I have been shaving with a straight razor for a few months now, I started with a worcester straight and the filly strop, what razor you get, make sure its genuine straight (forged in solingen germany) and that its shave ready. The filly in my opinion would be the best strop to start with, its not expensive (only 20 dollars in the US) so when you nick it (which you probably will, god knows I have many times) your not destroying alot of money.

I have yet to get a nice set of hones although I do have a barbers hone a buddy sent me. Barber hones as I understand are just for touch ups, you cannot go buy a dull razor at an antique shop and make it shave ready with a barbers hone although you can use your barbers hone as a finisher, instead of spending 60 bucks on a 12k hone.

Water Stone Kit

This is what I'm looking at for when I have enough money to get a nice set of hones. It comes with everything you need, 220/1k hone combo, and a 4k/8k hone combo. Plus a lapping stone, as I recal you need to lap your stones before you use them for the first time, as they do not come to you prefectly flat. I also understand you will need to eventually, lap the lapping stone, which I believe you can do with a fine grit sandpaper.

I hope this helped!


-Zach