So I've spent a good 20 hours these past 2 weeks searching and reading posts and reviews from all over the net on straight razors. With all that research, all I can say is that I like the rounded edge straights, Full hollow ground. And that I would prefer to purchase new from a company that sends them out to be professionally honed before being sent to me. I wish I could narrow it down from there. I went to AoS today and talked with their barber and he leans towards the Thiers Issard stainless straight and they also had some Dovo's. It seems like they are somewhat more expensive than online and I would still have to send it to a honer. Oh well, the search for the straight continues..... If anyone has any recommendations, please chime in. After looking at so many straighs and checking their prices, I would like to stay in the 150-175 range.
Straight razor designs and gemstarcustom would be a good place to start and if you are wanting just a shave ready razor but my have some blemishes that dont affect your shave then look at whipped dog razors
Check out Superior Shave. He sells Dovo and Boker and hones razors too. Bullgoose Shaving was closing out of Bokers and had some real nice deals and Sham use to sharpen for him, he's good.
Straight razor design is where I'd go for new str8's. Keep an eye on the site, Lynn sometimes offers LIFETIME honing with the purchase. If you can get one of those deals the honing is worth more than the str8. IMHO.
I've had more than a dozen straights honed by Glen at Gemstar and 2 of those restored Sheffield wedges. He does excellent work.
Well, after looking at all the suggested shops, I pulled the trigger tonight and ordered from Straight Razor Designs. I picked up the Dovo Black Ebony Bismark 6/8" along with a 3" red strope. It also came honed by Lynn with a coupon for another honing. I like the asthetics of the Bismark. Ordered it 2-3 day priority so I should be shaving with it by the end of this week. Whoo-hoo! I also picked up his DVD on shaving which I am sure will come in handy.
I shaved today with the new Dovo Bismark. I have only used a straight about 4 times over the past 3 months but the shave was awesome. I didn't even cut myself! That for me is an accomplishment with me trying to cut my ear off a few months ago, accidentally of course. I shaved my whole face and around my goatee with no issues. I really like the sound the full hollow makes. I used a badger and some Ye Old Barbershop from mama bears, I love that stuff. I also used the AoS lemon shave oil. Very nice. I need to figure out how to secure my Strop to the wall. My towel hangars are circular and I really don't think they could take the strop. Any ideas from anyone on how to secure a strop to the wall? My thought is just getting a screw hook and put it into a wall stud but I am sure someone out there has a better looking and more ingenious way of doing it.
Good going with the Bismarck. It is a nice razor. Love those full hollow and extra hollow straights. I don't keep my strops in the bathroom. I loop some rope through a key ring and snap on the strop to the key ring. I have that rope tied around a stool leg. I can sit down and strop or stand up and strop.
Great to hear that you had such a great experience. You have a razor that should last two life times. Strop... I do keep mine in the bathroom. Just seems to be best for me. Have a eye hook in the door jam by the sink. About 5ft up. Long strop. No real problem with splashing.
