I got my first straight razor in October: a new Dovo. As a newbie I found that razor to be basically useless, because I wasn't getting good shaves and I didn't want to ruin it with the hone. So I babied the razor and didn't get it sharp. I almost gave up with the straights because I felt hopeless that I would ever get my Dovo to work right. I stuck with it though by getting some cheap 10$ ebay specials. The first one to arrive was a "Revonah" made in Hanover Pensylvania. It's not a special razor, just a 5/8 barbers razor with a plastic handle. It has uneven hone wear and it had some small nicks when I got it. I wasn't afraid to ruin this razor, in fact I had no problem going to town with it on the hones. I used the 1k grit extensively to even out the bevel and work out the nicks. I even went as far as to try out a few passes on the 220 grit to see the effect it has on the blade. Then when I was almost there with the 1k I used the 4k to finish the bevel and ended with a pyramid on 4k/8k. When I was done the razor had a highly polished nearly even bevel, HHT sharp along the entire length. Then I stropped really well and I had my first shaving sharp razor. I've been shaving with it now whenever I have the time. I do the first pass with the straight and then clean up with a second pass using my DE. I enjoy shaving with my revonah and I really get a special feeling when I use it. Just the fact that it's my first real shaver makes it seem much nicer than it really is. Other people probably woulndn't want to look at it much less shave with it, but I think I will always keep it and always shave with it no matter how nice my rotation gets. I may have three razors right now that are nicer, but for now the Revonah is my favorite.

---Michael