Total newbie with a Genco and a Clauss ....

I just bought two vintage straight razors, which are winging their way toward my house.

A Genco:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...view=all&tid=0

And a Clauss:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...view=all&tid=0

I don't have a strop yet, and I am not sure how to tell what kind of condition these are in, the blades looked clean in some of the photos that were online, without visible issues in the close-ups.

I'm hoping buying these was a good decision ... but I don't know what I'm doing here. Next step: get a strop and figure out if these need to be professionally honed before entrusting my face to them?

I'm currently shaving with glycerine facial soap in a mug and a shaving brush. Is the specialty shaving soap that much better?

I couldnt get the link to work, but more then likely they will need to be honed.

in my opinion you should've picked something in the classifieds instead.
the razors need work and then serious hone work, so when all is done you'd have spent much more time and/or money than if you had just gotten something already good to go.
but it's always fun to do ebay.

as far as strop goes, i'd suggest you pick either one of the illinois ($30-$40) or the $20 one at ruprazor if you want the probably cheapest option.

Clauss item number is 150401519382. Genco item number is 350299378717.

You can do a search for those numbers on eBay to see the razors.

They look like they're in decent shape and should serve you well. Definitely send them out to be honed and you might want to pay a little extra to have them clean up (polish it up and tighten the pivot pin if needed) a bit.

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Originally Posted by commiecat

Clauss item number is 150401519382. Genco item number is 350299378717.

You can do a search for those numbers on eBay to see the razors.

They look like they're in decent shape and should serve you well. Definitely send them out to be honed and you might want to pay a little extra to have them clean up (polish it up and tighten the pivot pin if needed) a bit.

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Yes, that's the ones!

There's a guy in Raleigh who sharpens razors ("The Shaving Edge", (919) 785-2858, according to Google). He's probably a lot less experienced than some of the pros like Lynn, but he's local and I could talk to him.

Would you go with local, or send it out?

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Originally Posted by gugi

in my opinion you should've picked something in the classifieds instead.
the razors need work and then serious hone work, so when all is done you'd have spent much more time and/or money than if you had just gotten something already good to go.
but it's always fun to do ebay.

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I figured that if I spend $30 on a razor, then add $20 to get it fixed up and honed, I'm still lower than many of the prices I see in the classifieds. Or am I missing something?

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Originally Posted by gugi

as far as strop goes, i'd suggest you pick either one of the illinois ($30-$40) or the $20 one at ruprazor if you want the probably cheapest option.

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How much of a difference will there be between the Illinois and Ruprazor?

You forgot the cost of cleaning them up and the honing may end up more than $20, what I see on the poor ebay pictures doesn't look encouraging. They may turn out really good, but right now you have a $70 gamble.

No idea about the honing services you are referring to but you can certainly give it a try and find out. It could be terrible or it could be great.

The main differences between the strops is that the illinois is 2.5" vs. 2" and had a canvas component, which is important for long term edge retention.

Im still a relative newbie now but here is my opionion on the strop. I have the Illinois 827 and it contains a linen component. It is a great strop for the price. It ran me about 40 dollars and is recommended by many vets on this site

The Filly strop does not contain a linen part, but is still a great strop. The back of the strop has already been pasted with CrOX for touch ups if your razor starts to dull.

The guys that sell razors on this site know razors in and out. They realize that this razor will be used to shave and they make sure its up to par. For 40-70 bucks you can get a very nice high quality vintage razor. When buying razors on ebay, the sellers don't care what you do with the razor. I would imagine that most of them think people are buying just to collect. Their are many variables that can come into play where you will have to spend some money to restore the razor in order to shave with it. The razor might not be able to take an edge. Excessive hone wear, cracked scales, loose pins, warping, rusting, and pitting can occur and it might to be in the pics. Furthermore, you will still have to spend another 20 to get it honed.

If I had asked some questions before buying, I might have bought the razors here in classifieds, but it's too late for that now. I've already made that particular gamble, and we'll see what comes in the mail.

Is there any particular reason not to go with Williams shaving soap, which is readily available and cheap?

I assume that the local guy who sharpens straight razors can tell me whether I need to get the razors restored, not just honed....

Yeah try the williams, it's 99c+tax here so it's probably similar where you are. I haven't used mine except for the first week since I have too many better soaps, but it works.

From a relative newbie here, I recommend send them to one of the honemeisters here. They can check them out and get them shave ready. I have a Clauss and it is a great shaver!

I also recommend that since you don't have a strop to get one (KenRup has a good starter and the Illinois are good as well) and practice stopping (even on a wide belt if you must) while your blades are out for honing. Even with a butter knife, practice is essential unless you wish to tear up your new strop and perhaps even send your razor back for rehoning! (Don't ask me how I know).

Read the wikis, read them again. Ask questions before you leap (plenty of willing and qualified help here). Then, go back and re-read the wikis.

Have fun. Did I mention re-read the wikis? :)

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Originally Posted by Bootstrap

Is there any particular reason not to go with Williams shaving soap, which is readily available and cheap?

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I find that most shaving soaps are fairly cheap considering how long they last. It is up to you - I have never used Williams, but enjoy several others. Part of the joy of str8 shaving for me is the lather and aromas that certain soaps provide, such as bay rum, sandalwood and almond to name a few.

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Originally Posted by Bootstrap

I assume that the local guy who sharpens straight razors can tell me whether I need to get the razors restored, not just honed....

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Honed will get you a nice shave ready condition, provided there are no black worms/pitting at the edge.

Then it will need restoring to an extent. A competent honer with a 10-15X lens will tell you this and how much steel needs to be removed.

The other kind of restoration which is purely aesthetic is taking away all the superficial rust/pitting and taking the blade to a satin or mirror polish. This is entirely your choice as it does not affect the function; although it will certainly prevent them from worsening provided you dry them adequately after use.

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Originally Posted by Bootstrap

If I had asked some questions before buying, I might have bought the razors here in classifieds, but it's too late for that now. I've already made that particular gamble, and we'll see what comes in the mail.

Is there any particular reason not to go with Williams shaving soap, which is readily available and cheap?

I assume that the local guy who sharpens straight razors can tell me whether I need to get the razors restored, not just honed....

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EBay is a gamble but I think you'll be okay as long as there aren't any major cracks. It is tough to see in those pictures but I'd wager that at least one, if not both, can be shavers with a little work. Cleaning them up is a whole other issue, though.

I'm not familiar with that local guy. Unless they're an SRP member/vendor or have a senior member vouch for their service, I'd suggest sending one razor out to get honed to give you a baseline. Then take the other razor to the local guy and compare the shaves -- if it's good then you have yourself a local honemeister. :)

I have bought several from ebay that looked similar to yours. Based on my experience those two should work just fine. Your plan is not a bad one in my opinion, cuz that's what I did and it turned out ok. Where are you located? There may be an SRP member nearby that could help get you up to speed.