new guy from Oregon, few questions

Hey everyone glad to have found the place. a couple of questions, I just purchased my first razor it is a Solingen. not sure what model just says Solingen made in Germany. I got it at Excalibur cutlery it looks pretty much like the one in the Excalibure sponser pictue has up here. Just plain black handle (scales?) does any one know the model name and did I do ok for a first? I will be adding some more later, from what I read on here Dovo sounds like a good brand to go with. any other suggestions?

Second question, I need a Strop and it seems pretty clear to me Tony Miller is the guy to go with but he is not selling right now any one know when he might start back up?

Lastly I need a better brush obviously badger is the way to go can anyone suggest a retailer to go through. Sorry for all the questions, I have done some of my homework but a couple of suggestions from the more experieneced it greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Hi, and welcome. Solingen makes excellent razors. Do you have a pic? You can upload them when you post under advanced options. As I said, You really can't go wrong with one. If you look on the tang, it should say what it is, but not always, sometimes, just "Made In Germany" and "Solingen". With a pic, we can see and give an opinion.
Tony Miller usually operates Wed-Sat. He should be back next Wed. He often takes time off to catch up on his inventory.
He is worth the wait. You can't go wrong with one of Tony's strops. If you don't want to wait, Don and Lynn at Straight Razor Designs also have excellent hand made amish Latigo strops amongst others. They're both Administrator's on the Forum, Lynn is the founder. I like the Red Latigo myself. As far as brushes go, try Vintage Blades, Jim and Erin are very good. I just bought a Rooney myself, Silver tip badger, Awesome brush....You also have Classic Shaving too....Good Luck.Hope this helps, Don't worry about too many questions, everyone is willing to help..Rich

Welcome to SRP. I'm over on the Dry Side, in Pendleton. Tony's site says he need to replenish his stock and his store will be open early next week. I don't have a TM strop, but it's on my wish list. Crabtree and Evelyn has a silver tip badger brush for $25 or $35. There are some nice brushes at Classic Shaving and Straight Razor Designs. You can pay a lot for fancy handles but you don't need that. A small or medium brush is good for your first brush.

Make sure that your razor has been honed by a honemeister, someone who actually shaves with a straight razor and gives it a test shave. There are honemeisters listed in the classifieds (see above).

I don't know anything about your razor, but my guess is that it is made by Dovo.

Check out the info in the Wiki (above) and the videos in the General forum. Ask all the questions you want and remember to shave slowly and without any pressure on the blade. And let us know how your shaves progress.

Hey pwedge,

first of all... welcome to SRP.

Maybe you could post some picture so we can have a guess what razor it is...
There are a lot of razor brands that were made in solingen..
I've only got one razor that was not made there..

Maarten

Welcome. I too live in PDX.

If you bought your straight at Excaliber it is a Dovo that is all they sell.

Second Goto Tony Miller.

Third, walk across the hall from Excaliber in the Washington Square Mall and pick up a C & E BBB. They recently changed them but for $30 they are still a good deal.

Also Nordstrom downtown and Marios and John Hellmer have brushes. $100 and up. French Quarter Linens is supposed to stock Omega Brushes. They are boar but they have a good following and most can be had for between $10 and $20.

Then of course there is always the $7 van der hagen special at Rite Aid or MallMart.

Cheers and welcome.:gl:

Since you have already received great advice I just say welcome to SRP great to see another member from up here in the NW.....

Hey Singlewedge thanks for the local info. I picked mine up at the Excaliber at the Lloyd Center what's the name of the place in Washington Square across from their Excaliber? Thanks also for the tip on the local places, John Hellmer and Mario's makes sense that they would have good stuff. Strangely enough I have a friend that works at the French Quarter maybe she can hook me up with some brushes. If you ever think of any other local places feel free to pass the info my way.

There is Em's place she sells lots of stuff and is on the coast.

Mario's sells high end suits and Trumper's line, the downtown store has the best selection. The others are slightly limited.

Excaliber Cutlery in the Various malls sell Merkur blades and razors and Trumpers as well. The one in Washington state sharpens str8s by hand but I have not used them.

Portland Cutlery sells Merkur razors and blades and straight supplies. - Xlosed

Nordstrom sells AOS and a host of other wet supplies. The downtown one sells the most.

Saks sells AOS and a few others downtown.

UnderU for men sells some E-shave stuff, I was not impressed.

There was a store around 10th or 11th and the max line that sold Trufitt but they discontinued it because it did not sell. They may pick up other stuff.

Target sells Old Spice. RiteAid selection varies by location. The one downtown sells a good selection of Old Spice but no blades. But the one in Beaverton sells Gillette blades, red pack and a lot of other good stuff.

Have not shopped at Walgreens.

Fred Meyer, aka Kroger, sells some stuff but is varied. The one in Beaverton/Aloha (A Low ah) sells bottom line Personnas and Gem Blue blade single edge and Old Spice.

Sallys Beauty Supplie sells Personna middle grade and Brabicide.

Crabtree and Evelyn (C & E) Sells soaps and Brushes.

Macy's sells some stuff but I was not impressed and can't remember what it is.

Good girl Bad Boy? in the Pioneer Square Mall sells Pre-De Provance and their house brand. Smells ok, never used it. - Closed

Bath and Body, Bigelow and the other multicolored line.

Aveda sells some stuff never looked hard but I know it is there.

There is always, L'occitane, but I hear they may be discontinuing the Vetivyyr line.

The alternative markets, Whole Foods and the like, sell some stuff too like WitchHazels and KMF and Burts Bees and Midnight Cowboy.

French Quarter - Musgo Real and Omega - Bend is the best store.

Perfume House on the east side.
Hope that helps