Ready to buy my second razor.

I never knew you could look forward to shaving. I'm 55 years old and have been using a straight razor for just a couple of months and once I used it the first time I never went back to a multy. I've learnd how to do a decent job honing, shaving with my left hand and shaving the back of my neck. I've also discoverd the straght razor I inherited from my Grandfather is well used. The sides of the spine are worn flat from honing but the razor still does a good job. It is time to consider getting a second razor and put the heirloom in semi retirment. I don't know whether to by a brand new Dovo or by a shave ready used razor.

That's kinda personal really. It depends on what you're looking for. Do you want a fairly nice full hollow with a round point? Go for the new Dovo. Want something with a little more flavor? Go for the shave ready used. I will say you can probably get a very nice shave ready used razor from the classifieds here or B/S/T over on the B&B for cheaper than a new Dovo. Again, it just depends on what you want from your next razor(s).

I bought my first razor used here on the classifieds for price reasons. Many sellers here include shipping in their costs, I'm not sure about other venues such as SRD.

I would like to get a new one myself sometime and start it on the path to being an heirloom. That one will take some consideration, I want something elegant that will be valued years from now

I'm a big fan of vintage blades, I have used a newer dovo recently and I dunno - there was nothing wrong with it but it didn't have me considering it's life - to me it felt a bit more utilitarian than a vintage blade.

I'm not a huge fan of gold wash, which turns me off newer blades as well.

Take a look in the classifieds, if something takes your eye then you're sorted - if not then Dovos are widely available anyway.

Don't get hung up over brand names. Figure out what you want in a razor first (size, point, etc...) and then find it. The classifieds are a good place to start. :gl:

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Originally Posted by lowrideriggi

I never knew you could look forward to shaving. I'm 55 years old and have been using a straight razor for just a couple of months and once I used it the first time I never went back to a multy. I've learnd how to do a decent job honing, shaving with my left hand and shaving the back of my neck. I've also discoverd the straght razor I inherited from my Grandfather is well used. The sides of the spine are worn flat from honing but the razor still does a good job. It is time to consider getting a second razor and put the heirloom in semi retirment. I don't know whether to by a brand new Dovo or by a shave ready used razor.

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I have an heirloom blade (great-grandfather's) as well. Cleaned it up a little bit and sent it out to Glen to be restored and now it shaves like a champ. I had the same concerns; my first blade was a little shave-ready Robeson from TreyDampier that I picked up from the classifieds. I've since added a Dubl Duck Dwarf so now I have three to rotate through.

I recently got an auction pack of razors that I'm working on currently. Shaving with my heirloom is great but I recently started feeling like I shouldn't use it so much.

Personally, I'd go with a used/vintage blade from the classifieds. I think it's pretty darn cool to use a blade with history. Gives it some character as well. :)

i think you should go with a new razor. Its your razor and it was no one else's. You build the character and it grows with you. But an heirloom razor like you have is awesome because it means something to you and its part of your family history. So going with a new razor, I think, is the cool way to go. But having a Boker Red Injun is always something cool to have.

I have an old smoking pipe rack full of new and vintage razors. The ones I enjoy pulling out are the ones I got on ebay and restored - which goes all the way from merely honing the blade to spending many hours sanding the blade and making new scales. If you're careful (and lucky) you can find a good blade on ebay that requries minimal work, and it'll then have your very own mark on it!

Try a new T and I.

Another vote for used/vintage. Figure out what size/grind you'd like to try, using your heirloom as a reference, and then you can afford two or three (or more) razors for the price of a new one.

Dovo's are great. I have several, If you don't have a Bismarck, Get one...

Vintage are great too! Any Sheffield Steel Blade will give an awesome shave, See if you can find a Wade and Butcher...or even the Imfamous Dubl Duck...If you need help, feel free to PM me....Rich

Take a look at new blades and see if there is anything you like, bookmark those. (they aren't really going anywhere...most of the time)

Then take a look at the classifieds for a couple-3 days. If something comes up that you really like- pounce on it. Some of the blades that show up here are really nice and not nearly as expensive as some of the new ones out there.

That's the rout I took and I ended up getting a blade from here.

I bought two razors and a strop from the classifieds. A Case Red Imp 133 & a 11/16 Kircher Bro. STR8 Solingen Germany. Both are supposed to be shave ready. Tomorrow I find out about the Kircher, the Red Imp isn't here yet. I like the strop too. It's a DOVO 3" wide. It's like Christas in June!

You can look forward to shaving. In fact, many years of shaving with the same razor or razors. Part of the fun is exploring the different designs of razors, different sizes 1/2, 3/4, 7/8, etc and the beauty of the handles. I use very thin French razors, Wade and Butchers, Torreys, etc. and enjoy the different feel each has and the shave they give. Have fun!

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Originally Posted by zib

Dovo's are great. I have several, If you don't have a Bismarck, Get one...

Vintage are great too! Any Sheffield Steel Blade will give an awesome shave, See if you can find a Wade and Butcher...or even the Imfamous Dubl Duck...If you need help, feel free to PM me....Rich

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My Dovo has been really good to me, Ebony scales to boot!

-Chief

Man this Kirchner is a dream to shave with. Are all the German blades this good?

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Originally Posted by lowrideriggi

I never knew you could look forward to shaving. I'm 55 years old and have been using a straight razor for just a couple of months and once I used it the first time I never went back to a multy. I've learnd how to do a decent job honing, shaving with my left hand and shaving the back of my neck. I've also discoverd the straght razor I inherited from my Grandfather is well used. The sides of the spine are worn flat from honing but the razor still does a good job. It is time to consider getting a second razor and put the heirloom in semi retirment. I don't know whether to by a brand new Dovo or by a shave ready used razor.

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you can alwys hit the antique market and have one restored!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by lowrideriggi

I never knew you could look forward to shaving. I'm 55 years old and have been using a straight razor for just a couple of months and once I used it the first time I never went back to a multy. I've learnd how to do a decent job honing, shaving with my left hand and shaving the back of my neck. I've also discoverd the straght razor I inherited from my Grandfather is well used. The sides of the spine are worn flat from honing but the razor still does a good job. It is time to consider getting a second razor and put the heirloom in semi retirment. I don't know whether to by a brand new Dovo or by a shave ready used razor.

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What do you want and what can you afford usually determines my purchases. BTW can you trim your ear hair with a straight yet?

A nice vintage is my vote.A lot of history and a good shave!:rock: