Opinions requested: Bergischer Lowe vs Dovo Flowing

[Attila]

Hello gentlemen,

I am looking to purchase a second razor (and perhaps make it my last...ummm maybe?). I am a bit torn between these two razors. I am primarily wondering how each would shave so those of you that own both I would be very interested to ask you if there is any difference in the shave.

However, I would like to know more about the Flowing in general also as I just have not been able to find as much info on it as the Bergischer Lowe. Any and all opinions are very welcome!!

Thanks!

Attila.

 

[Attila]

Actually, my apologies. This should have been posted in general straight razor talk instead. Mods, could you please move?

 

[daflorc]

My opinion: Try a vintage Sheffield razor, have it restored. Try one of the razor makers that held a royal warrant. Ever try a Joseph Rodgers? A Mappin? You want quality? Its here. They don't hand royal warrants out willy-nilly...

 

[gsurko]

Get both, you will eventually anyhow.

 

[u2u]

Two weeks ago I went out to purchase a Flowing and a Mammut. Bought a Bergischer Lowe instead of the Flowing. The BL is dark horn with white highlights and is a gorgeous looking piece. It shaves very well but is on the light side (43g 5/8) for my tastes. Overall I am pleased with the purchase and the BL helps round my accumulation of users out.

Yesterday I purchased the Flowing (54g 6/8). A good looking more modern effort. Have not tried it yet but I expect similar performance to my Dovo Encina (53g 6/8). I have purchased seven Dovos this year and all have met my expectations. This is a long way of saying get both...

They are very different in terms of finish, weight, blade stiffness. There are a range of scales for the BL. If you could share what your first straight is and what you think you want from the second the collective might be better able to help.

if the number Dovo places on the blade corresponds to some historical sequence of models the BL is 3, the Flowing 118. Maybe an old hand here can enlighten us?

 

[global_dev]

There are numbers on the blade? Where?

 

[totorlekiller]

My opinion: Try a vintage Sheffield razor, have it restored. Try one of the razor makers that held a royal warrant. Ever try a Joseph Rodgers? A Mappin? You want quality? Its here. They don't hand royal warrants out willy-nilly...

Damn. You picked my curiosity and I suckered myself in getting a mappin and Webb. Anxiously waiting for it in the mail now...

 

[u2u]

There are numbers on the blade? Where?

on the Flowing just forward of the word DOVO (118). On the Bergischer Lowe on the nose just after DOVO(3). 119 for Encina, 120 for Natural, 110 for Mammut, 2 for Bismark, etc...

 

[Attila]

Thanks for the responses. My first razor was a Dovo Bismark. A an update, I did purchase the BL. To say I am pleased with it is a huge understatement. It looks stunning and the shave quality from it is outstanding. I am finding I like the 5/8 size a lot for its maneuverability and the Spanish point really makes it easy to get at harder to reach areas somehow. My shaves have been improving significantly, today I had my best shave ever with my Bismark! A DFS overall with a couple of areas BBS. I was really pleased with myself that I managed that with no nicks, cuts and very minimal irritation that went away quickly. I did end up a week ago dulling it with bad stropping technique on my paddle strop so I took it to a Norton 4/8K and a Naniwa 12K today. The stones only arrived yesterday so this was my first honing session! I managed to put a great edge back on it due to the many you tube videos I watched on honing. I found it relatively easy actually. As long as you go into it well prepared.

My next razor will likely be a Thiers Issard "Le Canadien"...go figure.

Let me know how the shave with the "Flowing" compares to the Bergischer Lowe if you could, I would truly appreciate it.

Regards

Attila.

 

[Legion]

Actually, my apologies. This should have been posted in general straight razor talk instead. Mods, could you please move?

No way.

 

[Thomas Martin]

My opinion: Try a vintage Sheffield razor, have it restored. Try one of the razor makers that held a royal warrant. Ever try a Joseph Rodgers? A Mappin? You want quality? Its here. They don't hand royal warrants out willy-nilly...

+1. For the prize Dovo charges for a BL you can get a real good vintage straight. Perhaps not that royal stuff daflorc talks about but you'll find plenty of real nice vintage straights on the bay and at other places.

 

[u2u]

Let me know how the shave with the "Flowing" compares to the Bergischer Lowe if you could, I would truly appreciate it.

Regards

Attila.

Gave the Flowing a run yesterday with Panama 1924 soap. Excellent performance as expected. It is a well built and balanced razor with a warm character from the Grenadille scales. The factory bevel is well set and they did a very good job around the heel and toe. Looks like it was finished with a very fine paste. I don't think the edge can be improved on. It is a 6/8 and is a fair amount heavier than the Bergeschier Lowe. At 54 grams it is at the sweet spot for my users. More to my liking so I will use it more than the BL. Purely a preference matter as both are excellent. Given you have a Bismark, I think you made a wise choice. Enjoy your purchase. View attachment 339114

 

[Attila]

Wow, beautiful pictures! Thanks for the synopsis too, much appreciated.

Thanks also guys for the advice on the vintage razors. Definitely got me interested.

 

[daflorc]

+1. For the prize Dovo charges for a BL you can get a real good vintage straight. Perhaps not that royal stuff daflorc talks about but you'll find plenty of real nice vintage straights on the bay and at other places.

At this moment, I see on ebay, of good-conditioned razors that may or may not need disassembly and restoration:

An ivory handled joseph rodgers for a BIN of $70, a faux ivory scaled JR at $7.57, and a ton more that will sell for less than $50.
4 thomas turners at $45.48, $1.50, $1.50, $7.57

If you can clean up your own vintage, ebay is your oyster!

 

[Chaloney]

I see you've already made your choice. I was going to suggest you get one of each and send them both to me for a short evaluation period of say 5 to 25 years, then I will send you back the one I think is better.

In fact, I'm still willing if you're second-guessing your decision....

 

[totorlekiller]

My Mappin and Webb arrived today and it is a beauty. The crappy picture I took does not do it justice.
It looks NOS (and ready to shave) and the handle is Ivory.

I'll be trying that tomorrow.

 

[CanonSterVa]

My Mappin and Webb arrived today and it is a beauty. The crappy picture I took does not do it justice.
It looks NOS (and ready to shave) and the handle is Ivory.
View attachment 339896
I'll be trying that tomorrow.

Wow - I like that!
Where in the world was that hiding?

Enjoy the shave.
Myron

 

[Seraphim]

My Mappin and Webb arrived today and it is a beauty. The crappy picture I took does not do it justice.
It looks NOS (and ready to shave) and the handle is Ivory.
View attachment 339896
I'll be trying that tomorrow.

Yeah, I was going to bid on that one too....congrats!

I ended up buying a violin instead. Go figure--EBay...

 

[totorlekiller]

I picked this one up on ebay.uk
That's where those are hiding.
A more careful inspection revealed it was part of a 7 day set (this one is Thursday) so there are 6 more floating around.
It looked barely used and shaved perfectly.
The blades felt really thin. When Mappin & Webb say Hollow ground, they mean it.
I thought I preferred beefier blades like my Fontenille near-wedge or my LeGrelot 1/2 Hollow, but this beauty delivered my best shave ever.
Special thanks to Daflorc for enlightening me to the wonder of what the Brits can do when the target clientele is royal and to Seraphim for not bidding against me and letting me pick it up for a pittance.

 

[totorlekiller]

Yeah, I was going to bid on that one too....congrats!

I ended up buying a violin instead. Go figure--EBay...

The only Violins I got on eBay have been the cheap Chinese ones (1/16, 1/10 and 1/8) for my 4 and 5 year old daughters.
For the better stuff, I have sticked to the Romanian Gliga. My 14 year old daughter is on her second (now full size) and very happy with it.
Gliga delivers old-world traditional expertise and class at a reasonable price.

I don't play myself, but my wife and 3 daughters do.