and I stropped it up and shaved with it. Excellent shave. The toe was a little messed up and the honer didn't clean it. A little work on the Norton 8k and then finally finished on my Spyderco Ultra-fine brought it back to as close to perfection as I can with the equipment I have.Quote:
Originally Posted by leadduck
Total cost: sixteen dollars!
You did better than I did, Alex. My Wapi cost me $20, plus shipping. It too, was shave ready, but was advertised as such. Although unlike yours, it was in great shape. It gives a great shave but after three years, I still have a hard time getting used to the heavy scales.
I'm no expert,but I have two Dovos,the Best Quality and the Special.Both shave just fine and unless I can really afford the bling,I actually would be just happy with say another Special if I had to get another blade. Don AT SRD told me that the Best Quality usually needs to be honed sooner than most but I can't really remember what the particulars were on that. It does seem for the most part that the materials are what dictate the higher cost though. To Mr. Lawson stone "Your a daisy if ya do." ~Some dentist guy from the South who was a good shot~ ........Can't get enough of ol Doc m'self heh ! :)
I have a couple of DOVO's, a Black Star and a Bismarck, and they're both great shavers. Theres no difference in the shave quality with them, and theres no real difference between the Black Star and a Wacker costing four times as much.
The extra money goes on flashy scales, gold wash and spine work.
Someone here asked them about that some time ago and they were told all the carbon steel razors use the same Swedish Steel. Like the guys have said it's the deoration and scales that account for the price. I have a few new Dovo's and they really all shave the same-very good. I imagine the stainless is all the same too.
If you like extra hollow ground razors the Prima Klang is very nice. I have the TI extra hollow ground too and its much heavier.
I have four Dovo , two micarta , black star and bismark . The only difference is some are carbon steel and the other are stainless steel . In my experience the carbon steel you have to strop always before you shave , stainless steel you no have this problem and the edge stay sharp more time . I love both stainless steel and carbon steel .
I bought a Dovo razor from a guy selling wares on the side of the road in rural Nova Scotia and it's a "Fritz Bracht" or it has that etched into one side of the tang along with Solingen-Germany. The other side saying Dovo Solingen with that weird lil logo and it says "Facharbeit" on the blade...Handle is red, it looks kinda like a bismark model, but older... is that about what it is? how about a time period? it's worn and looks old school... just wondering how old. thanks.