Dovo-Stahlwaren has been German's largest producer of straight razors since many decades, and produced many revered historical trademarks that did not specifically say "Dovo" on their steel.   The original Dovo factory was established c.1906, and continuially operated from the same locale for 115 years making Dovo straight razors and razors for select other marques and specialty stores (Dovo has relocated within Solingen in 2021).

Production of a Dovo straight razor begins with a raw steel cylinder of approximate 10mm diameter, heated and drop hammer forged to several progressively-shaped dies at a Solingen forge.  Several dozen steps are executed to begin the forming of the Dovo straight razor until such time as it is ready for the crucial hardening and tempering processes, which requires great expertise and results in a steel both sharp and flexible alike.

Thereafter, the truly difficult procedure of hollow grinding begins, where a formally trained expert craftsman must use approximately 15 further steps of various-diameter grinding wheels set at varying widths and rotation speeds to gently provide the straight razor its signature shape.   The final cutting edge will not exceed 0.1mm thickness (similar but not equal to a double edge safety razor blade), and the sharpening, stropping, and examination process takes some five labor hours for each unit by highly skilled Master Grinders.

The so-called 'mild steel' consists of carbon content exceeding 1%, and with expert treatment achieves the pinnacle of combined hardness, elasticity, and wear resistance; each attribute must be combined ideally, as there is 'no free lunch in engineering'.   There is also offered the "INOX" stainless steel, but be advised rusting of a stainless Dovo straight razor cannot be excluded depending upon water quality and care regimen; the stainless steel's advantage is its reduced maintenance requirements and high practicality for more humid environments.

While all razors are whetted and stropped at the Solingen factory and Dovo-Stahlwaren certifies each razor as ready to shave via several quality control checks, Dovo has authorized The Superior Shave to further hone your razor post-factory (to so-called 'Shave Ready' status).  The choice is yours (allow +1 day handling time for 'further honed') .  As a personal use tool designed for direct interaction with human tissue, razors which have had the factory seal breeched cannot be returned.