Thread: Question about Dovo razors.

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!

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

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 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!

Poor soul, he was always so high-strung!

Originally Posted by leadduck

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.

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.

Total cost: sixteen dollars!