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

First off this site really is great so apologies for my first post being a bit of a moan but thought I'd see if there were any alternative views on the Dovo Special 5/8 faux Tortoise scaled straight razor?

After reviewing a-lot of great reviews I thought I'd jump in and join what seemed like a great purchase (i.e. value, quality and aesthetics), however once delivered I can't help but feel a little deflated . I was expecting it to be duller than a butter knife when out of the box and to be fair it was but once honed and stropped it did take a good edge. That said it just looks and feels cheaper than it's reasonable price tag would suggest.

Maybe those Artisans of Solingen have finally succumbed to modern production methods, but I really wasn't expecting all the graphics to be etched (e.g. the maker and model number placed on the tang) rather than stamped, the scales to feel very very flimsy and the whole razor to weigh little more than the packet of DE blades which were consequently pressed into service!

Again for those of you who love your Dovo, I'm genuinely happy for you but want to find those (if you exist) who think the quality of these new blades to be a little lacking?

I just wish manufacturers still made some of hose paper thin hollow points still.. It is impossible to find a new blade that is thin enough these days... It sems like I can only find older blades that fit that mark.

I do not understand why do you have a problem with the weight? You can't realistically expect a 5/8 hollow ground to weight a lot. In general Dovo best is the cheapest budget line of Dovo, I would suggest if you are after looks, get the big wallet out and go for a TI, a high end Dovo, or a custom.

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.

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). 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 guess I am having a problem with your expectation of a straight razor to be hefty or heavy or weight certain weight.
If you want heavy, find a 8/8 full wedge.

Your swiss army knife is made with more metal than a razor so it will weight more, but it is a knife not a razor so comparing weight of two completely different tools is a bit apples vs oranges.

From your post above are you concerned with razor longevity because it seems not sturdy? If that is the case, don't worry as longas it is cared for properly that razor should last your life time and then may be your kids life time as well.

All true, those scales are cheap plastic, its basically the same thing the $2 gas station sunglasses are made of. Alot of a razors value is in the scale material. Cheaper razor, cheaper scales, exotic woods and carbon fiber scales = more expensive razor. If you are looking for a heavier 5/8 full hollow that's not overly expensive. Check out SRD; Lynn carries the Dovo carpe diem razor with "multiwood" handles. I have this razor, and it's twice as heavy as my other 5/8. The multiwood is actually Dymondwood ( hardwood that's been pressurized, stabilized, and dyed). It's a beautiful razor, I personally am not crazy about the weight of the scales. My $.02

Originally Posted by tiddle

All true, those scales are cheap plastic, its basically the same thing the $2 gas station sunglasses are made of. Alot of a razors value is in the scale material. Cheaper razor, cheaper scales, exotic woods and carbon fiber scales = more expensive razor. If you are looking for a heavier 5/8 full hollow that's not overly expensive. Check out SRD; Lynn carries the Dovo carpe diem razor with "multiwood" handles. I have this razor, and it's twice as heavy as my other 5/8. The multiwood is actually Dymondwood ( hardwood that's been pressurized, stabilized, and dyed). It's a beautiful razor, I personally am not crazy about the weight of the scales. My $.02

Have to admit that the right thing to do would have been to post a question before buying rather than ranting afterwards as the above sounds a far better option, ahh if they only came in 'hindsight'...

Well it only comes in 20/20 Seriously though, it was my first razor, and I read about it, looked at great reviews, but no one mentioned the weight of the scales. So when I took it out I was surprised at how heavy they were. Once I got my second and third razor I noticed that it wasn't the blade, but the scale material. With a little snoopin' around I found out they were diamond wood, and not wood with an acrylic or polyurethane finish and that made them more dense, thus heavier. Call it a learning curve I guess.

WoW, Facts are a amazing thing so lets just try and put a few in this thread

Weight:
Vintage Dovo Fritz Bracht #25 BTW that is a 6/8 = 1.8 ozCurrent Dovo best quality 5/8 = 1.5 oz

Scales:
I need to double check but I am pretty sure the Tortoise scales are actually Celluloid and not Plastic, I will make sure though..

Sharp:
Sharpness out of the box, is something that has actually been made better over that last few years by Dovo and TI neither is really what most of us consider "Shave Ready" but they are better then they were..


Edit: I think the editor is fixed

I do not own any Dovos, but what I have seen has been good for the price IMO.

I've heard some reports of broken scales, but all I have read were accompanied with a report of very good customer service and satisfaction.