Good morning/evening from Arkansas.
(Depending on your particular location, of course)
I've been straight-shaving for a few years now; I received my first razor as a gift, and with a healthy amount of trial-and-error (at times painful, mind you) I believe I may have actually become somewhat proficient.
My first razor - an el-cheapo Paki blade - served as a teacher of sorts. I learned to hone with it (recycled Paki steel is the pits), and learned not to get into a big hurry (the thing may not hold an edge, but boy, you can sure carve up a human face with it).
I recently acquired a Wester Bros./ Anchor Brand with ivory scales and am in the process of restoring it; it's coming along quite beautifully. Unfortunately the local antique shops and junk-stores stock little more than trinkets and items useless to anyone other than the most die-hard packrats; I stumbled upon this site whilst searching for information concerning antique razors and accessories.
This place seems to be a wealth of information; I'm glad I found the site. :)
