Thread: Hello from US ARMY in Afghanistan

Hello to all it is a pleasure to be part of this community. I recently gained interest in the Staight blade razors after recently messing around with a cheap disposible one purchased here. I have been reaading through the forums trying to figure out what razor to invest into yet the more I read the more questions I have as to which razor I should buy. I am not looking to spending too much. Since it will b my first straight edge. I have also looked into the classified section. But i really dont know which brand or type of razor to go with. any advice would b greatly appricated.

If any of you know of websites that offer Military discount or better deals than other it would be greatly appriciated. Or if you have a good sharp shave ready razor that your interested in selling please let me know.

Thank much , look forward to replies and metting people

Sgt Miguel Tejeda
330th Military Police Company

Welcome to SRP and thanks for your service. Any 5 or 6/8 razor sold by the vendors you see in the sidebars would be good IMO. Make sure the vendor includes honing to shave ready. You might look at strop/razor sets as you will need a strop. More guys may be along with more specific advice. Too many variables for me to be more specific.

Originally Posted by notiq85

Hello to all it is a pleasure to be part of this community. I recently gained interest in the Staight blade razors after recently messing around with a cheap disposible one purchased here. I have been reaading through the forums trying to figure out what razor to invest into yet the more I read the more questions I have as to which razor I should buy. I am not looking to spending too much. Since it will b my first straight edge. I have also looked into the classified section. But i really dont know which brand or type of razor to go with. any advice would b greatly appricated.

If any of you know of websites that offer Military discount or better deals than other it would be greatly appriciated. Or if you have a good sharp shave ready razor that your interested in selling please let me know.

Thank much , look forward to replies and metting people

Sgt Miguel Tejeda
330th Military Police Company

Welcome to SRP Miguel . it is a true pleasure having you here and let me be the first (ooops, well...second) to thank you for your service and sacrifice.

As to the straights to buy: have you checked the SRD website (Straight Razor Designs) yet? There often very good ones that show up on the classifieds if you are patient.

A couple of questions:

1) How long do you think you'll be stationed in Afghanistan? The reason I ask is I am guessing that honing would be rather difficult to do over there.

2) What about honing (related to Q #1)? Maybe another option would be to get some good hones to get you going when the str8 gets dull and you don't have too many options for sending it out? just a thought.

3) aside from a good str8 (I would recommend 2), you would need a strop and a good brush...all of which SRD has for very very reasonable prices.

Let me start by saying welcome and thank you for your service to our country. You gentlemen are welcome here anytime. There are two lists of manufacturers in the wiki, quality razors on one and razors to avoid on the other. You can't get a good quality new razor for $10. Look around a bit, you can do this on a budget but it may take a little more time and research.

Hello, Sgt. Tejeda:

From a Vietnam veteran, welcome to Straight Razor Place.

First of all, please take a look in the Wiki for a wealth of information on many aspects of wet shaving with the straight razor. Beyond that, here are some suggestion to consider:

1. Start with a 5/8" Dovo "Best Quality" or Tortoise shell razor. These are good and reliable razors. Make sure they are shave ready, or "pre-sharpened," as some sites note. Some of the vendors listed here carry these razors. It is important that the razor be professionally honed. Factory edges on razors, in most cases, are not adequate for the professional shaver.

2. For a strop, which is essential, try a Premium I Leather Strop that is 3" from Straight Razor Designs. This strop comes in two parts, fabric and leather, which can be replaced should you cut your strop — the hardware on the original strop is already there and can be fitted with the new leather or fabric.

3. For a brush, try a 22-mm. pure badger. Badger brushes come in four grades of softness: pure, best, super and silver tip. Some manufacturers lump "best" and "super" in one, and some use different descriptions. Generally, though, you have four choices. The pure badger is a good starter. Keep the price here around $35 or so.

4. Soap or creams make up a long list of choices. Here are some quality soaps which many gentlemen at SRP use: Mama Bear, Mitchell's Wool Fat, Taylor of Old Bond Street, Geo F Trumper, Provence Sante Verlaine (one of my favorites), Straight Razor Design, Truefitt & Hill, Tabac, and so on. You have many choices.

5. Truefitt & Hill, Taylor of Old Bond Street and Geo F Trumper offer some good choices in creams. Pre de Provence, Institute Karite, Musgo Real, Proraso, and many others also have quality stuff. For now, one of the creams or soaps is all you need until you feel your way around.

6. You will need some kind of a mug for your soap or cream. A wide coffee cup will do. You can create lather in the mug (should you use cream), and should you choose soap, keep the puck in the mug. Make lather directly onto your face.

7. Keep a stypic pencil on hand for nicks. The PX should have something like that, or the vendors here have them.

8. For aftershave, your taste will dictate what you should buy.

For starters — unless I forgot something — this is all you need. Most of all, take your time honing your skills in a) stropping, b) making lather and c) learning the ways of the straight razor. Don't rush it. Do your research here. Watch as many videos as you can. And ask questions.

Most importantly, though, stay safe, and come home flying the banner of a gentleman straight razor shaver.

Regards,

Obie

Welcome to SRP, Brother! I'm here in Iraq and also just found this place. Everyone here is very helpful and be careful because that deployment money is gonna disappear fast. SRD is great for the DOVO/Strop combo that was mentioned above. I went with that to get started. As far as brushes, look in the PX for one of the Van Der Hagan's that we always use for weapons cleaning. They are boar I think but many have said that they work pretty well. It would be a cheap alternative for now. Keep your chin up and your head down, and come home safe. May God bless you and yours.

v/r
Kenneth

Hello Sergeant and thanks from one soldier to another. I am a US. Army combat vet from The Persian Gulf War. I know what your going through. There is some good information here and these fellows will guide you. Be advised, straights are addicting. Proceed with caution. What ever razor you choose, have it honed by one of the many honemeisters here, and practice your stropping technique. Since space is limited, go with a travle type soap and brush. Keep the blade and brush clean and dry when not in use. If questions, hit me here on SRP. Be safe, you and your men. Hooah!

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Welcome to SRP and thanks for your service. Any 5 or 6/8 razor sold by the vendors you see in the sidebars would be good IMO. Make sure the vendor includes honing to shave ready. You might look at strop/razor sets as you will need a strop. More guys may be along with more specific advice. Too many variables for me to be more specific.

Thanks for the welcoming and the advice. Much appriciated.

V/R

Miguel Tejeda

Originally Posted by BladeRunner001

Welcome to SRP Miguel . it is a true pleasure having you here and let me be the first (ooops, well...second) to thank you for your service and sacrifice.

As to the straights to buy: have you checked the SRD website (Straight Razor Designs) yet? There often very good ones that show up on the classifieds if you are patient.

A couple of questions:

1) How long do you think you'll be stationed in Afghanistan? The reason I ask is I am guessing that honing would be rather difficult to do over there.

2) What about honing (related to Q #1)? Maybe another option would be to get some good hones to get you going when the str8 gets dull and you don't have too many options for sending it out? just a thought.

3) aside from a good str8 (I would recommend 2), you would need a strop and a good brush...all of which SRD has for very very reasonable prices.

Robert, Thanks for the welcoming as well its much appriciated. I had not looked at SRD, but did so today just did a little skimming lol.
as for ur questiones here are the answers:

1. I will b here till about March time frame. I get to go home on some R&R n a few months. Home is Suthern California. Fotana to b exact.

2.Honing??? havnt read much on it. If i was to get a honing set . . any advice? member first timer. I read a little on a strop w/ pate thats a cheaper alternative to a hone? Or a barber hone that doesnt require me to purchase multile hones. Can u elaborate on hone alternatives that is if I read it right.

3.I did notice strop and razor set on SRD. Thanks for the adive. Still reading to make an educted decission.

V/R

Miguel Tejeda

Originally Posted by woodchuck

Let me start by saying welcome and thank you for your service to our country. You gentlemen are welcome here anytime. There are two lists of manufacturers in the wiki, quality razors on one and razors to avoid on the other. You can't get a good quality new razor for $10. Look around a bit, you can do this on a budget but it may take a little more time and research.

Welcoming is appriciated. Thanks for the advice and I will take a good look at the wiki lists.

V/R

Miguel Tejeda