First of all welcome to the site. Now if your new to the sport of straight razor shaving and maintaining I would suggest going on the internet and watching all the good videos there on the subject. Lynn Abrams and others have a lot good info. on shaving and maintaining the razor. Honing and stropping a straight razor is a lot different that knives I have found. Improper stropping will dull a blade and even though I was good a honing knives I had to learn all over again honing the razor. All so the folks here at the place will be glad to help if they can. again welcome