Thread: 5/8 Dovo Special Tortoise

For a while I've been trying to find a good razor suitable for travelling. I wanted something cheap, that performs well, and can easily be replaced if it gets lost or damaged.

I tried a Feather AC, very good but also quite expensive, and feels different to a straight.

I tried a Merkur Slant DE razor, which was ok I guess but I just don't like using DE razors these days now I'm used to straights.

So I started looking for an inexpensive new straight, and lots of good things are always said about the Dovo Special models, so I ordered a 5/8 with the tortoiseshell effect handle.



Blade
Carbon steel, nice simple graphics. The blade was straight and had no problems or imperfections with the edge, the spine has a few machining marks on it, i'd be annoyed with them on a more expensive razor but on a budget one I'm not worried. They'll polish out ok on my machine easily enough.

Scales
Plastic, tortoiseshell effect. The scale material looks really nice, and the metal logo inset is a nice plus on such a cheap razor. The scales are assembled well and aren't loose, warped, misaligned etc. There are some rough parts on the edges where the scales have been popped out of their mould, they could do with tidying up a little but it's no big deal.

Honing
I wiped the oil off the blade and then gave it about 20 laps on a 3.0uM paste, then 20 on a 1.0uM paste, 20 on 0.5uM, and 10 on 0.25uM. I noticed the carbon steel seems very soft compared to other carbon steel razors I have (DD or TI for example), and the diamond paste seemed to cut VERY fast. I could see darkening on the paddle after a few strokes and it just felt different to my other razors.

Shaving
I tried it out this morning and was pleasantly surprised. I wasn't expecting much from this razor but it's easily as good a shaver as anything else I've tried, including Maestros, high end TI's etc. Honestly you could have blindfolded me and told me it was a $500 razor and I would have believed it. The shave was extremely close, but also comfortable and forgiving. 2 passes got me perfectly BBS all over, with very little pulling or dragging anywhere.

Summary
Great little razor, especially considering the price. This will be my travel razor, but it'll also have a regular slot in my rotation at home too.

Vendor
I bought mine from http://www.dovorazors.com in the UK, which is actually theinvisibleedge who most will have heard of. I ordered online, and received the razor well packaged in just over 24 hours, perfect service. I didn't opt for their honing service, as I'm happy doing my own now.

Great review. The 6/8 version of this razor would read very similar. Great recommendation for a starter razor for new folks.

Thanks,

Lynn

Originally Posted by adjustme69

Great recommendation for a starter razor for new folks.

Thanks,

Lynn

Good to know. I just ordered one from ClassicShaving, and it's on it's way to you for a good honing.

This is my first post to the forum. Been lurkin long enough, I guess!

These are great razors to start on.Mine is still one of my best shavers.
They also look great and are easy to keep sharp.

Was the reviewer too influenced by price? In other words, did the price (still listed under $80) cause the reviewer to automatically assume it must be a starter razor before even using and handling it?

The reviewer's statement: if someone told me it was a $500 razor, "I would have believed it" says much. What if it were priced say at only $200? Would the exact same razor have been referred to as a "starter" razor?

I have this exact same razor. It is now the only razor I shave with. Why? Because it looks great (just look at the pic!), hones easily, is comfortable to hold, and it shaves beautifully. I'm sure it will perform and last as long as razors priced much higher. I've used it almost daily for a long time, and it looks as good as the day I took it out the box.

The fact that it costs less than $80, instead of $200, doesn't make it a starter razor, but rather a GREAT BUY!!
Ron.

Originally Posted by Ron A

Was the reviewer too influenced by price? In other words, did the price (still listed under $80) cause the reviewer to automatically assume it must be a starter razor before even using and handling it?

The reviewer's statement: if someone told me it was a $500 razor, "I would have believed it" says much. What if it were priced say at only $200? Would the exact same razor have been referred to as a "starter" razor?

I have this exact same razor. It is now the only razor I shave with. Why? Because it looks great (just look at the pic!), hones easily, is comfortable to hold, and it shaves beautifully. I'm sure it will perform and last as long as razors priced much higher. I've used it almost daily for a long time, and it looks as good as the day I took it out the box.

The fact that it costs less than $80, instead of $200, doesn't make it a starter razor, but rather a GREAT BUY!!
Ron.

You're reading too much into what I wrote.

I simply meant. This razor is relatively inexpensive, but it shaves as well as any of the $500+ razors I've had the pleasure to own. So it's a total bargain.

Many people (including me) rush to buy exotic razors when they take up straight razor shaving, because they think that spending big bucks on a razor will get them a better shave than with a cheaper one. It isn't necessarily the case.

Great razors they are! I have one myself!





Cheers!

Yep. I totally agree! I shaved with several before settling on the 5/8 Tortoise for my daily shaver for reasons you and I both expressed.
I guess I'm also different from most guys at SRP in that after I tried several razors, 3 different strops and a few brushes, I picked my favorite of each and use those exclusively when I shave. Variety comes from different soaps and aftershaves. So, I don't have a rotation, etc. with razors, strops and brushes. That makes me kind of the odd ball from many of the forum entrees I have read. I guess, for me anyway, that kind of simplicity enhances my enjoyment of the experience.
Carry on!
Ron.

Well done Ron!I hope to be able to do that one day.
But for now,I just can't help but want to try all these different razors floating around.

Heh, that's good willpower. I went from about 30 razors down to 2, but lately it's been creeping back up and is now at 5.