Thread: finally have guts enough

Long story as short as possible. My wife went to an AOS store a few months ago and picked up a DE Razor and gear for me. Started using it and liked it, then I remembered I had two of my Great Grandfathers straights stashed away. Well, polished one up, borrowed a strop and gave it a try. The first shave wasn't as smooth as I would've hoped, but no nicks or cuts just some minor irritation on my neck. Nothing a little cold water followed with witch hazel couldn't fix. I followed up with the DE, good day. I've used it a few more (maybe 3) times since, I've got a lot to learn and a long way to go before I get the BBS shave everybody searches for. But no nicks or cuts will always be my goal.

Now for the picture of my Great Grandfathers blades



one is a W.M. Elliot 268 and the other a W.M. Penn

I've cleaned and stropped the Elliot since the picture the Penn will probably need a buffing wheel before I try using it.

You more than likely need to send it out and get it honed to shave ready , but even at that it takes some time to learn the straight ,, but still get them honed by a pro to start then really learn how to use the strop ,, it will keep an edge going a long time , but a strop doesn't sharpen them. Good luck. Tc

Thanks for the advice TC. Oh, it's sharp, stropping was just to touch it up. It's the actual act of shaving with a straight I've got to get use to. Practice, practice and more practice, with minimal amount of blood loss as possible.

When I was in the Navy and short on cash for blades I would sharpen my pocket knife (various stones, then home made strops, fire hose and leather) and shave with it, people would always pay for me to sharpen theirs after witnessing this. Crowded bathrooms and rolling seas were my enemy.

Nice looking blades. We always reccomend new shavers get at least one blade pro honed so they have a benchmark for shave ready. You may have already achieved this but you don't really know and could be missing out on better shaves. Many coming from backgrounds sharpening have been suprised to find what they thought was shaving sharp was only half way there. Any thing below 8k and it will still need more work. Good luck with your shaves and any questions feel free to ask.

10-4 on that, no disrespect , but a razor is not even in the same category as a knife, I can lay an edge on a knife or chisel like you won't believe , and thought I could hone a razor too, that's why I gave up straight shaving in the 70, s , never got it shave ready. Enter 2013 I have o e done to see what shave ready is what a difference, not saying you won't pick it up , but until you have one done you,lol never know. I still don't hone after 2 years just because the edgeds that I get are perfect so I don't mess with it, I only refresh them which keeps them going for months or I should say indefinantly ,, just looking to set you up for the best experience you can have , and who knows maybe you got it there , but you won't know. Good luck. Tc

Hey Sean, Bravo for giving it a go.

The guys tell you right about getting an edge on the blades. That they're ancestor's blades means they can't be replaced - and are NOT the blades to learn on - including, if not especially w/ a buffer.

I appreciate being on a budget. 'Would be willing to hone for no cost beyond actual postage to get them back to you. PM me if you'd like. 'Not a pro. 'Only 482 blades done so far, but most find the edges quite pleasing. I'm sure there are others who would do likewise.