1. Razor handles made of wood 

a. Bocote wood (model series No. 106, art. No. 106 5861)
Mexican wood, yellow to dark brown, similar to Cocobolo wood, very flexible (for example used for walking sticks), very hard, medium durability during ageing.

b. Satiné Red wood (Muirapiranga – model series No. 106, art. No. 106 5831)
Botanical name Brosimum Paraense, originates from South America, deep red heartwood, colour will yellow only slightly or not at all, highly flexible and hard.

c. Violet wood (or Kingwood, model series No. 106, art. No. 106 58 51)
Botanical name Dalbergia Cearensis, originates from Brasil, pink colour with black stripes, sensitive to light – should therefore be kept away from light to prevent yellowing,
fine pores, polishes well, heavy, hard.

d. Ebony wood (Makassar – model series No. 4, 5 and 41 R)
Botanical name Diospyros Celebica, originates from Indonesia and Sri Lanka, brown with black stripes, heartwood (used by DOVO), intensely black, few pores, after long drying very hard and durable during ageing.

e. Olive Tree wood (model series No. 41 R)
Botanical name Olea Europea, originates from the Mediterranean countries, wildly grained, fine pores, heavy wood, hard and dense ( to prevent fading of the colour, it should be treated with a wood polish once in a while ).

f. Pakka wood (model series No. 141)
No natural, but processed North American cedar wood which – after being cold-dried to remove all humid residue – is cut into thin layers (2 to 3 mm ) and then drenched in coloured special resin. The coloured drenched layers will then be put on top of each other in whatever order is required, then pressed under very high pressure, and dried. The resulting plates can be cut into whatever shape is necessary and receive their typical linear grain through further work and grinding.

g. Snake wood (model series No. 95, art. No. 95 585)
Botanical name Piratinera guianensis, originates mainly from the northern parts of South America, Guyana, Surinam. Characteristics are the special grain : fine pores, reddish-brown with darkish, radial stripes which leads to the snake-skin like look; extremely durable and dense wood.

h. Multiwood  “Carnelian” (new model No. 114 583)
Like Pakka wood handles, no natural, but processed handles from Spain, 2 thin layers which have been differently dyed, also here many layers are added reversely , they obtain their typical grain by round grinding, the name Carnelian results from the reddish colour which also is a characteristic of the gemstone.

2. Razor handles made of horn, bone or Micarta®

Horn ( buffalo horn , model series No. 3, 98 and 41 R )Originates from France and India, colour light brown to black, partly with or without grain. Is pressed to plates by means of steam and then processed, this means sawed,  shaped in form, grinding and polishing is done. Easy and convenient grip. Special feature : the big horn handles are cut out of the grown buffalo horn tips, pressed under steam and shaped.
Attention : this shaping is contrary to the natural growth of the horn. Heating (e.g. intense lamplight ) and/or humidity can cause distortion of the material.

a. Bone (model series No. 140 , 2, 25)
Bones of European cattle, degreased by means of boiling, cut in plates and pieces. Vegetably dyed and waxed.

b. Micarta® (model series No. 105)
Micarta® is a product made from synthetic resin. It is based on paper or textile. The raw material is casted in several layers in large plates. For the single quire of resin different colours may be chosen. Between the layers there is placed paper ( in the bright versions) or cotton fabric ( in the dark versions ) in order to raise the stability. From blocks and plates razor handles or brush handles are cut or milled. With angular cuts or large radius the lines and the grain is created because the paper or cotton in between appears on the surface.

3. Razor handles made of imitation ivory, genuine mother-of-pearl , imitation mother-of-pearl or mammoth ivory

a. Imitation ivory (model series No. 1885)
Made of celluloid material, with silver metal bolster at the top of the handle, fine stripe pattern in ivory-like colour.

b. Genuine mother-of-pearl (model series No. 41)
A natural product, originates from the Philippines, unfortunately only available when great clams in high quality could have been harvested.

c. Imitation mother-of-pearl ( model series No. 41, 98 )
Made of celluloid material, mother-of-pearl like pattern, with DOVO silver metal inlay.

d. Genuine mammoth ivory (model series No. 110)

Handles made from over 40,000 years old and fossilized mammoth tusk ivory.

Mammoth ivory resembles closely the biological structure of elephant ivory, the visible spectrum of colours ranges from beige to dark brown . According to the mineral soil composition blue and green colouration of mammoth ivory for instance is effected by cuprites. Ferric oxides on the other hand will create auburn colouration. Due to the old age of the material the surface can look slightly brittle and begin to fossilate but this and the natural colouring of dentine create the unique and attractive images of each razor handle. After cutting and shaping and for reasons of precaution each razor handle is imbued in a sealing liquid and additionally laminated on a melamine layer