Just wanted to let everyone know that all the material on the site really helped me decide to plunge into straight razor shaving. Been using a safety razor with Merkur blades since my grandfather taught me how-

Now, I get to try my first classic purchase(s). I went with a refurb'd Wade&Butcher 13/16 and a Geneva Pyramid 11/16. Now, I have been using a Dovo shavette for practice for over 6 months to get my bearings, and, I still can get a good cross-grain on my throat and right moustashe because of the coarse and crazy growth lines, but might as well start doing it for real.

Still trying to find a nice hone and strop before I try them, even though the seller got them shave ready for me (versus purchasing new and sending them off). I've almost decided on an old ceramic hone I found at a shop in town... but you can never really know. We'll see if a good deal on a used but quality strop comes up soon.

Thanks again for all the great threads and information about quality razors.