Thread: Calling Ozzie Straight Razor Users

I am only two months into this new art and have not looked back. In fact, I am starting to look around for some vintage blades to have a go at...

But, the reason for this post is because I want to hear from any other straight razor shavers who live in Australia. Since I began this, I have been looking all over the place for stores that supply brushes, strops, soaps and blades. I travel a fair bit for work and have found some half-decent stores, but would love to hear from anyone that can offer for some more advice.

My list so far is this:
- The Razor Shop in Brisbane has a decent range of soaps (got my Truefitt and Hill from here), brushes and stands, and usually has a few Dovos in stock. They also have a range of shave mugs.
- There is an excellent shave shop (whose name I don't know) in a little arcade in Perth CBD. They stocked a range of blades and strops, and next time I'm back there I will check it out again, as I hadn't taken the plunge and started with str8's when I was there last
- Sydney, and the only shops I could find with anything was The Shaver Shop franchises. The one in the CBD and the one at Eastgardens have the odd Dovo and maybe a strop. They also have a limited range of soaps.
- Melbourne, and I haven't found anywhere yet that stocks the above.

If anyone has any more ideas and information about where to go in Australian cities for this stuff I would love to hear from you, as I'm pretty sure I have run out of ways to find them with Google! I appreciate there are also some good online retailers (where I got my blade from).

I am about 2 hours out of Melbourne in the country. The only place I found in Melbourne that is even remotely related to straight razor shaving is the Melbourne Barber Shop (The Melbourne Barber Shop from memory). If you take a razor there, you can get a shave - requires booking in advance.

I have been using straight razor for a while, but never really had all the other stuff (decent strop, alum block, etc), but I just placed an order with Straight Razor Designs and got a bunch of stuff. Cost about $40 shipping, but with the aussie dollar up at the moment, and the complimentary honing and shave-ready delivery of a razor, it was well worth it - best shave I ever had this evening.

If you are after vintage razors, either ebay or Op shops would be the way to go. Some antique stores have razors on the odd occasion, but they are usually well overpriced.

Also, I highly recommend picking up a copy of Lynn Abrams DVD which has tips for how to buy razors on ebay - my first couple purchases were good razors but crappy for restoration, but I didnt know that at the time.

If you happen to find somewhere decent in Melbourne, let me know.

Hey Mate.

Proud Australian here based in Adelaide. I have found there is no real savvy retail scene for straights in Australia at all. eBay is always great and antique stores good yet overpriced as mentioned. In this globalised day and age online purchasing is the only way to go! Visit John @ shavingshop.com for awesome razors and all related stuff. Just received in the post today an 8/8 Henckels Friodur Spanish Point which is SUBLIME!

I wish you great shaves.

MDR

Have you checked the classifieds here?
SRP Classifieds
I've bought a few razors from here, and everyone I've done business with has been rather helpful. I started with a Ruprazor kit from Ken (there's a thread in the vendors corner section on his kits)
Postage isn't that bad most times.
Now my shaves are getting better, and I'm losing less blood! (fingers crossed)

Good luck,
Gary

Thanks guys.

Good to see some Aussies using straights. Just as I suspected - there's not a lot here on the retail scene, so online is the way to go. I also intend to go to a regional swap meet where I here there are some bargains to be had on vintage straights... I'll let people know how I go.

Appreciate the feedback and happy nick-less shaving!

Originally Posted by Bagman

I am only two months into this new art and have not looked back. In fact, I am starting to look around for some vintage blades to have a go at...

But, the reason for this post is because I want to hear from any other straight razor shavers who live in Australia. Since I began this, I have been looking all over the place for stores that supply brushes, strops, soaps and blades. I travel a fair bit for work and have found some half-decent stores, but would love to hear from anyone that can offer for some more advice.

My list so far is this:
- The Razor Shop in Brisbane has a decent range of soaps (got my Truefitt and Hill from here), brushes and stands, and usually has a few Dovos in stock. They also have a range of shave mugs.
- There is an excellent shave shop (whose name I don't know) in a little arcade in Perth CBD. They stocked a range of blades and strops, and next time I'm back there I will check it out again, as I hadn't taken the plunge and started with str8's when I was there last
- Sydney, and the only shops I could find with anything was The Shaver Shop franchises. The one in the CBD and the one at Eastgardens have the odd Dovo and maybe a strop. They also have a limited range of soaps.
- Melbourne, and I haven't found anywhere yet that stocks the above.

If anyone has any more ideas and information about where to go in Australian cities for this stuff I would love to hear from you, as I'm pretty sure I have run out of ways to find them with Google! I appreciate there are also some good online retailers (where I got my blade from).

G'day mate, next time you are in Perth, come out to Mens' Bitz, they have quite a range of straight razor gear, Dovo strops,new razors of various qualities,soaps, eg Col Ichabod Conks, and some Aussie manufactured soaps as well. Some nice badger hair brushes. You should be able to look them up on Google. They supply the Pearce airbase lads, it is pilot training and lots of them use straights.I reckon I saw a couple of lads when I was in Adelaide in the Army Res years ago using them as well. Suspect there are quite a few servicemen who currently use them. interesting to see who pops out of the woodwork here down under, I have a mate in Adelaide who is not part of this club.

Cheers

Gordon

G'day Bagman. Not much to add as the list of shops is pretty minimal here in Oz but wishing you good shaves & an enjoyable stay with SRP. What part of Sydney ? I'm on the North side.

G'day Onimaru55,

I'm northside also - Mosman. Happy shaving.

Welcome to SRP!

Yeah, there is not a lot available here in terms of shops. The Razor Shop here in Brissy is one of the best I have come across - if you ever have time, and get to know the bloke who owns the shop, he might show you his collection of old straights and shaving gear. It is pretty cool!

Other good places are the rural antiques shops - you can pick up some nice old vintage razors, strops, and sometimes hones that the old farmers etc used to use.

But you are in the right place now - SRP will keep you in touch with straight razor-related stuff all over the world. Shaving nirvana is only a click of a mouse away

James.

Thanks Jimbo. I have got talking to (I presume) the owner of the shop a couple of times. Very friendly and helpful chap he was too. I recall he said he had someone who would do a professional hone on the blade if ever I needed it. As it turns out, I bought a stone and have honed myself, but will keep that one tucked away in case...