Thread: Can I call this "shave ready"

Hi everyone. I am new at this and have yet to shave myself with a "good razor". I bought a few really cheap razor the like of Kreigar (poor investment). Thought they would make good practice but they are too cheap even for that.

Yesterday I got another razor bought on EBay. It's a "Enzo England", double hollow grounded and round pointed blade, is made from german high carbon steel.
Didn't pay much for it about $24US plus the shipping was free.

This thing looked quite sharp so I took it to my leather strop (plank strop that I made). Did about 100 laps on it. Today my beard wasn't long enough to shave so I decided to try it out on my….belly, please don't laugh, I am quite hairy.

So I hot towelled and lathered up a small portion and tried the razor. I just made one pass about 3"x3", the size of the blade and to my surprise all the hair was instantly removed. No pulling, no stopping, no irritation, no nothing, just the noise of something sharp cutting hair.

Would this qualify this razor as "shaving sharp". Any comment on this razor is welcome.



Jacques
Quebec, Canada
P.S. I know I have to get a better quality razor...

Well I am not familiar with those razors and if it says high carbon steel it is probably newish which makes me nervous but it is atleast somewhat sharp. However, assuming that it is a decent razor I would still assume that it is now sharp enough to be shave sharp and send it to a honemeister because razors are seldom sharp enough from ebay.

I am still very new myself so take anything I say with a grain of salt.

The hair on your face is probably courser, and the angles will definatly be harder to deal with, but if the razor did that on your belly I do not see why it it will not cut facial hair. Now you need to work on shaving technique

NO!!! Enzo razors are also on the list of razors to avoid (has this thread been lost in the Great Forum Crash as well?). If you want to get a new razor then you are going to have to get either a DOVO or a TI (Shavingshop also has a few other brands), otherwise you need to get a vintage razor forged in England, Germany, Spain, or Sweeden that has been honed by a honemeister if you want to give yourself a chance at straight razor shaving success. You get what you pay for.

Ah I didn't recognize the name Enzo as being a no no razor but the carbon steel thing made me suspect it. Sorry bud. Get one here and you won't get screwed.

Nice tatoo on your belly...sorry I couldn't resist.

RH

That is about the most disturbing photo I have seen on this website!

You could try it but have your regular razor handy to finish the job if the Enzo can't hack it. Whatever the outcome, a better razor will give you a better shave and if you buy one here you won't get ripped off.
My understanding about cheap razors is that the quality is very variable so that it's not impossible to get a good one, just rather unlikely.

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

That is about the most disturbing photo I have seen on this website!

No kidding. Can we have another crash please?

Anyways, I think the OP should invest in a good stone and practice honing. He may get his $24 worth yet!

- Scott

I'd also like to say that it's more usual to test a razor on the hairs on your forearm than it is to test them on any other part of your anatomy, however hairy that part is.