Welcome!

What the other guys said, if you want the smoothest transition, although if you want to do things the hard way, you can always buy off ebay and work at the hones until you get it. Which could take a long time.

Just wanted to point out that there are also members here and former members who sell on eBay, whose razors I can vouch for being shave ready. Check the ebay names thread; also a few who don't show are former members here.

If you do get an ebay razor, it's no problem to send it in, also, to one of the people who offer sharpening as a service. The founder of SRP, Lynn Abrams, hones razors for Classicshaving or you can contact him directly, and his prices are very reasonable, as are those of a few other people.

If you do this and have all the equipment listed above, I would recommend getting two vintage razors (steer clear of anything that doesn't look in good shape and *vintage*) stay away from anything marked "new" by "Master" "Kriegar" "Two Golden Men" etc. as typically the steel is questionable based on member experience here. Old razors that haven't been ground down and aren't rusted/chipped/cracked/etc made in Sheffield, Solingen, USA (old ones, such as W.R. Case, Torrey, etc) and the like are usually a safe bet if they appear in good condition.

Why two razors? Not because of the rumor one needs to "rest" a blade (although it makes a good excuse during the "addiction" phase of this hobby) but because once you send in one blade for professional honing, it is your task to read the forums for information on honing and stropping, (the old barber manuals in the files section are very helpful) and make your other razor shave exactly like or better than the professionally honed one. It isn't *that* difficult to do, it just takes awhile to get the "hang" of it.
Afterwards, you will be self sufficient.
Unless, of course, you want to send in your razor every time it gets dull. Which is also an option, of course.

Hope this helps at least some.

John P.