Thread: Another New Guy(but I don't feel new)

Hey,

I have just registered after much perusal of the community. I respect and appreciate the knowledge and experience I see here at SRP. I also greatly appreciate all the work and dedication from Lynn to build the website.

Me? (hoping I don't bore you all)Although I am awaiting delivery of a new Dovo pearlex 5/8, SS and the various accoutrements, I am not new to shaving with a straight razor. I began originally when I was on a submarine in 1978. We weren't allowed any aerosol products so I used a mug and brush for shave lather. I found a nice razor at a yard sale and it seemed only right to "go all the way". I learned to hone and strop that hundred year old blade and used that razor for about 8 years. I was two jobs out of the Navy installing and servicing marine electronics when I met the guy who owned Hoffritz Cutlery (anyone remember them?). I was working on his 65' Hatteras at the 23rd St Marina in NYC when he and I had a discussion about shaving. I told him I used a straight razor and he sent me the best razor Hoffritz carried. It was a beauty but I can't remember any details except the word Solingen on the tang. I shaved with that baby every day until my crazy drug addict first wife attacked me with it. By the time I got out of the hospital, the stains on the blade wouldn't come off so I just put it away and now, fifteen years later I have sickened of the disposables (they irritate my skin) and I have decided to go back to "real shaving". Well, my first (and second) wife is long gone but I can't find that Hoffritz Razor anywhere. I found my strop rotten in a wet box in the basement so I ordered a new one along with the razor, soap, boar brush, apothocary type mug and even a bit of Bay Rum just to get back on track. My old stones are gone so I bought a Belgian blue/ coticule kit to hone my new blade. All this stuff should arrive Monday. I feel like a kid waiting for Christmas!

I did some shopping and found what appears to be very good value at Knife Center for most of the gear. The stones are coming from Best Sharpening Stones. I hope I haven't made the wrong choices (as far as what I ordered and from where). While I have much experience, I am guessing even though wet shaving is an ancient art, much in the way of equipment has changed.

I hope I haven't worn you kids out but I am more excited about resuming straight shaving than I have been about anything in a long time! Sometime (off topic) I can talk you to death about my weight pulling pitbull. I get pumped about him too.

I look forward to participating in these discussions. I know I will learn alot here and maybe even have a laugh now and then.

Brad

Hi Brad and welcome

Sounds like you've had a very eventful set of experiences with straights so far! Thanks for joining us - I look forward to hearing your opinions and experiences with this new kit you've picked up. (which sounds good to me, by the way.)

Welcome aboard

James.

Thanks Jimbo!

This is the Belgian stone kit I ordered:

http://www.bestsharpeningstones.com/..._stone_kit.htm

For all you get it seemed like a good value. Of course I better not let my girlfriend know I just dropped that much on a couple stones that aren't jewelry .

I used to have a ceramic honing stone that was brown in color and very fine but it seems to have run away with my old razor.