Thread: Newbie Question - Dovo Special or Wapi?

Hi all,


I’m new to the forum, and straight razor shaving in general. About a month ago I bought a disposable blade straight razor and have decided to finally cave and buy a real blade. This site has been an invaluable resource for doing research and giving me a sense of orientation, so figured I’d float a question now that I’m ready to buy.


The two razor’s I have my eye on are the Dovo Special (5/8, tortuous scales) and a Wapienica. I’m finding them for roughly the same price point, and while the Wapi that I’m looking at has a really nice scale(s?), that’s less important to me right now than the blade. I’m hoping that someone could offer an opinion regarding, between the two, what would be a better razor to start with?


Thanks!

The stainless steel Wapi's are just a tad harder too hone, no real problem though and offer as nice shave. the Dovos are at least as good if not better. If the price is equal, I would go for the Dovo.

Welcome!

Id say go for the DOVO. I've honed a fair few of them an they take a good edge, plus they are a known quantity.

I've not had personal experience with a wapi but I've read a few folks say they can be a bit inconsistent. So the dove is a safer bet I'd say.

Goo luck and keep us posted!

For the same price Dovo all the way.

Edge,

I have a DOVO Special 6/8 in my rotation and think it's a grand razor. I think you have to go far to beat the quality and I think the fake turtle scales are the bees knees. And I'll bet you never knew that bees had blotchy knees, did you.

It may just be me and the fact that I have a fairly course beard, but I prefer the Wapi 10 to 1 over the Dovos. It has a stiff grind and will cut any beard easily and with no tugging or resistance which you will get with the Dovo if you have much beard at all.

Originally Posted by 25609289

It may just be me and the fact that I have a fairly course beard, but I prefer the Wapi 10 to 1 over the Dovos. It has a stiff grind and will cut any beard easily and with no tugging or resistance which you will get with the Dovo if you have much beard at all.

Not to start a debate, I agree some grinds are better for different beards, that said, I would like to hone your razor and see if you can tell a difference in performance. I doubt somewhat if it is entirely a difference in razors.

Originally Posted by Edgewise

...snip...
The two razor’s I have my eye on are the Dovo Special (5/8, tortuous scales) and a Wapienica. I’m finding them for roughly the same price point, and while the Wapi that I’m looking at has a really nice scale(s?), that’s less important to me right now than the blade. I’m hoping that someone could offer an opinion regarding, between the two, what would be a better razor to start with?


Thanks!

Welcome.....
If one is shave ready i.e. hand honed for you
that is a tie breaker.

Other than that when you look at them ask which
one floats your boat.

As for stainless .vs. carbon steel it does
not matter a great deal. Carbon steel
does edge out stainless on the hone and
hold an edge a little bit better but for some the
corrosion resistance is the key. Most of us
would be hard put to tell the difference if it
was not for the marks on the tang. With modern hones
the difference is 10 vs 11-15 hone strokes and
since I tend to always give em 20 again
this is a don't care.

+1 I would go for the Dovo.

I see you've already made up your mind. Provided they are both shave ready, it does not matter for they are both IMHO a great choice. These were both razors which I started with, and as a beginner I found the heavier grind of the Wapi more forgiving. The Dovo IIRC is a half hollow, while the Wapi is a quarter hollow. I have heard the Wapi can be inconsistent, but I have never experienced a bad one out of 3 which were all superb. The Dovo is likely to be easier to hone however.

Only one answer - get them both! Start with one, get used to it, and let RAD be your guide.