New Vegas Shaver

Hello,
My name is Jonathan, yep same as my username, go figure. Aside from the very occasional straight razor shave at the barber, this is all very new to me. Some friends of mine here in Vegas have been turning me on to this for about two or three years now. I do my best to stay tight with my money so it has been hard to cough up cash for all the bells and whistles. But a door finally opened.
Again two or three years ago, during a UFC night at a friend’s house, I was told of the wonders and joys of the straight razor shave. All the art and machismo of it. I was shown my buddy’s shave den with its sharp, shiny steel, leather strops, and a collection of brushes and aftershaves that would make the perfume counter at Macy’s blush. Well at the time that was it, I was hooked. I started shopping around for a blade, but everything was so expensive! Then I travelled to a nearby antique store, that’s where I found this beauty:
Attachment 37481

All well and good, but the scales were cracked at the pivot pin (opposite site from what you can see in the photo), oh well I can get those fixed no problem. Let me say here that I am a 2nd generation procrastinator. So a year or so goes by and the razor remains broken and unused. Eventually, one night one of my buddies was talking about a guy here in town who runs a sharpening shop and how he’s all in to straight razors too. There’s my ticket, surely he can fix me up. Nope, nothing happening. Won’t touch it with the cracked scales, knows nothing about repairs or restorations. Another year or so on the shelf.
Then a recent evening of cigars, beers, and good conversation leads to a friend showing me his 15/16 Dorko. All shiny and clean, this razor was a thing of precision and art. I was determined, I had to have mine fixed. A little internet searching for razor restoration led me here to SRP, which in turn led me to Max. When I emailed Max through his website, madaspenhome.com, I noticed on the contact info he lived here in Vegas. Score! Here was a guy who not only could fix my scales, here was a professional who’s passion was razors. In Vegas none the less. So I arranged everything with Max and delivered my blade to him. All I can say is Wow!:
Attachment 37483
Max gave me a bit of sage advice, I may not even like this razor. After all I have never shaved myself with a straight razor, how do I know what I will like, let alone what my face prefers. So we opted for replacement plastic scales, just to get me started. I can always upgrade later if I so choose. After a look at his, and other’s shave dens, I’m sure I will have quite a collection of razors to pass on to my posterity.
Now that I had new scales, razor all polished, honed, and stropped (also by Max, again Max thank you so much!) I was ready to commit. After a few pointers from Max I ordered up my den starter kit:
Attachment 37482
There are a few more items that I need to get, mainly just for storage of the soaps, but that should get me shaving. I still have my annual winter beard on, but come the first day of spring I’ll be clean shaven, bleeding, and loving it.

Hello, Jonathan:

Congratulations. You are a lucky soul for having found Max. He is a master at what he does. What a great way to start one's straight razor shaving experience.

Regards,

Obie

Excellent story! Welcome to SRP :)

Welcome to SRP!

What a wonderful way to get started in Str8. Be sure to update us once the beard is gone.

:gl:

Lu

Jonathan,

glad to have you on board.

If there's anything you have problems with or don't know, don't hesitate to ask. We have a great straight shaving community and we all share the same passion.

Now don't procrastinate another year before your next shave and keep us in the loop.