Thread: A question for all you with a Dovo Bismarck 6/8

I have that exact same razor, I've had it for about 8 months now.

I found the overall quality was excellent. Mine also had a few superficial problems in the gold on the spine.
For me, it wasn't a deal breaker because I was going to use it every day, and I almost do.

Now mine looks like it's been used almost every day, so I dont' worry about it.

I little tip, If you plan on maintaining the appearance of the blade don't use metal polish!!!!!!
I already found out that it's a great way to remove most of the gold.

Enjoy the experience,

I love my Bismarck

Let us know how it turns out.

Cheers.

fchan

I have three Bismarck 6/8 blades. Two are modern mfg. and the other one is vintage - could be pre-WWII.

Don't be afraid to buy another one for a spare if you like them. All three of mine shave great.

And good luck with your vendor.

Jerry

I too have a brand new Dovo Bismarck. Maybe I got lucky but its in perfect condition. I realise as I use it some to the goldwash will come off but like I said I could not fault it as is.
I will try and post a picure if I manage to take a decent one. My photographic skills of razors aint great.

Cheers
Chris

Thanks for everyone's input. I wasn't aware that Dovo was so hit and miss on their aesthetic quality control. The blade seems fine and straight though but I will wait to hear back from the vendor before using this razor. Either way I'm sure i'll be happy with this guy, I just can't wait to chop this hair off (it's been killing me!)

Originally Posted by ironsidegnr

I little tip, If you plan on maintaining the appearance of the blade don't use metal polish!!!!!

Gad I am not the only one who did that. I was just trying to shine it up a bit and it destroyed the mirror finish and the gold wash.
I think if I ever get a blade with gold wash again it would not be a daily shaver. A daily shaver is gonna go through some abuse, especially when you are a new straight shaver.

I have a Dovo Bismarck, with ebony scales. Beautiful razor, and shaves as good as it looks (then again, it was honed by Lynn prior to purchase. lol) I wouldn't worry too much about the paint on the spines file work, eventually it's going to wear off with use. I'm a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to my razors(8 so far, 9 by this week)lol., so when it does happen to my Bismarck, I'll probably carefully repaint it. lol Happy and safe shaving to all!

Originally Posted by DaveW

but as with the above comments, my red notches on the spine are also out of whack, the effect is the same as if you taped the spine of the razor but accidentally placed the tape on the diagonal a little bit and then put the red notches off by the same amount. If there was a way for them to be so off center that they wouldn't even be on the apex of the spine, it's probably 1/4th or 1/3rd of the way there. Someone was asleep.

You're not the only one. This is the flaw I see on my Bismarck that I recently got today. And I've found a few pics through Google with Bismarck's also having this 'flaw'...and there's a couple of notches not perfectly spaced apart.

Did you do anything with yours? (ie. return/exchange it?)

I'm thinking that I'll simply convince myself that the razor was handmade and this is part of the beauty (?)

Originally Posted by Markk

Did you do anything with yours? (ie. return/exchange it?)

No, I figure that anything that can be made new in the western world and functional for $130 to my door really isn't going to be perfect, good is enough for me, and in the end, the shave from it is wonderful.

There's a statement that I apply to razors, stones, pretty much everything in life - if you can be happy with good or reasonably good instead of perfect, life will be a lot easier. The last 5% between good and perfect can really take up more than half of your life, and though the fantastic razor sellers we have offer returns as a matter of required policy, it's costly to someone, whoever bears the cost of it.

I think you'll find the razor to provide a monstrously nice shave, especially if you like to do a fast first pass - you can just take it with its mass and go from top of the cheek to adams apple in one stroke, which is such a pleasure in the morning. Mine really grew on me in less than a week, and once the sharpness of those grooves wore off a little bit and it was gentler on the strop, I completely forgot about their placement.

Originally Posted by DaveW

There's a statement that I apply to razors, stones, pretty much everything in life - if you can be happy with good or reasonably good instead of perfect, life will be a lot easier. The last 5% between good and perfect can really take up more than half of your life, and though the fantastic razor sellers we have offer returns as a matter of required policy, it's costly to someone, whoever bears the cost of it.

How very true. I can't wait to give it a go...and probably have to hone it after and give it another shot