To go Straight or not?

[Shaveoholic]

Hi everbody, i've been wetshaving for about two years now, using a Merkur HD and various creams and soaps.
I am really interested in straight razors and would love to get started. To begin I just need a shave-ready razor and a strop right?
I've been looking at ruprazors site (http://www.ruprazor.com/store/index....&category_id=6) and was wondering if either of these 3 would make a good starting razor? The Hamburg No.3, the Harris Goar 6/8, or the H.Boker and Co. no.1322....
Anyway help starting up would be gravy. And i've seen some differing opinions on the quality of the shaves, but can you get at least as good a shave as a D.E.?
Oh and i'm poor so maybe the razor suggestions should be under 120 dollars.

Thanks in advance!

[Shooter]

Welcome abaord. Shave ready razor then yes all you need is a strop. If not shave ready you'll need the services of a honemeister and a strop. You can't go wrong with a Boker.

[BigBubba]

1st off, welcome to SRP!

Around a year ago I switched from a Merkur HD to straights.
Around 6 months ago I tried a DE and I got (by my new standards) a pretty crappy shave. Nothing against DE shaving, if it work for some, that's just peachy.
IMHO, with proper prep, good technique and a properly honed straight razor, you really can't get a better shave.

[Shaveoholic]

Lordy I was afraid you guys would be all thumbs up, that means another AD for me? So any suggestions on a reasonably priced strop? And some links to how to do it would be helpful. Do you have to use paste with a strop?

[JimmyHAD]

Welcome to SRP! I'm a reformed DE shaver and once I went straight I never looked back. Here is a good read to get you started and here is the video section for more good info. This is a great post to read before you do your first shave. The Wiki at the toolbar above is loaded with more great info. If you have anymore questions keep them coming. All the guys here are willing to help.

[crankymoose]

if you are going to purchase a razor from ruprazor anyhow he has strops available as well or you could check out The Well Shaved Gentleman, Heirloom Razor Strop Company, Straight Razor Shaving Supplier for his apprentice starter strop which I believe is under $45.00 is red latigo leather and a great strop

[xman]

Go for it! I mean what have you got to lose? You've got the basics down. You might be getting even better shaves in a few weeks. I mean, why not?!

X

[RayG]

And i've seen some differing opinions on the quality of the shaves, but can you get at least as good a shave as a D.E.?

No, not initially. The learning curve is longer and steeper than with DE's, but if you keep at it, it will pay off.

Yeah, a wapi or double arrow would be a good start. Maybe you can get it as a starter set from Ruprazor. Ken won't steer you wrong.

I'd say give it a go and try it for yourself. If not anything else, it would be fun. And if it's not for you, then you can resell the stuff a few months down the road and would have lost, what $10-15? Go for it!

[Shaveoholic]

I dont want to go cheap for my first razor though, and the wapi and double arrow are both foreign made razors, and ive read on some threads they are either unbalanced or unreliable. One last question, is the Filly($20) which is cowhide, a decent strop? I remember reading leather or horsehide were the recommended ones.

[JimmyHAD]

I don't know about the Filly strop for twenty bucks. Did you take a look at the link that crankymoose provided in his post ? If you don't want to go cheap on the razor don't go cheap on the strop. Tony's strops are about as good as it gets and a good strop is really important.

Some like latigo (cowhide) and some like horse. I couldn't figure it out either so I got a horse/latigo with a linen added. If you go with one of Tony's premier strops get the practice strop too so that you don't nick up your good one learning.