Thread: First razor on a budget

The main thing wrong with that razor is the big frown.
There is only one word for a razor where the middle of the edge bends inwards visibly, and that is 'defective'. As you have been told already, this is called a frown. It is hard to hone a razor with a frown, and shaving with it is no picnick either.

A good razors is either straight as a line, or 'smiling' meaning it is a bit wider in the middle than at the heel and toe. smiling razors are not difficult to hone, and are nice to shave with. Smiles are very common on older razors. The majority of old Sheffield blades, even the top end ones, have smiles.

Never a frown though.

From where I'm standing I see a rotten photo with some strange reflections, but no frown. I put it into Photoshop, lightened it up to see past the strange reflections, and it's just about dead straight except for the tip. And OH MY the horror of not being able to read the name on it. You guys need to reel back the harsh. I thought this was a forum that didn't trash vendors. Especially on the basis of a bad photo.

Here is what I received from WD some months ago. The hidden part of the blade is perfect too. Stand not included, obviously. I'm happy. And Larry is stretching the limits of customer service. If you feel there is anything wrong with what you received from him, e-mail him, and he will hear your problem, and propose decent solutions.



It's not to say that other vendors are not good, but if you just want to dip your toes without knowing if you are going to like the "sport", then I think WD is a good option.

Thank you everyone for your help. I ended going with a Dovo best quality. I spent more money and probably didn't have to but I don't have to worry now about the condition of the used one. One less problem for me. I did go with a 2" strop also. I didn't want to spend more money on a 3" to start.

Now the wait begins. I wonder how quick SRD is to ship?

Originally Posted by joepa150

Thank you everyone for your help. I ended going with a Dovo best quality. I spent more money and probably didn't have to but I don't have to worry now about the condition of the used one. One less problem for me. I did go with a 2" strop also. I didn't want to spend more money on a 3" to start.

Now the wait begins. I wonder how quick SRD is to ship?

Good choice! Like I said you can't go wrong either way. SRD ships quick. I have placed my order on a Monday night and gotten my item on Wed. I live in Louisiana, so I don't know what kind of difference that makes. You will be shaving in no time. Did you get a strop?

Originally Posted by ccase39

Good choice! Like I said you can't go wrong either way. SRD ships quick. I have placed my order on a Monday night and gotten my item on Wed. I live in Louisiana, so I don't know what kind of difference that makes. You will be shaving in no time. Did you get a strop?

I bought the 2" SRD strop. I wonder if I should have spent the extra $15 for the 3"??
I ordered 20 hours ago. Still says processing.

Anyone know how to get in contact with SRD?
I called them several times in the past 2 days and the number listed wasn't going through

Email them, SRP is owned by Lynn Abrams who.is a solid guy!

Regardless, if you buy from whippeddog, you don't have to worry about the condition of the razor.

Amazing service.... did I say amazing service ?

Just a quick note, though it seems the OP has made his decision.

I've dealt with Larry myself, as he was transitioning to the sight unseen deal. He used to take pics of every razor and post them, but that takes time. The sight unseen deal takes the photographic and web work out of the equation. This means he can afford to sell the razor for closer to the purchase price. In my rural area razors are going up in price (some ridiculously so) so if you add in the price of honing there's not much room in that $41 deal.

Is the razor pictured worth $41? That's for the buyer to decide. I don't see a frown, but maybe my eyes are bad. I certainly haven't been in this as long as some of these other guys.

A little OT rant: When it comes to vendors at SRP it's always seemed a bit of a ticklish subject. There's no bashing, so you don't get negative reviews, but how that line is drawn, or even if it's drawn (or arbitrary based on the mod involved, how much sleep they got the night before, etc.) has been ambiguous. I think it would suffice (and be healthy) for some vendor feedback; something along the lines of Sapolin's pic and statement of experience. (Rant over)

I'm not here to join a Larry-Love-In. My experience was great, but it was not a sight unseen deal. My razor was a wedge, and not as sharp as I would like it to be, but I haven't been able to get it there either (hard American stainless and honestly not a lot of concerted effort). Still it was sharp enough to be truly shave ready and I was not disappointed in my purchase. That said, things can change; economics, logistics, passion, quality control, etc. My purchase was made in May of 2011. FWIW.

I was facing this exact same choice less than a week ago. I decided to go with Whipped Dog. What I get may be ugly, and it may not. But it is guaranteed to shave properly, so I'm not to worried. The tipping point for me was Wallsy82 pointing out that it's not just the shaving, I also have to practice maintaining whatever I start with. Can I really bring myself to start learning to hone with a brand new Boker? Between the facts that Larry hones it, and the shipping is free, I decided to try it. I'll post pictures when it comes in. Congrats joepa150 on ordering your first razor!