Gift for Groomsmen - suggestions?

Hi all,

I'm definitely a newbie to this and was interested in getting my groomsmen straight razors for their gifts at my wedding. I don't know a whole lot about this and was looking for suggestions. Already have seen the Wiki page on suggested brands and brands to avoid and was looking to get the guys maybe a starter kit with a basic, but good razor.

Seeing how much they cost, I'd almost rather get them a nice razor and maybe a starter book and they could get the rest of the accessories

I'd also like to get new stuff, and preferably all the same (or variations on the same model of razor or kit) Any suggestions for new razors, kits and good, reputable places to buy from?

Thanks!

Str8razor shaving isn't for everyone but I don't know anybody who doesn't enjoy wet shaving. Perhaps you could get them each a matching mug and nice badger brush set with a nice soap added. You can find what you need at Straight Razor Designs or Classic Shaving or Vintage Blades. These are just a few of the reputable dealers I have personally used. Take the items to a trophy shop and have them etched with their name and date. Good luck and congratulations.

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Ray

That would be a really nice gesture but I suspect it would go unappreciated. You need more than just a straight razor to shave with one.

First there is the additional equipment: strop, shaving soap, brush, finishing hone, pastes, an extra strop or two for the pastes, styptic pencil, alum block, replacement strop for first nicked up one, lapping tool for hone. Seems like an endless list.

But that is actually the least of it. One needs to want to do this and most people really are not interested. Learning the skills needed takes time and dedication one won't have without the desire.

Now, if all your buddies already shave with straights, then by all means pick out some nice ones for them!

If not, maybe some soap, a mug and a brush they can use with their current razor.

thats a pretty good point, it can be quite a task, for most it would be a short-lived novelty.

+1 on mug/soap/and brush. every one likes to smell good. maybe a book about razors and if there interested all theyll be missing is razor/strops

and its true, most ppl would, at best, keep these in there sock-drawer until they die.
perhaps spend the same on a nice watch for everyone?
or maybe memberships at a club/gym you could all enjoy.

whatever you choose congrats and have fun!

Yeah a personalized mug with a nice soap and brush would be an excellent gift.

I'll agree with the brush, mug and a good shaving soap for all. Chances are most of them wet shave already and this would really enhance their experience. Buying them a straight razor would be cool looking to them, but they would most likely not ever use one.

I agree! A straight razor is indeed a good gift but I also suspect that despite the "coolness" it might freak them out! Get them a brush, soap and mug set. That is a very cool idea. I gave my brother a straight razor, a strop and the wet shaving kit (without a DE... he got that one himself) and he never touched the razor because he's affraid of it... now the brush and the other stuff, he uses a lot. I confess that it brakes my heart knowing that he won't use the razor... mostly because the strop he has was handmade by myself. That is why I think that the straight razor idea is not a very good one. But hey! you can give them the wet shaving kit NOW and maybe give them the razor and strop when you get maried again! ;)
Seriously, though... congratulations on the tying the knot thing! :gl:

This has come up many times and the consensus was that straight shaving is something well over 90% of people wouldn't appreciate. The razor would probably just go into a drawer and never see the light of day again. Unless you know they have an interest I think you would be better buying them a nice brush and soap set or maybe a nice Dovo DE.

Thanks for the responses guys! Is there a kit you'd recommend for the mug/brush/soap? If there isn't, which individual items would you recommend me piecing together to make a "kit"?

I'd like to keep everything around $70-80 per person since I'll be buying 5 sets.

im sure a more experienced member will chime in with specific recomendations, but for that price you should have no problem finding a really nice brush, a mug, and a soap or 2 each. (soaps can be expensive on there own)
instead of an actual "shaving mug" perhaps find a place that does personalized coffee mugs.
that way if they dont get the whole lathering thing, they get a nice coffee mug out the deal.

its a shame more people arnt in to the whole straight shaving thing, i think the razor idea would have been cool. bad timing i guess, if only it was 1897.

www.thegentlemansquarter.com Colleen has everything you need.

I have my wedding upcoming as well, and I was considering the same thing. I was going to give a starter set to each guy, and I think by buying the razors on ebay and honing and cleaning them myself, and then giving them a cheap brush/soap/strop, I could afford it, but after feeling it out for a bit, I'm positive none of them would truly enjoy it.

I think it's one of those things that you have to actively want to do yourself. The biggest problem they would have with it is how much longer it takes to shave. As soon as they hear it, they don't want to hear any more. They are way too content with their shaves already to wake up any earlier and fiddle with the straight. I'm sure they would try it a couple times, but they won't see the point. It's hard to see the point when you're content with what you have, I guess. If they weren't content, they would already be browsing the internet and finding this site just like I did.

But you know your friends better than I do of course, so if you're still going forward with it, I would say pick up an omega boar brush or a tweezerman brush for each of them for like $10-15, and some honeybee spa soap (~$3.50/puck), or something else inexpensive, and then something like the filly strop from ruprazor ($20). As far as the razors themselves, I can't help you much. As I said, I was going to restore my own from the bay, and I could have gotten away for less than $20/razor easy. So I was looking at kits that would be on the order of $50 per groomsman.

Good luck either way!

Glad you liked the suggestion. Along with Collenes I would try calling Straight Razor Designs. I have talked to them several times and they are great people to work with. They may be willing to put together a package for you. Congradulations again and enjoy

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Ray

a middle ground between your original idea and the mug/soap/brush idea could be to include a shavette though I've heard ups and downs on them but if you are into straight shaving yourself and are hoping to do some converting it is a happy midground. I've seen cheap ones for 5 bucks and Dovo ones with nice tortoise handles for 30.
If you don't know, Shavettes handle liek straight razors but with a replaceable blade, a lot of barbers are using them now

If you just get them razors they'll likely all remain unused. That's not a totally bad thing since some may like them as keepsakes.

I suggest that you get them started with some fine wet shaving gear and let them walk their own road from there. A nice Rooney brush each and some Castle Forbes or Tabac or something like that would be used by virtually any man it is given to.

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