Thread: "Shave ready" question

I have read alot of the threads about newbies and the benefits of starting out with a razor that has been prepared by someone that knows what they are doing.

I completely understand this now that I have tried my own hand at a couple of ebay specials. Being a woodworker that uses mostly hand tools I have sharpened alot of chisels and hand plane blades, but woodworking tools and straight razors don't quite sharpen up the same way....... I have shaved with a couple of them, but they are not there yet.

I am looking at new straights and really like some of the examples at Shavingshop.com. It says that the razors purchased there are "honed to perfection prior to being shipped". I just wanted to know if this meets the standards of 'shave ready' that is discussed here.

Thanks,
Andy

Hey Andy,
Welcome to the forum. I'm sure you'll get replies from more knowledgable members than me, but my understanding is that unless a razor has gotten particular TLC it won't be shave ready. "Shave-ready" isn't a particularly regulated term. Like "mint" on e-bay.

TMike

Shavingshop.com is owned by John Crowley, a member & regular contributor at SRP for as long as I've been around. John sells quality products, and knows precisely what "shave ready" means.

Originally Posted by abs672

I am looking at new straights and really like some of the examples at Shavingshop.com. It says that the razors purchased there are "honed to perfection prior to being shipped".

Technically and legally speaking, that's quite a risky claim to make. All you would have to do is find somebody that can hone it better (where better admittedly is somewhat subjective).

That's just me rambling though, never dealt with John, but he has an excellent reputation around here from what I have read.

Redwoood

John Crowley can hone a razor as good as anyone. I have heard from several people that have bought his razors and they have been more than merely shave ready.

But... all of us who hone razors for others have experienced one thing in common. What we think is a shave ready razor, based on actual shaving tests, will, in some cases, not be sufficently sharp for the customer. In that case what we do is offer to re-hone the razor for free.

I just sent a razor to Hoekmanx (Theo) in The Netherlands. I had shave tested this razor twice. It was very good. But, when Theo shaved with the razor it failed to shave him in a couple of places!

It turns out that he has some unusual beard growth. The other factor is that some people have very tough or dense facial hair. This can be a real problem. Also, some peple are on medications that make their whiskers tougher. You just never know.

By the way, I have full confidence in John Crowley.

Thanks everyone for the reaponses - It's reassuring to hear good things about a vendor before making purchases from him.

Originally Posted by Redwoood

Technically and legally speaking, that's quite a risky claim to make. All you would have to do is find somebody that can hone it better (where better admittedly is somewhat subjective).

That's just me rambling though, never dealt with John, but he has an excellent reputation around here from what I have read.

Redwoood

I believe that the legal ramifications would come in if he were stating "the best honed razor". Wal Mart ran into this with an ad campaign where they stated "Always the lowest price. Always". Since they could not prove that was true, it was changed to "Always a low price. Always". Subtle difference, but it made a difference.

RT

I got one from him today (resolver). Went straight to the shower. A few strops and I was shaving for the first time.
Yes, they are shave ready

I've bought several razors from John in the past and with the exception of one the rest were shave ready by anyone's standards. The other needed just a touchup.

Now that doesn't mean that someone couldn't improve upon them further but thats a personal thing. It all depends how demanding you are and your own level of experience using a razor but remember that if you consider the sharpest a razor can possibly be how many of us can attain that level of perfection and I don't mean come close.

Originally Posted by Redwoood

Technically and legally speaking, that's quite a risky claim to make. All you would have to do is find somebody that can hone it better (where better admittedly is somewhat subjective).

That's just me rambling though, never dealt with John, but he has an excellent reputation around here from what I have read.

Redwoood

I've purchased 3 razors from John and they were all "SHAVE READY." John does an excellent job and they are truly "Honed to Perfection." Hope that helps.

Jim