Thread: My First Razor

Hi everyone,

I been looking at information on the web about shaving with a straight razor and would like to start. The only problem is that I have no idea what to look for and work makes a good razor.

I found some info on what to look for in a first razor and this lead me to this one on ebay:

Elegant Solingen Cut Throat Straight Razor Shaver - NEW on eBay (end time 11-Dec-10 23:52:39 GMT)

Does anyone have any experience with these razors?

If not could you tell me what you think of this razor and weather it would make a good first razor? If you do not think this razor is suitable could you please point me in the right direction.

Thanks

I'm a newb myself, but am in the finishing process of my first restore, and have been using straights for about a month and a half now with three different razors (all of which I honed myself), and my byrd Crossbill.


Have you read the wiki yet?

If not, then that is where you should start. There is a article just for people with your questions, giving guidance and understanding. That said, the simple answer to your question is, "First razor for what?"

If you want to shave with it, it's going to require a restore, and honing by someone who can make it shave ready.

If you want to restore it, then that's a different story.

It definitely isn't going to be shave ready, and even if the edge was, the blade has a lot of rust on it.

That said, it does have some qualities to look for in a first straight that are mentioned in the wiki.

• That blade is US made. From my reading on these forums, US made steel seems to have garnered a reputation of being a little on the hard side.
• It's a round point.
• The blade "appears" to be close to 5/8" (This is iffy, because I'm only gauging by the pic, so can't be sure).

ETA:
It is normally suggested to buy a first straight from one of the reputable sellers in the classifieds listed here, and to get one that is shave ready.

If your just buying to tinker, have at it. However, if your looking for a ready shaver, then learn to walk before you run. Best to read the beginners section of the wiki. It says it better than I.

Thanks for your response ghostrider :-)
You got it in one, I want my first razor to shave with.

It sounds like you are talking about buying a vintage razor. I would have thought it would be better to start with a brand new razor?

I have contacted the seller of the razor I mentioned above and they told me that it was shaving ready. If a new razor is advertised as shaving ready would it need any hone work before it was used to shave with?

Thanks for the pointer to the wiki I will defiantly check it out.

Originally Posted by dickyince

Thanks for your response ghostrider :-)
You got it in one, I want my first razor to shave with.

It sounds like you are talking about buying a vintage razor. I would have thought it would be better to start with a brand new razor?

I have contacted the seller of the razor I mentioned above and they told me that it was shaving ready. If a new razor is advertised as shaving ready would it need any hone work before it was used to shave with?

Thanks for the pointer to the wiki I will defiantly check it out.

Kind of funny. When I now click on your link, it takes me to a different listing than before. Before it took me to a razor I described above, and now it takes me to a razor made by W.R. Case and Sons. I'm not even sure it takes me to the same seller.

Question:
In the listing that your link initially took me to, the seller stated something along the lines of, "... hasn't been cleaned up..." IIRC. I do know that it showed rust on a good part of the blade.

Do you really expect to shave with something that looks like that and is described in that way?

Could you please post another link of the auction?

The razor that your link initially (and even now) took me to was a vintage razor.

And as far as buying vintage v. new, well ... honestly, I think you should do much more research before deciding on something to buy. The razor you linked is/was a vintage razor, so that is what I was addressing. All your questions are addressed in the wiki, so I highly recommend you start there.

It is recommended that you buy a razor from one of the reputable sellers on this sites classifieds section, and that you get one that is shave ready. The reasoning is that you will get another razor, and keep the first one as a guide to what the second razor should be like before shaving (how do you know what "shave ready" is without ever seeing, feeling, or experiencing it?)

Hope this helps.

dickyince,

Personally, I would stay awy from ebay when purchasing my first straight razor. As ghostrider suggested, read the SRP wiki carefully, then check the listings of vendors in the UK or SRP members in the SRP Classifieds who sell shave ready razors and/or razor strop sets. It my cost you a little more initially, but believe me the enjoyment/satisfaction will be well worth it.

Originally Posted by jhenry

dickyince,

Personally, I would stay awy from ebay when purchasing my first straight razor. As ghostrider suggested, read the SRP wiki carefully, then check the listings of vendors in the UK or SRP members in the SRP Classifieds who sell shave ready razors and/or razor strop sets. It my cost you a little more initially, but believe me the enjoyment/st=atisfaction will be well worth it.

As an example. I am confident in my sharpening skills that I just have too much pride to leave it up to someone else (I don't carry my pocket knife if it doesn't easily shave arm hairs. And no, that still isn't shave ready.) However, It would still have been much cheaper initially to just buy one off the classifieds here. The reason is because the hones that are used for straight razors are not often used for pocket knives. A high grit for a knife is 600 (I use as high as Spyderco's Ultra Fine, and I've read that it's 2000). According to my reading, a coarse grit for a razor is 4000. I had to go out and buy more hones just to get my razors up to shaving readiness. They cost as much each as I could have picked up a shave ready razor for off of this site.

Thanks to everyone who has posted in response on this thread :-)

You have all given me a lot to think about and a great list of resources to use for my adventure into straight razor shaving.

I understand now the perils of buying razors off ebay without the proper knowledge and investigation.

The sites from the UK that were posted by PhatMan and cpcohen1945 were very useful and I think I am going to get a razor from (The Invisible Edge) as they have perfect beginner razors at a good price. Also for a bit more they offer a complete starters kit.

Thanks you again for all of your help, I'm sure that I will enjoy many years of close shaves in the future :-)

Originally Posted by dickyince

The sites from the UK that were posted by PhatMan and cpcohen1945 were very useful and I think I am going to get a razor from (The Invisible Edge) as they have perfect beginner razors at a good price. Also for a bit more they offer a complete starters kit.

First off, welcome to SRP!

Secondly, this is a great decision. Invisible edge is a reputable dealer that carries everything you need and very close to home. Be sure to read up on the wiki on stropping and shaving and take things slow. The first few shaves will not be great, but once you start to get it down you will get the best shaves of your life.