So, I've been shaving for a while with one of these, and now have 4 straights. The first two, I have to say are from that all popular auction site that we all know. The other 2 are truly shave ready, and from the great members on this site, 1 via classifieds, and 1 direct from a member.

My first one was a RSO, and thus has taken up place in a drawer of random knives, on the lower end of my collection. I have the two that are shave ready and shave daily with one, with the other waiting for honing day of the first, where I will trade them off. Being new to all this I'm waiting a while before attempting honing my good razors.

That brings me to the Last. This is one I am most anxious to use, but still not sure if its merely a display piece or a good usable Razor.

I work with a carbide company and thus have access to a few good metallurgists and their lab, so I brought it to work with me and had it tested on their Rockwell Machine.

The tests showed an average rating of 52.25 in Rockwell C with a high of 58.1, and low of 46.4
From what I have found out this is on the low end of Damascus for hardness. Still Damascus is harder than regular steel.

So, display piece or finish hone and use it?

Name: Damascus SR.jpg Views: 345 Size: 36.2 KB
Details, San Tan Cutlery 1095/15n20 Damascus Steel Straight Razor

BTW, I have tried to shave with it a few times, seems to do better each time I strop it and try, but still not on par with my other razors.