I got an email back from Thomas this morning about the question of the extra hollow grind on the Revisors. Here is his reply to me: Hi Vernon, thank you for your mail. Normally our 5/8 have all the same full hollow grinding. regards Thomas So, if I was looking for my next razor to be an extra full hollow for thinness, flexibility, it would probably boil down to the Dovo Prima Klang "singing" or the Thiers-Issard Extra full hollow "Evide Sonnat Extra" . However, in the description here: Thiers-Issard Straight Razors it just addresses it as a "Full Hollow" and others that have used this blade and Dovo have commented that they felt that the Dovo was a much thinner, "singing" blade. Looks like it might be a speculative assessment then. The Revisors extras that have the 1/1 nomenclature may be close to something between the TI and Dovo, and maybe just vary ever so much from model to model. Was there ever any association with the word "Extra" on the blade, like the Revisors? or... in their 6/8 razors... The craftsmanship looks beautiful in these. One thing the first picture (blue handle) has is file jimps on the top. I don't think Dovo Prima Klang "singing" has them, but the Thiers-Issard Evide Sonnat Extra has them on top and bottom. Has anyone reading this thread used one of the Revisors that were described as 1/1 hohl. ? What about the shoulderless 6/8 model? It looks to be an extra hollow ground though.
Nice looking razors, but I have no answer for you. All of the straights I have date back at least 100 years or more, so I know nothing about current production.
When you take the shoulders off a blade you allow for more flex... in general To get an extra hollow grind blade that you keep hinting about, you need to search out the Vintage market, especially the NY made American razors from the 50's these are Extreme hollows and probably the most flexible and sharpest razors you will find... Also if you decide to choose Revisor you need to know that these are not a "Hone Friendly" razor, they have a tendency to be very chippy, once you unlock their secrets they are good shavers though...
The edges must be very hard, and brittle? If I do get one, it may be a candidate for you or Lynn then.
I looked at the Revisor website. They sure have some beautiful straights. I think I'm going to keep my eyes open at the flea markets/antique shops/gun shows. I can't afford the Revisors. Especially the 6/8 with the stag scales I want. However, If I can find some more good deals on vintage straights, I could be perfectly happy.
I was actually quite surprised at the prices as LOW as they are. The price is in Euros and you have to convert. My Dovo Best Quality, which is kind of thier lower cost intro razor, in 6/8 was something like $74.00 incl shipping. The Dovo Prima Kang is an excellent Extra Ground razor but it's around $170 something. So, I look at these razors, made in Germany by craftsmen, and they do not seem out of line for the number of man hours that has to go into making each one. That detailsing on the blades is some artwork, and takes skill and time. But, the best artwork won't make a shaver, only the edge and the quality of the steel. Shipping is what gets you. It's 10 Euros to America. That's (today) $13.96 in shipping costs. Too bad someone doesn't become an importer here in the U.S. and get in a bunch of these for retail. That would cut down on the shipping cost. So, in all earnest, one might as well buy the one for 146 Euros as it's still $13.96 which is a better ratio of "piece" to shipping than the one for 68.00 Euros.
One thing does seem a little odd. If a razor company made a razor that was not "hone friendly" meaning it was difficult to get back to sharp again, wouldn't it be a negative for advertising. It would seem that would be something they would have to address or go complettely out of business. Must be a cut throat business...
Gibbs, how do you like your Dovo 6/8 Best Quality straight? I ordered one from SRD and am awaiting it's arrival. My hones and surface plate from Woodcraft arrived today. I got the 12000 grit, the 1200/8000 grit, and the 800/4000 grit.
I'm liking it pretty well. Shaved very smooth, with only 1 nick where I wasn't paying attention to the larger blade. I was used to the 5/8 (if that) of the Gold Bug, and when I was shaving toward my chin I took in too much of the blade and the end hit on the lower part of my lower lip, just above the chin area. Not really hurt, but the moment I did that, I merely backed off and hit it with the stick. I can see why professional barbers would like it for the amount of lather and whiskers it will take before needing to clean it off. I probably would be just as happy with the 5/8 and would be no skin off my nose... LOL
Update: I ordered teh 5-0002 Revisor yesterday, which looks like the Solingen Extra above, but in green instead. I'll let you all know when it arrives and how I like it for shaving, which is of course, just my opinion.
Nice one. I like the stag handled 6/8. I'm liking my Dovo. I have straights with 4/8, 5/8, and 6/8 blades. Not sure which I like best, as I've only shaved with the 6/8 Dovo and J. Cumberbirch Queen Razor. I plan on using the V. Brazda Praha today. I honed it the other day and it's scary sharp. Hope it's good and smooth.
