Ebay UK: 2x razor, strop and paste for £16 ($32). Good idea?

Hello, Straight Razor Place! This is my first post, I'm looking to get into straight razor shaving and hunting around for decent entry-level gear for someone without a lot of money to spend. I was hoping to draw your attention to this:

Cut Throat Straight Shaving Razor, Razors, Strop, Paste on eBay, also, Razors Blades, Hair Removal, Health Beauty (end time 31-Jul-08 09:22:32 BST)

If the link doesn't work, the seller's name is rowanuk244 and it's listed as 'Cut Throat Straight Shaving Razor, Razors, Strop, Paste'. Two razors, strop and paste for about £16 (about $32). It appears from the feedback that the seller has been selling these for a long time (there's always at least one listed at the same buy-it-now price), and the feedback's overwhelmingly positive. In fact, some have been very positive indeed, although it seems that they'll need a bit of honing to be really shave ready. Although I'm new to straight razor shaving I've done quite a bit of research already and I feel like I understand the principles of honing, so I'm not too intimidated by this, although I know it's not recommended.

I wouldn't usually trouble you with this, as it's obviously not ideal to be buying cheap no-brand razors from ebay, but I haven't got a lot of money and the amount of positive feedback got me interested. Perhaps, if you've read this far, it might be of interest to you too. It sounds like a reasonable price to get a taste for straight razor shaving, with a view to buying some quality kit in the future if it goes well. So, what do we reckon? Do you think these could sharpen up to be a great find, or should I wait until I've got enough money to play it safe with something more expensive?

Thanks very much if you've taken the trouble to read this, I hope it's been worth your time.

- J. Arthur

PS. I hope I'm not going over ground already covered elsewhere, I've done some searching but couldn't find anything.

PPS. The 'free gift' is a pair of tweezers, according to the feedback.

I don't see the brands of the auction items stated anywhere in the ad - I'd be wary!

I use the "-" in my searches to keep such sets out of view. As pointed out, there are no brand names, so you'll likely end up with a butter knife, a baseball mitt, and peanutbutter.

On a serious note, I'd suggest not getting your first gear on ebay. You want a quality blade that has been well honed, and good strop to start out.

This offer is too good to be true.

Run from this as fast as you can, check out our classified section here at SRP, or start a want to buy thread and see who answers, this way you will recieve great advice from the members in general and remember everyone here has a reputation to protect. Until you know more stay away from ebay, why learn from your mistakes if you dont have to.

Based on the other products the seller has listed they are ZEEPKS! stay far away form them. A butter knife would be a better shaving choice.


As for the strop and paste they are not resharpening tools at all... yellow paste is simply non-abrasive strop conditioner and the strop it self only aligned the edge and keeps it clean not sharpens it.

as other have recommended ... read the stickies at the top of the new member forum for some great advise.

That seller has sold a lot of items but, most likely, they are not the straight razors. So the positive feedback does not apply.

The strop is way to short for daily use and, as mentioned, the yellow paste is for keeping the leather supple. It is not an abrasive resharpening paste.

The razor quality is questionable at best. You would be taking a risk and most likely lose. The cheap razors are usually poorly ground so it is difficult to hone them and/or the steel/heat treatment is of poor quality so they will not take or keep a decent edge. However if you like frequent honing and shaving with an edge that feels like sandpaper on your face then go for it.

Wow! I really didn't expect so many of you to reply, and so quickly.. Many many thanks to you all, I'll be following your very helpful advice. It's all very well being thrifty, but not if you're wasting money on cheap junk when you could be saving it up for something worthwhile.