Thread: Just bought my first razor, what do you think......

I just picked up a Wade & Butcher Sheffield with original box. Looks to be a very good razor. My next purchases are a good strop and hone rock. A very good shave is very important to me, I'm in the military, and we have to have a good shave everyday and can have an inspection any time. And I'm trying to preserve my face a little bit. The one I bought has only been used very lightly, and has no rust, and only slightly discolored, without rust. I decided to buy a straight razor because I want a really good shave, and have a love for everything tradtional. When I'm home on leave I still plow out our fields with a 2200 pd belgium draft horse and have been for years. We still make most of our own tools in a forge, so shaving the old style is just a natural step I guess. lol

Congratulations and have fun.
BE patient please read wiki will help a lot.
gl

Hi and welcome to SRP ! You may want to have that razor honed by a professional. You can find someone to do it in member services in the classifieds here. Before you do your first shave take a look at this tutorial by SRP founder Lynn Abrams here . That will get you stated on the right foot.

Hola and Welcome to SRP.Heed the above advice it will help you on your journey to a great shaving experience.

Definitely get it honed by someone who knows what they're doing. Then you can follow. I'm quite impressed by the old time methods you use on the farm. Why is it that you use them? Necessity or choice? Great score though.

Originally Posted by AlanII

Definitely get it honed by someone who knows what they're doing. Then you can follow. I'm quite impressed by the old time methods you use on the farm. Why is it that you use them? Necessity or choice? Great score though.

Choice. Theres a Massey Ferguson tractor under the barn incase a horse goes lame and we have to work, but the old style is easier on the land, and much more relaxing. If the few who still know it don't practice and preserve it will be a dead art soon.

if you plan to get it sharp on only one stone the belgian coticule would be the best choice.
otherwhise your best option is to utilize the services of one of our highly skilled guys.

btw, the best stropping is on horse butt. i wonder if it works just as good when the horse is still alive... it almost looks like a potential catch 22 - to make a strop from the horse you need sharp razor, and to make the razor sharp you need the horse to be strop...

do you use sword at work?

Do I use a sword?? I don't understand this question. But the next time we kill a deer or slaughter a cow, or have a horse go lame I may try and make my won strop. How hard can it be to make one? I already know how to tan leather so it couldn't be to hard.

Originally Posted by OldtimePreacher

Choice. Theres a Massey Ferguson tractor under the barn incase a horse goes lame and we have to work, but the old style is easier on the land, and much more relaxing. If the few who still know it don't practice and preserve it will be a dead art soon.

Absolute respect coming at you from here.

Already posted these in the finer things forum, but if its ok I'll throw them here so you get the idea of why I like the old ways, like a straight razor.

Forging out a knife. Takes about 4 to 5 hours for a good one that will hold an edge. This is working using a rail road spike.


And the finished product.


Brother in law Heading Big John out to the field


Dad backing him into the sled so we can haul some firewood


Me taking of the harness after a full days work. For reference I'm 6'1"