The Dovo Silver Steel Straight Razor is an exceptionally well-made shaving tool for anyone seeking vintage styling in a classic straight razor. Crafted with a fully hollow carbon steel blade, a rounded tip razor, and a satin-finish ebony handle, each Silver Steel Straight Razor is handcrafted to exacting specifications for a luxuriously close shave.
The material: Carbon Steel 1.2210, better known as silver steel. In order to achieve a hardness of around 61 HRC, the material is heated to over 1000 degrees and then immediately quenched with a special oil. The subsequent tempering at around 200 degrees gives the blade elasticity and toughness. The ornaments are created by coating them with 24 carat gold.
The handle: Ebony is one of the most valuable woods on earth. It's extremely hard and heavy. It is therefore excellently suited for the production of a high-quality handle. Its structure enables the wood to keep its shape and not to swell, even in a humid environment. Several sanding passes are necessary to create the silky smooth surface.
The cut: When hollow grinding, the straight razor is ground concavely from the back to the cutting edge. This design combines great flexibility with high torsional rigidity in the longitudinal form. The blade dynamics ensure a gentle shave accompanied by a very characteristic sound that is triggered by the swinging of the razor when cutting the hair.
The blade: The round head is the classic shape of a straight razor and suits most shaving situations. This type of blade has been popular for centuries because the bulbous shape can be used safely around ears, nose and dimples.
5/8" width straight razors are good all-around razors that can handle most every part of a classic wet shave. The blade is relatively heavy and can glide gently over your skin without much pressure. At the same time, it is still agile enough to be able to manage technically demanding spots around the nose, ears and chin with agility.
Materials: carbon steel 1.2210 decorated with 24 carat gold, ebony wood
Made by: Dovo
Made in: Solingen, Germany
Specifications: 6.3" x 0.9" x 0.4" (folded)
Blade: round head, double attachment, tang guided on two sides; hollow, 5/8" width
Use: Your shave begins with honing the knife on a strop. After generously applying shaving cream or shaving oil to your face, grip the knife with the open handle pointing away from you. With your free hand, stretch your facial skin to form as straight an area as possible. Position the knife at an angle of about 30° and gently scrape your beard. First with the line, then across and finally against the direction of growth.
Care: To avoid stains on the carbon steel blade, rinse your knife with warm water after shaving. Then pat it dry with a cloth without touching the cutting edge and store it open in a dry place. There should be at least 48 hours between applications so that the stressed cutting burr can straighten itself out again. If you don't use your knife for a long time, coat it with an acid-free care oil.
Further Reading: Since 1916, Dovo has been making high-quality straight razors in Solingen, Germany.
