Hello to everybody from Bonn (Germany)!

I have been shaving with a Mach3 for several years (and hated costs & waste), until I grew a full beard about two years ago. Eventually I got tired of it and went back to a henriquatre-ish beard yesterday.
Since I got a knife bug in another (german bicycle) forum, I decided it was about time to get my hands on a SR and was delighted to find out about the SRP.
I promise I'm going to browse this forum, FAQ, look for a senior member or mentor in my area etc., but maybe somebody is in the mood to give me some advice on these thoughts right now:

For my first SR I intend to search the classifieds for a used, preferably old, SR with carbon steel blade, w/o plastic scales nor fancy engravings/gold (I will likely mess that up learning to hone it). A SR with round head is often advised to beginners, but I am wondering if it's any good for working out the contours of my henriquarte-ish beard?
Anything in the classifieds you'd like to point out to me? I haven't decided on a budget yet, but I don't want to ruin something that's too pretty & pricey. ;-)

Welcome to Straight Razor Place, Wizard!

I think you are on the right track looking for a vintage blade. A round point may be easier but don't rule out a square point if you see something that looks good.

Welcome to the forum!

Classifieds are a good place to start, just make sure that it is indicated as a "shave ready" razor, some of them are not shave ready for a variety of reasons. Sounds like you have perused the forum pretty well so far.

I have the same beard style at the moment, I have no issues shaving around it. It is mainly figuring out your razor and what techniques work well in specific areas. Also, a good strop is important.

I would work on getting good with the shaving and maintaining the blade with the strop before trying to hone. There are a few members nearby if my memory serves.

Good luck!

Welcome from SE Washington State USA.

I have a friend in Germany who I'm sure will be most happy to help you. He's in Morers

Send me a PM and I'll give you his address here. (I'm very protective of others privacy).

You will find this age old art both challenging and rewarding.

It's a long strange road but well worth the journey :tu

Welcome to the forum.

Hi and welcome aboard. Sounds like you have already made some good decisions. If you do want to go the honing route start with touching up the razor with a high grit hone and work back from there. Any questions feel free to ask and good luck

Thank you for the welcome guys!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dinnermint

Classifieds are a good place to start, just make sure that it is indicated as a "shave ready" razor, some of them are not shave ready for a variety of reasons.

I have the same beard style at the moment, I have no issues shaving around it. It is mainly figuring out your razor and what techniques work well in specific areas. Also, a good strop is important.

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Yes, I will definitively look for something "shave ready". My results with our kitchen knifes on a cheap japanese wet stone and old leather belt (+ chromium oxide) were sub par, my spyderco sharpmaker probably isn't the first choice for a SR. I'm going for an upgrade of stones and honing strop later, but get a good razor strop together with the SR. I will do some research on that.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dinnermint

There are a few members nearby if my memory serves.

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I will check the member search again later, unfortunately with a lot of people it says just "Germany", so I guess it takes some time to find out who lives close by.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cudarunner

I have a friend in Germany who I'm sure will be most happy to help you. He's in Morers

Send me a PM and I'll give you his address here. (I'm very protective of others privacy).

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I will do that, thank you! :D

Welcome to SRP!
It sounds like you are starting off the smart way, research and slow.
While it is advised that you start off with a round point, you can do whatever you want. You just have to be more careful with the tip of square point, those tips like to bite your ears and nose. Just be ready with styptic pen or alum block.

Feel free to ask us any questions that you have, we are here to help.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by criswilson10

It sounds like you are starting off the smart way, research and slow.

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Well, you might also call it the OCD-way, but still, thanks. ;-D

Hi Wizzard, Welcome to SRP from 80km more down the Rhine :-D

I have asked my side of the family, if there might be an old SR - granddad? - I could get my fingers on, but nothing turned up. It just didn't occur to me to ask my father-in-law, as I have never seen him with anything but a full beard. Well, good thing the topic came up, he gave me this item he inherited from his grandfather:

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7698/...7278471e_b.jpgDSC07257 by hirzn_gnirzn, auf Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7688/...2bd0a47e_b.jpgDSC07214 by hirzn_gnirzn, auf Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7430/...e57c0f94_b.jpgDSC07216 by hirzn_gnirzn, auf Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7659/...2c52f449_b.jpgDSC07223 by hirzn_gnirzn, auf Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7715/...66c593f9_b.jpg
DSC07245_crop by hirzn_gnirzn, auf Flickr

He never used it, but told me about the time after WW2 when he was a kid: His grandfather went to a barber right across the street to get shaved - every morning! Each customer in this shop had his own towel and mug and there was such heavy smoking going on that you could barely see across the room. Ancient times eh?

Well, I quess this thing doesn't qualify as shave ready, right? :rofl2: But seriously, the edge ot the 5/8" (full hollow?) blade is chipped quite a bit to my untrained eye, will it be savable by a pro? Also: Any idea about the age or what these interesting looking scales are they made from?

I'm happy! :beer2:

Hi Wizzard,
your Razor comes probably from around the 20s, full hollow would i say, i sure it will be good Beginners Razor, the Scales are made of Celluloid as Feaux-Ivory.
If the Blade has no Crack it wouldnt be a problem to sharpen it, many of my razors looked more sad than yours before i took them on the stones.

As my friend Helge said that razor should clean up and hone nicely. That chip isn't that big of a deal; well it can be if you don't know what your doing but in the right hands it should be a looker and a shaver along with being an heirloom.

I think you and Helge are only about 100 Kilometers from each other I hope you two can get together. A few hours spent with some hands on learning from an experienced member will teach you more than months and months of reading and watching videos :tu

Welcome! Sounds like you have a solid plan, hope you enjoy participating at SRP.

:chapeau

Looks like you have a good razor to start with. Get it honed and get a strop and you will be good to go

Welcome Wizzard! Glad to have you here. You are in the homeland of razors as I say!

As suggested I got in touch with Helge, who proved not only to know a great deal about razors and also likes to share this knowledge, but also gave my razor a new edge! I'm very pleased with the result and also can't wait to find the time to give it a try.

https://c3.staticflickr.com/8/7037/2...407fe451_b.jpgDSC07889 by hirzn_gnirzn, auf Flickr

https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7326/2...b3bdd0ab_b.jpgDSC07896 by hirzn_gnirzn, auf Flickr

https://c7.staticflickr.com/8/7206/2...09eca4ed_b.jpgDSC07892 by hirzn_gnirzn, auf Flickr

https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7121/2...1495a906_b.jpgDSC07891 by hirzn_gnirzn, auf Flickr

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Wizzard

As suggested I got in touch with Helge, who proved not only to know a great deal about razors and also likes to share this knowledge, but also gave my razor a new edge! I'm very pleased with the result and also can't wait to find the time to give it a try.

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Attachment 239549

Thank you for getting in touch with Helge, he's a great guy and as you have found very knowledgeable and willing to share that knowledge.:tu

I'm very proud to call him my friend.

NOW! Let us know how your shave goes!!!