Hello all of you experienced shavers out there! I want to buy some of your old shaving equipment you don't use anymore.

My name is Drew and I am new to this gig. I am a 22 (today is my birthday as of about 2 hours ago) and am a fan of manual cameras, fountain pens, and classic styles.

As a birthday present to myself I am going to buy a straight razor and paraphernalia. I started off looking at ebay, and while doing research as to what to buy, and what to do with it once I have it, came across both this forum, and loads of advice saying stay away from ebay.

It seems to me, that as a beginner, I have two options. Buy low quality versions of everything new... or pick up well used but serviceable equipment that has seen a little love. As a poor college kid with a couple of italian suits purchased at salvation army, I am a big fan of the latter.

Enter this post. Im not new to buying stuff online and have a paypal account and whatnot, and I would love to pickup a perhaps slightly dinged strop, a razor (or two) with a worn set of scales (but honed to shave ready) and a brush which is perhaps missing a couple of bristles (and maybe an old hone).

I know that when you get into this sort of thing you always truly NEED that next step up. My bag full of photography gear (which is worth well more than my car) is testament to the fact.

So I offer you the opportunity to cash out on some of your old junk so you can apply it to that really sweet brush with the finely carved handle, or whatever else you are after. I just need a full setup of old gear...

I don't really know what to expect for costs, but I have some cash, and how good your advice seems will probably have a big impact on what I am willing to pay, as I have no actual knowledge to go on that does not come from my perusal of these forums and a nifty pdf book off shavemyface.com.

And maybe this post is ill-informed and useless and I will get bored in a couple of days and by a cheap razor out of your classifieds, but if anybody would be willing to help me out I would certainly appreciate it!

Thanks

Drew