Hi to all.
I write from Naples, Italy. I'm 32 and I've been using straight razors since 1993. First I bought a safety straight razor mounting half double edge blades.
In 1999 I bought a nice black puma (still trying to understand how old it is, the booklet that comes with it is really old fashioned and seems before '50 but maybe it's only the graphic style), but I've always had a problem with sharpening. When I bought it was not shave ready as the seller said, and after some bad shavings I decided to buy a paddle, but it became even worse.... so I gave to the shopper to re-hone but the result wasn't good. Till now I've used it once-twice a week until now finally I discovered forums and books to learn from and return to a daily straight shaving.
Now, with all the things I'm learning here I hope I'll restore it to an acceptable level.
I've bought two battle-razors from ebay (a "The Mab Rd" and a "Sargent & Son") to learn how to hone and strop (Norton 4000-8000 and Russian Leather strop from ClassicShaving) rightly without destroying my Puma. Yet, I bought a "Comet Special" from Bill Ellis to get a perfectly shave ready razor from a recognized honemeister. Now I decided to satisfy my consumistic demon buying some Geo F. Trumper soaps and a Kent BK8 badger brush, and a Moss Scuttle from Sara Bonnyman.
Now, after all these unuseful words, my question is: living in the old part of the world, do you know other honemaster or shops here in Europe or in Italy?
As you can imagine, it sounds a bit stupid to buy some British or european product from USA, paying a double import price and oversea shipping. I've used in the past "The Gentleman's Shop" but the change from pound to euro it's not so convenient.
Yet, are there well-know users from Europe I could in future send my razors for a master honing? In other case, I'll send to Lynn as it seems to be the common hint given in these pages
All the best
