Congratulations on your first shave! I am not surprised that the Baurman worked well for you. I have three and they all are nice shavers, and take and hold an edge easily. Good choice. As for being shave ready off e-bay, I have bought about half a dozen over the years that were actually ready to shave with stropping. If someone took good care of their razor, and it had been recently honed when finally put away forever, there is no reason it would not give a good shave many years later, unless water got into the picture.