Description
The long-running Dovo Prima Klang bocote flagship 5/8″ razor achieved its hollow grind to the highest (= thinnest) standard, with its face dutifully and highly polished with decorative SOLINGEN crest. The Prima Klang is a nimble blade with an intentionally-smooth tang, and weighs 40-41g.
In 2018 the Prima Klang’s produced in redwood scales shared with the Forestal and Sunday Shaver razors. Historically, however, Prima Klang saw many timbers over the years (all ceased, due CITES restriction). The bocote seen here’s included in this history. And now, the Prima Klang itself is deceased in 2021+.
Classic 5/8″ Size, Extra Hollow Ground, Rounded Point
5/8″ hollow ground carbon steel razors with round tip are Germany’s defacto production the last ~40+yrs. This is the ultra-exclusive extra full hollow ground variation, sometimes referred to as a “singing” razor. Extra hollows are highly demanding of all facets of straight razor use. Edge condition, stropping skill, beard prep, and the angle of blade to skin… An expert’s touch is truly required. However, the reward’s an extra close shave and extra brief “signature of severing”.
Extra hollows aren’t a good choice for new users. Even an expert cannot call an extra hollow an easy easy razor (try a Bismarck for that!)
But for an experienced hand, any extra concave razor is a must-try. These razors can go against the grain in sensitive spots and, if administered perfectly, reward as few others. Other such razors we offer are Bergischer Löwe and Sunday Shaver.
“Shave Ready”?
This business is wholly centered upon the sale of one hollow ground straight razor to one shaver one at a time; “1 str8rzr alone” is ~50% of all our orders. You may elect to have your Prima Klang with factory edge or further honed by ‘TSS’, as only you see fit; there is not a right or wrong answer. ‘TSS’ rather doubts the worth of debating this ‘Shave Ready’ concept today; anyone can bandy that term about as if objective, meaningful information (like a sprinter’s time), but in fact it is completely subjective.
If you elect for the factory edge, you’ll receive your razor exactly as its manufacturers intended…pretty simple!
If you elect for The Superior Shave to further hone your razor, the PK will be honed in the manner taught in 2016 to The Superior Shave’s proprietor by two kind Solingen master grinders (whom did/do not work for Dovo, but do use similar 1840s grinders’ textbooks methods). Regardless of their poor refinement compared to further-honed ‘Honemeister’ edges on offer, some physical elements of factory edges remain superior to most further honing attempts. The Superior Shave will devote the extra time to your razor a dying industry cannot afford in overhead, without taking away the factory edge’s inherently advantaged geometric metrics. We’re confident we offer the materially thinnest further-honed-by-vendor edge available for purchase – you’ll need to try that to understand why it matters. Please note: in the professional opinions of German and French razor grinders, a straight razor is not properly honed unless flush to the hone, without tape, so visual evidence of honing is unavoidable when honing is performed correctly according to its makers (we add Vaseline to your razor’s faces and use compatible honing fluid to help a little).
We hone with a method best coined as “the opposite of tape“ where a hone’s geometry’s wholly catered to performance of the razor and to no other concern…on any extra hollow anything, that’s where it particularly shines. Unfortunately, this topic cannot be discussed upon any English-based straight-razor-centric forum because a select group of e-enthusiasts cannot abide such open discourse. Be encouraged to think for yourself, and let your beard and sense of touch be the judge; there is a lot of misinformation out there, much purportedly from experts! We wish you good shopping, and Happy Shaving.
