I received a very kind present from my inlaws at Christmas which was a gift voucher for George Trumper's in London. last week I went in and had a shaving lesson and bought a new razor, a Dovo Bismarck, which is beautiful. I was told that it was fully shave ready.

This evening I shaved with it.

OUCH!

Took two passes on one cheek and put it back down. Finished with my other razor.

Couldn't believe how much it tugged and hurt. So now I have to decide whether to go all the way back to 1000 grit waterstone and start from there or at 4000 or 8000 on my Nortons. I took a few passes on the 8000 and it improved a bit but not enough.

Be grateful for suggestions of where to start with a razor like this, it's the first time I've bought one brand new, my previous razor was an ebay special which shaves very well, but I took it to 1k and up through the process as it was past it's best when I bought it.

Alternatively, I could send it to a honing specialist and have it done properly first time so I have something to judge it against.

Justin.