I know this is kind of an old thread, but I want to throw out there that, as a beginner, I have found the blunt GD practice razor I have very helpful. It was originally given to me as part of a "starter kit" by my mother-in-law, who accidentally ordered the version with the "practice razor". I found it very helpful to work with it while I waited for my real straight to arrive. I could've just use a bread knife, but the grip would've been different, and it just made more sense to work with an actual razor shaped object.