Thread: New member from London, England looking to purchase some kit!

Hi all, i'm a DE shaver from london and am looking to get into shaving with a straight. Any advice on buying a straight and a strop would be much appreciated! (already own a badger brush, shaving cream, alum block, skin food etc...)

Ta!

Welcome to SRP. I can highly recommend two UK vendors, Neil Miller,

Vintage Straight Razor Sales & Restorations, Hand Made Strops, UK Razor Honing and Vintage Hone Stones

and Steve Dempster

Introduction to razors

Both of these fine gentlemen sell new and vintage razors of the highest quality. There is also the SRP classifieds for members from all over the world selling razors when they decide to 'thin the herd'. Don't forget to check out the beginner's guide in the SRP Library.

Welcome to SRP. If you try the ebay, may also look for seller with username taylors1000. A UK seller, Tony is also a SRP member but can't remember his handle (portal5 )? Probably one of the most honest sellers on ebay. Always has a few nice things on. You've come to the right place to find more ways to enjoy your shaving, and help with it if you need it.
Again, wlecome

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Tony. You can't go wrong buying a blade from him.

I've had three razors from him, including a Joseph Rodgers that he found, cleaned and honed specifically for me.

He's very helpful and goes out of his way to do anything extra you might ask, and even though they're generally sold unsharpened, he'll hone them for a little bit extra.

Welcome aboard!

+1 to the recommendations above. The difference is that Neil Miller and Steve Dempster will provide shave-ready razors, but Taylors1000 aren't shave-ready (as he says in his ebay descriptions.) I've bought a couple from taylors, and they've been good razors in excellent condition, but they need honing before use.

I think that a cheap ebay strop such as this is suitable for learning - I have one and it isn't a great strop (you get what you pay for), but you're going to nick it while learning, anyway. I still use mine as a travel strop.

I bought a razor from Steve Dempster last month, and i have been very happy with it. Very fast delivery, and got a good looking shave ready razor. Also he has some cheap strops available on his page, which i would recommend getting so you don't nick a more expensive strop

Update: For several years Tony did not offer honing. He has gotten back into it over the last several months and now offers it at a small fee with a purchase. May be necessary to ask. He also has started indicating in his listings which razors he believes may not be well suited to beginners