Beginner's Razor?

I have been shaving for about a year now with my straights. I have a friend who's Birthday is coming up and he has expressed some interest in straight shaving. What would the pros here recommend. I'm thinking roundpoint. What do you guys think? I have a couple spikes I could do without, but I don't want him to hack himself up learning with a spike.

Beginner's guide to straight razor shaving - Straight Razor Place Wiki

»Choosing a razor is a matter of personal preference. If you must have a brand new razor the quality choices are limited to the three main major current manufacturers: Dovo, Thiers-Issard, and Böker; to the NOS Double Arrow and Wapienica; and to the custom razor makers. A brand new razor will still have to be honed.

Fortunately there are many vintage razors which would often be of equal or even better quality than the current production and they will generally cost significantly less. The best place to find one is the Classifieds section of SRP. Most often the razors there are honed and shave-tested by the seller, and this is noted in the ad, but when in doubt you can always ask them.

Newbies are discouraged from purchasing vintage razors on eBay because they do not have the experience to evaluate the condition of the razor - in most cases the pictures on eBay do not provide enough details, and even when they do, a newbie generally doesn't know what is important and what isn't.

Nevertheless there are some razors that should be avoided, and even though every purchase is a risk there are few popular vintage brands that are generally good.

You can find detailed descriptions of hundreds of new and vintage razors in our Straight Razor Database (SRDB).«

As for blade width and point, I would go for a 5 or 6/8 round point.

+1 Mr. Berlin.I like vintage myself.I started with a spike and didnt have no big issues.When a newbie asks me my recommondation I usually say the same,but I also tell them when they start out with a round they usually end up wanting a square point.They seem to get the idea that round points are for learners,but I think they are just as good razors.I still use a round in my rotation.I dont know but I think getting out of using rounds is a macho thing.I say get what you like round or square,its still eye candy for me.:shrug::D

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Originally Posted by BeBerlin

Beginner's guide to straight razor shaving - Straight Razor Place Wiki

»Choosing a razor is a matter of personal preference. If you must have a brand new razor the quality choices are limited to the three main major current manufacturers: Dovo, Thiers-Issard, and Böker; to the NOS Double Arrow and Wapienica; and to the custom razor makers. A brand new razor will still have to be honed.

Fortunately there are many vintage razors which would often be of equal or even better quality than the current production and they will generally cost significantly less. The best place to find one is the Classifieds section of SRP. Most often the razors there are honed and shave-tested by the seller, and this is noted in the ad, but when in doubt you can always ask them.

Newbies are discouraged from purchasing vintage razors on eBay because they do not have the experience to evaluate the condition of the razor - in most cases the pictures on eBay do not provide enough details, and even when they do, a newbie generally doesn't know what is important and what isn't.

Nevertheless there are some razors that should be avoided, and even though every purchase is a risk there are few popular vintage brands that are generally good.

You can find detailed descriptions of hundreds of new and vintage razors in our Straight Razor Database (SRDB).«

As for blade width and point, I would go for a 5 or 6/8 round point.

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I learned on a spike point and never had any problems. My concerns were completely unwarranted.

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