About 5 months ago I decided to get away from cartridge razors and pressurized goo for shaving. I bought a Thiers-Issard Spartacus razor, Edwin Jagger pure badger brush, a variety pack of Col Conk's soaps. Over the last few months, I thought I would have this down by now. I realized the soaps weren't working too well so I switch to Taylor of Old Bond St soap and then the cream by them as well. I even got a nice dovo 3" strop for Christmas to replace the one I got from Vintage Blades.

Well, I am about to have a meltdown. I feel like I am getting no glide from my lather no matter what I do. I have tried distilled water, watched every YouTube video that has been recommended to me and talked with a few friends who do wet shave and nothing helps.

Recently, I have started to wonder if the razor I purchased was not honed prior to using it. When I purchased the razor from Vintage Blades, there was a guarantee that the razor would be honed prior to shipment. The razor shipped almost immediately after I ordered it which made me wonder. Plus, in hindsight, when I opened the packaging, it was in what appeared to be unaltered OEM packaging. I chalked it up to "it's a nice razor and came shave ready." I have done some further research and am seriously wondering if it wasn't honed before it was shipped. Another reason I fell that it doesn't have a good edge on it is that I can use my old cartridge razor and sliced through my beard without any issues compared to my Spartacus, even after 80 passes on the strop beforehand.

If this is the case, should I try to hone it myself? Should I send it off to hone it or should I try a few rounds with a pasted strop? Or am I screwing my lather and prep up and is that what is causing me to have such issues? I do have a pretty heavy and thick beard when I get even a few days grown on it. My wife and my mom have both said my chin could pass for a Brillo pad after 3 days without shaving.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

Thanks,
Traj