It's very easy to make this harder than it needs to be, and there is so much information available that it can be overwhelming. I suggest that you call Straight Razor Designs and order one of the basic razor/strop packages. They will help you put it together. While you're there, order a tub of Taylor of Old Bond Street shaving cream (he can get into the soaps later, if he wants to). Then go to Amazon and order a $12 badger hair brush, and you're set. It probably will run you closer to $150 -$175 all in. But if you can afford that, he'll have a good, quality set that will last him a very long time.