Thread: Differences

When I decided to go down this straight razor road I bought a new Dovo from Classicshaving.com and I was thrilled with how it shaved and then I bought a razor from a local shop that had Shefield steel and then I won a razor (H. Boker) off ebay that was new NOS. What amazes me is that the two older razors are better shavers than the new Dovo, and I mean by a long shot. Is this a common finding? I shaved tonight for the first time with this Boker and I really didn't have to do second pass, I did because I wanted to see how this new razor would handle it but I really didn't need to.
These findings just seem to go against what one would think is normal.
I would think the newer razor should out perform the vintage blades but this isnt the way it is. How do companies expect to sell new product if they don't make it good enough to compete with the older razors?
Im just scratching my head
Donald

I've noticed the same thing. While my dovo does shave well, it's not at all uncommon for me to come across some vintage blade that shaves better. Despite the advances in technology, perhaps razors were just made better then. It also could be that we've come to know many of the respectable vintage brands and are sticking to those.

I've found the same thing. I think that since most men were shaving with straights that the crap makers either didn't last long or the guys binned them and didn't pass them on.

I also have a razor from an unknown maker that is called a "harmony". No manufacturer just that and Germany. It shaves as well as my Duck so I wouln't pass up a cheap "no namer" either

Do I need to repeat the story of The Winner for the 99th time? I think it has a brief mention in SOTD

We remember the outstanding vintage razors partly because they were so cheap and maybe beat up a bit, but forget the vintage duds also because they were cheap and maybe beat up a bit, and this feeds the human susceptibility to confirmation bias.

Lest we forget, Dovo makes several razors that are widely acclaimed to run with the best of all time (Bergischer Lowe, Prima Klang, maybe others - I'm not real familiar with Dovo) and just about everything TI makes will shave with the best of the vintage razors (build quality is another matter).

In total, I've had about 3 good razors for every dud I picked up. I was either very lucky, careful, had good eye for detail or any combination of those 3 factors lol.

Originally Posted by mparker762

We remember the outstanding vintage razors partly because they were so cheap and maybe beat up a bit, but forget the vintage duds also because they were cheap and maybe beat up a bit, and this feeds the human susceptibility to confirmation bias.

Lest we forget, Dovo makes several razors that are widely acclaimed to run with the best of all time (Bergischer Lowe, Prima Klang, maybe others - I'm not real familiar with Dovo) and just about everything TI makes will shave with the best of the vintage razors (build quality is another matter).

I think you misunderstand me. I am not saying Dovo's are not a good razor infact I said that I liked my Dovo. It does not however shave as well as the two vintage blades I have bought. This was not a dig against Dovo or any other brand just an observation that has also been noticed by a couple of other members as well. If I have to pay hundreds of dollars for a new razor and I can get a better shave from a Boker that was new and I paid $42.00 for on ebay guess where I am going spend my money. Not too hard to figure out!
Donald

I'm certainly no expert, but I would imagine in the past there were simply more people who knew how to make razors well. So maybe the standards were just a little higher by default?

Jordan

The fact is that any quality razor will give a great shave as long as it is properly honed and all that. I do find that some razors do shave better and and it has nothing to do with age, brand or size and grind. Some seem to shave exceptionally well and some are just good. I realize some razors hone faster and easier but to me it seems some never rise past a certain state. I have a Dovo Stainess with pearl Scales which I bought new and is an exceptional shaver. I have about 60 razors of all kinds and probably no more than 20 are exceptional.

Well I am new to this game and I only have a few razors but the new (NOS) Boker I got off ebay is such a good shaver I don't want to use the others. I am just very impressed with these older razors I may never buy new again. I know I will get stung on ebay eventually but Im sure that Boker was worth alot more than the $42.00 I paid for it if it were being sold new at reatail today. It's just a very interesting game that I am enjoying taking part in.
Donald