Hey guys, names John, just wanted to say hello and thanks for all the info on your site. I'm new to straight razors and wet shaving. Always I have found shaving to be a drudgery to be avoided at all costs. I have sensitive skin and a tough beard whose grain points every direction.

what got me started on straight razors was the barber down the street from my house. I decided to get a shave (what would be my first straight razor shave). My wife's holiday business party was that night and I got off a little late from work. She had asked me to get a hair cut and trim the beard, i figured I would do her one better. Long story short, I found myself perusing websites the next day trying to find info on straight razors and wet shaving in an attempt to recreate the awesome shave and relaxing experience I had the night before. Lets just say the learning curve hasn't been as steep as I had hoped but I do look forward to every time I shave, and each time the shave is a little closer and a little less irritating.


I got my first razor from srd, a ralf aust. It was nice having a bar to shoot for with honing, though stropping is still new to me, sharpening is not. I just received my second razor in the mail, a used wade and butcher off an auction site, which is the reason I stopped lurking and finally signed up. I want to do restorations but I dont want to screw up a razor in the process. I figured I would try and find some other razors that are too far gone and try and at least clean them up.

Anyways, thanks for giving this a read, I hope that I may learn and in turn pass on the lessons and experiences I am sure to find here.

John