Taylor Of Old Bond Street's advice

Hello everyone,

I went to the main Taylor's shop (that actually still has a Mr. Taylor working there) and asked their barber about honing and stropping a straight.

I was told that I need to press the razor onto the stone (his finger tips were whitening with the pressure while showing me) and pull the blade with the spine leading like when stropping. The stone he had (the most used one in the shop to him) was worn away to the point of looking like half a bowl.

He had a similar idea with stropping when it came to the weight behind it but did not demonstrate this part.

Being the people who shave the british Royalty and with so much experience I was not expecting this. Any thoughts or ideas on this?

I guess after enough time developing your own methods they sometimes work, or maybe, that blade never goes near his own skin so who cares?! Seen the Livi sharpening & stropping videos? That would raise some eyebrows if most fellas here claimed to do it that way, but it works for him. Or maybe he sends them to Lynn to sharpen after he's buggered the edge?!:D Joking fella's, i wouldn't disrespect the Mastro!

Did his breath smell of bay rum?:shrug: