Blue/Black Steel razors - Dovo Diamant and Dovo Bismark, Baxter "Not a Replica"/Hart

Anybody have any experience with "dark" (blue or black) steel razors?

Specifically referring to either the Dovo Diamant or Bismark, or the Baxter of California "Not a Replica" blue steel/Hart steel razor.

Curious about how these individual razors perform specifically - shave, holding the sharp edge, balance, etc. - as well as how "dark" steels hold up against stainless and carbon steels.

Also - do either the blue or black steels have the color throughout the metal, or does it rub/wear off with sharpening/honing?

Thanks for the assist - looking forward to meeting some of you next weekend in Fort Lee.

Dan O

Blued steel is a surface treatment. Think of the bluing on a gun. It can and will wear off. There are hundreds of ways to color steel, some are more durable than others, but the end result is nothing more than a pretty blue color.

Stainless steel can be blued as well. It's a bit more difficult but it can be done.

The color shouldn't have any effect on the edge holding ability that I'm aware of. Guns were originally "browned" using a controlled rust process, that allowed the surface of the metal to hold oil to prevent further rusting. Somewhere along the line the brown got turned to blue. Some high end gunmakers still rust blue their barrels.

I have a Diamant, bought last summer, that is a very good shaver. I shaved with it enough to require a touchup and found that it hones easily with no microchips (under 100X 'scope, at least).

The black color is a surface treatment - a "wash" if you will - but did not come off with the honing tape. Incidentally, I've used Hoppe's cold bluing with some success on vintage razors.. just on the shank and tang though, not the blades. It's the only cold blue that I have found to be worth a darn for any steel.

rs,
Tack

I had a black wacker at one time,cool looking but a PITA,had to tape it to strop to keep the color intact.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b3...cone/darth.jpg