Thread: Dovo ''not-so-special'' 5/8 straight

Many applogies for the posts having no spacing seems the editor is not working quite right for me this morning

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Many applogies for the posts having no spacing seems the editor is not working quite right for me this morning

Well, if it makes you feel any better, you're not the only one.

W.r.t the lightweight 5/8ths, they are all like that. When you get the wafer thin vintage razors (not all of them are, but you can find some super light grinds if you sort through a few), they are much lighter yet. I only have one new razor (and a lot of vintage razors)...a dovo bismarck. It's got some very minor cosmetics, but when I look at it, I think there's no way I could produce the same thing for $132 in the 20th century and make a living at it. I think that it's quite a nice razor for the price, despite the fact that it is more expensive than some vintage razors that I have that are more precise and a bit more skillfully made. We're comparing what we expect at new price compared to what consensus may be for something vintage. A lot of the better hollow ground razors sold for a day's wage or a large fraction of a day's wage back around the turn of the century. Most people didn't make more than $2 a day. An average day's wage now is about 4 times what a dovo special costs. Taxes are more and all of that stuff...yadda yadda, but I would imagine a gold washed razor like a bismarck with a nice metal case would've been more than the half a day's wage that it costs now...in relative terms.

Interesting thread topic. It is a shame the OP didn't post before buying but I can't help but think expectations were a bit too high for a razor that's at the bottom of dovos line. It's still a good shaver. You can always rescale it later

I have a Dovo Best and I rather like it as simple as it is... It was my first.

Actually, maybe because it was my first, I took the time to learn what it liked and I can put an edge on it like no other. It's my "old faithful," and the blade that gets the job of testing out any new pastes or stones. But it's still pretty basic.

That said, I will state that I feel the OP's pain. I can't think of any blade other than maybe my old Swedes that I haven't wanted to change something on it. Heck! To be honest I can't think of anything I have bought recently that I haven't wanted to improve somehow! Personalizing is fun too!

Originally Posted by sailordave

I do have a problem with the weight amongst other design features, hence the thread! Yes I realise it's not a TI, nor a custom but when compared to my significantly older Bismarck which I'd expect to be within the same quality range it doesn't do very well for the reasons already mentioned..

Was looking to get another blade to put in my kit-bag which could take a fair degree of punishment (quick honing/stropping and God knows what else) and was let down by the quality of the razor on arrival. As for weight specifically, well depending on your currency you can expect to pay anything from 100-130 (USD/Euro etc.), my swiss army knife falls well below that price tag and feels a hell of a-lot heavier (sharper out of the box too)! Also please remember a sight-unseen from Larry at whippeddog is cheaper still and the steel those gents provide is not only sharper but also heavier.

I don't think weight has a direct correlation with quality, to be honest, but I do agree that the product is not that impressive looking for the price!

The old Dovos were something else - they ooze quality. Personally I would rather pay the same for a good vintage Fritz Bracht, but each to his own.

Regards,
Neil

I do like my Dovo ebony spike, it's a nice looking razor with the gold wash and shaves well, as does the carpe diem, and for the money I do think the quality does justify the price ( I haven't had any cosmetic or mechanical issues luckily), but when it comes to mass production, you usually do get what you pay for. As was mentioned previously, you can always have them rescaled, and plenty of guys here can do it for a reasonable price with a large variety of materials; the hard part is just picking something out

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Many applogies for the posts having no spacing seems the editor is not working quite right for me this morning

Consider yourself banned mister...

Great information, here. Thanks for all the interesting thoughts, gents.

I love the smell of a Troll in the morning...........

WOWZA!!

Have fun