Thread: This month, my 2 year journey in S.R.

As the title says, 2 years into Straight Razor Shaving. I will admit to 4 shaves with a DE during this time as I had to travel on a plane and didn’t want to check my luggage. And two times I used an S.E. just for giggles. But besides those times, it’s been strictly Straight Razor Shaves.

Starting at the beginning of my SRP time, I had Roy/Cudarunner volunteer to be my mentor and help me get started. But before that, over on B&B there was a Straight Razor Pass-around box going on and I was told by some member (don’t remember who it was) about this pass-around box and told me I should check into it. It was 5 or 6 boxes being passes with 4 to 5 razors in each box. I put my name on the list and got a chance to play. I had to buy a cheap strop for myself was the only stipulation. When I was done with the box, I got to pick one of the 4 or 5 razors to keep and pass the box on. The person who started this sent another razor to fill the place of the one I kept and off the box went to the next guy on the list.

This is how I started my Straight Razor Journey. He was a very good guy and just wanted to give others a chance to try a S.R. without having to spend much money.

After about a month I found out not much was being said about S.R. on that forum. More of a D.E. place and lots of talk about soaps and brushes and such, so I started looking for another forum, a more informative place and found SRP. I was welcomed by many in my introduction thread and Roy took in under his wing, I wanted to learn to hone right away and restore but he kept slapping me down. I didn’t listen to him as I’m pretty thick headed and kept at it. I feel I would have learned faster if I had learned just one or two things at a time but... I started buying Junkers and vintage and China made razors on eBay. I then started learning what to buy and trashed a few because they were junk or more trouble than they were worth.

About a year into SRP I had made a lot of good friends. Folks that wanted to help me out to figure this honing thing out. Roy kept trying to help too. A few folks sent me items, razors, scale material and lots of other good things out of the kindness of there hearts. Offered to hone up razors for me so I could compare the difference between my edges and there’s. I also got razors honed for me on natural stones of lots of types so I could try those edges out too.

About 1.5+ years here and Ivan sent me a PM asking me if I would be interested in becoming a Mentor. I asked what I’d need to do differently and he told me “just keep doing what you do already”. I was just trying to help others out the best I could. Sometimes I would get carried away and a Mentor would correct me, but that was good with me. Slap me down when I’m wrong!

Nowadays I have 102 Straight Razors restored. All have been honed by me or one of the fine folks here on SRP. But now I’m working my way thru them ALL to be sure all are shave ready and up to the standards, I’ve learned an edge SHOULD feel like.

So there you go. I just wanted to share my experience in the S.R. world. I’ve learned quickly, have grown fast and have had a lot of help along the way by the fine members here. I thank every one of them for there time and effort and seeing something in me and welcoming into the Mentor Group.

Sorry, this was so long folks. I just wanted to express my experiences and to let all know I will keep doing all I can and will stay on the STRAIGHT and narrow path until I can't hold a straight razor safely any longer. And to confirm your thoughts that these folks must be crazy. They are! But they are also a very helpful generous group of folks from all over the world!

Be proud to be an SRP member!

Well-done, Jerry! I like to screw-up myself at times so it's nobodies fault but mine if I do it again!

Lots of learning here. A good place. Glad to have you here!

Way to go, Jerry. Quite an impressive journey in such a short time.

Well said, Jerry. It is a good feeling, to be a part of this community. An extension of family.

After being gone for a couple years, it was great to come back and find a such a great group of guys doing some awesome work and getting along. You're a big part of that Jerry, you were friendly and helpful to me from the get go.
Right on man!

Nice to hear your journey. You started a bit before me and sure have come a long way in a short time! Keep it up!!

Just because no thread would be complete without a pic, Here is that first razor I got from the box. I've cleaned it up and put new horn scales on it. My first restore and first set of horn scales and sitting on my first stone (Jnat). I won't ever part with it!

Thanks to all for the kind words.

I agree with everything you said Jerry, it is a great community of people, and it's good to have you as part of it.

Great write up there Jerry

And for sure it's great to have a friend like you Brother.
SRP is an awesome place and some of the finest Gents I've known

Roy (cuddarunner) helped me in a big way too. He shaved about 2 years off my learning curve