Thread: Picked this up today, have some questions

Howdy all, new here and have a few question. Popped into an antique store today, and the best affordable razor of a few dozen was a Crown and Sword for $20. Whole way home, all I wanted to do was shave with it. The second I dragged my thumb across the edge and heard it sing, I knew it had to come home. Have cleaned the blade with alcohol, and cannot find my strop as I have recently moved and... well you know how that is. I have a work sharp brand sharpener with a strop on it. I'm sure I'll get an ass kickin for even mentioning that idea. So in all, what have I got here? And what should I do next? Right now, any refurbishing etc is out of the budget. I'm in a bad spot right now and frankly the 20 was more than I should have spent on a whim, but that sound the blade made spoke quality to me. Will include pics as soon as I find the option on the page.

Welcome to SRP, crown and sword are a great razor. Pics will help. Generally antique store finds need a hone and the best way to get it shave ready is to send it out to one of the members here that specialise in honing.

Thanks for the welcome, and solid advice. End of the day, I suppose there is no substitute for someone who is passionate and specialized in whatever one needs. Any leads on who I should get in touch with?

Tidy looking razor, should shave like a champ. Go to classifieds and scroll down to member services, worth the money to get you on the right track.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/class...wcat.php?cat=4
This is where all the pros around here hang their shingles.
If you want your shave to be all it can be then a pro hone is best, until you can a grasp on shaving and then you can certainly start to experiment with honing.
I like to think of it as skills building. First shave and stropping and then honing, and then there is advanced honing, where the tricky stuff happens. There are a lot of guys that just touch up their blades and leave the heavy lifting to others.

You have an ERN Crown and Sword in great shape. Great buy!

Thanks kindly! Will do

Thanks all very much for the info and warm welcome! I thought it looked in fair shape at a glance. My straight razor experience is an old Morris with blade inserts I bought off a barber a decade ago at least. Had the same insert in it near 7 years now. So I'll be excited to have this up and running. Shaved a spot on my arm nicely with it, but my arm won't get as bothered as my neck about it I'm sure.

Really nice blade. Have the blade professionally honed so you get the full on experience of a nice edge.

Great find and good luck!

$20 for any solingen steel blade that looks like that is a great deal. Will it need to be honed? Coming from an antique store...probably. Good find!