Ok, yes my beard is tuff. Have always shaved in shower with single bladed bic disposables just to keep the pulling down. Then got ahold of grandfather's DE for couple months. Now this magical piece of steel.
At first use (christmas day) I thought "This thing won't even cut butter", as recommended I did not strop. Next 4 were better, still tugging a little on whiskars and feeling like having to push thru trees. Then it happened. That magical sensation and recognition of "DANG, this thing is freekin scarry sharp now". Very comfortable.Maybe angle, maybe stropping technique, maybe learning the more correct motion of shaving. I think it is all the above. Amazed at how each piece of the puzzle, including the right lather, combines to per fect the razors act.
Now that I've got two decent shaves in, with just a couple of tiny nicks, another Dang that's freekin sharp moment, it kills me to have to wait a day to do it again. Only doing single passes, exept for last night did two, untill i can make sure the ingrown's can be held at bay.
Sooooo, for all the other newbies on here......If the razor came from SRD and is shave ready, IT IS. You just have to learn how to use that Magical piece of steel so it will expose all of its secrets.
Thanks again everyone!