Thread: First Purchase

Hello everyone. I'm getting ready to get my first Blade and strop. I want to do it on the cheap so I've been looking at the Sight Unseen by Whipped Dog. Seems to be the best way to go. My question is in teh specifics. I would like to know what quality of razors he usually uses. I know it varies but I would like to make sure that I get something that will last me. Once I get this set up, it'll likely be the one I use for a good while. I'm having to stretch a buck just to consider buying that let a lone going for something fancy.

Can anyone compare his blades with others? Let me give you a little more info:

My other option is to get a vintage blade myself and send it off to Whipped Dog or somone else for honing and get his Poor Man's Strop. For instance, Morley razors are common on *bay and are often let go for under $15. Add the cost of honing and the strop and I'm out about the same as the sight unseen deal and I get to choose my razor. Is this worth the trouble? I've heard Morleys are good blades. Do Whipped Dog's compare?


Thanks everyone!

I went the vintage razor route and had larry hone it. it worked out great, but in hindsight, I would have preferred the sight-unseen deal. It's simpler and easier and when you're a beginner you don't want to have to worry about extra stuff. The razors he sells, I've heard, are just fine. They are simple and unassuming but they'll shave you for years and do it well. Financially, I think it's a wash but with the package deal there's an added ease.

There are easily dozens, and probably hundreds, of vintage manufacturers. Almost all of them made decent razors. But many of the individual blades have been mistreated by time, and honing them is a bitchy job.

I'd trust Larry's judgement about whether a razor was sharpenable or not -- he's done enough of them. You have no experience at all in picking vintage razors.

So I'd vote for the "Sight Unseen" choice.

Charles

PS - having said that, I started with an antique-store razor, and learned to sharpen it myself. I don't recommend that option.

What is your budget? How much would you like to spend?

I've purchased a number of items, including razors, from Larry at Whipped Dog. Expectations were exceeded every time.

Sight unseen is a better deal than ebay for this reason

You know larry is not going to sell you a blad with micro chips or pitting on the edge, and it will be a quality blade even if its a no name.

Bonus with the deal is the poor mans strop. Its great quality leather and I find my Extra full hollows appreciate it more than my $60-80 latigo's and horsehide.

oh and Larry will accept phone calls for help with honing or stropping, cant beat that!

+100 for Larry. Great guy, and you won't go wrong with the sight unseen deal. I need a new strop, and have been thinking of getting a sight unseen deal just to pick up another shave ready straight. Larry knows what he's doing. Let him judge the first razor, you just learn to shave with it.

My instinct is telling me to go with the vintage popular name ebay blades. But...I will just have to go against it this time. Sounds like Larry has made a name for himself here and I'll go with everyone's suggestions. Thanks a lot everyone!

When responding to this thread today, I noticed that Larry has a "sight HALF seen deal" now. I noticed that he has a Wosty and a Torrey available with this offering - two well regarded makers. Just a thought.