My first one was a Spanish 5/8 that I bought when I was in my teens about 1973
.i couldnt aford a strop & didnt know a thing about honing ,so you can imagine what the shaves were like. I came back to straights about15 years ago using them on &off until I got an Ivory micarta Dovo from a friend who had some in stock.I bought a strop with this & an arkasnsas pocket hone & this was my set up until I discovered this forum.
The help & advice I've got from members of this forum has helped me to fill in the gaps in my knowlege & technique& Im finally competent & get BBS shave most of the time & have a growing herd of blades .Thanks everybdy.Paul