A Newb's First Razor

Hey All,
I'm just starting out in the wild world of straight razor shaving... I've used one of the "disposable blade" pseudo-straight razors several times, and I'm slowly getting better at it.
Decided to dive in and get a real razor and a strop.
(pic below)

It just arrived today. It's very exciting.

Of course, once it's arrived, I read the "shave ready razor" wiki page. =(
Should I have gotten a stone as well? I was hoping pre-honed and coming with a strop would be good enough to start... but I'm guessing that isn't the case.
So: should I get a stone right away, or look at getting someone pro to do it the first time?
If so, how do I find a person like that?
(I'm in Canada, for what it's worth.)

http://ep.yimg.com/ip/I/nashvilleknifeshop_2049_2428271

Yes you will need a hone eventually

yes you should send this one out to an expert

yes then you will know how it is supposed to feel

yes you should buy a practice razor for honing first before the nice one

Welcome to srp at first.
If you are new and start with henckles ? Doesn;t sound like you are new lol.
Anyway.
As you said you read wiki? it is important make that blade shave ready of course if it is not yet . you will know as soon as you start to shave with it
read wiki and learn about soaps strops.(don't try hone razor by yourself send some honemasters in classified).Don't get scared when you see blood everyone does cut their face ,razor rash etc go slowly and ask questions.
good luck

Welcome to SRP. As you apparently chose the pre-honed option, you should be fine. Just make sure to read the Wiki page on stropping. Wrong stropping will dull your razor to a degree where you will have to have it re-honed. A number of members offer honing services in the classifieds, though.

Any road, very nice razor. You could have done a lot worse.

welcome, yeah that's why they offer the 'honing' option in the drop down menu. the factory edge may not be bad though, however it's hard to tell since you have zero experience.
i'd vote to check the member services in the classifieds, i think floppyshoes may be the only person in canada who offers honing and i believe he should be back offering it soon again after a few month interruption.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BeBerlin

Welcome to SRP. Just make sure to read the Wiki page on stropping. Wrong stropping will dull your razor to a degree where you will have to have it re-honed.

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Welcome to the forum and I can personally attest to what BeBerlin says about stropping so make sure to read up on it. Don't be afraid to ask questions either because we all have either been there before or are there now!

Take your time and don't expect perfection right off the bat.