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Please help!
I know absolutely nothing about shaving. I would like to get my boyfriend a straight razor as a gift. I am a single mom of three in college, so my budget is small, $75 or so. My boyfriend learned how to shave with a straight razor and enjoys doing so, but does not currently own one himself. What I dont want to do is buy some pretty little thing that when it gets here will look tacky and feel like crap to his face. I dont really know whether razor choice is based on. His face: ultra sharp cheek bones and strong jawline. The beard texture is fairly soft, not wirey, and dense... he's Irish descendant... I'm not sure what other information would be helpful in selecting a decent blade. He can buy his own accesories. I think he would prefer a wood or horn handle maybe? Something kind of natural-ish. Also, I now this is highly unlikely, but is it possible to inscribe, either by etching or engraving, something on the blade or would that destroy the integrity of the blade itself? Whatever I get, will have to order, because I have found nothing available in my local area. Thanks! If at all possible I'm really hoping to make this a valentines gift.
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You should be able to purchase a new Dovo Best Quality for around $65. It comes with plain black scales (handles). Wood/Horn will be more expensive. You can also check out the classified section of this site. The razors from the classifieds should be shave ready. There should be one that meets your price range and may have something besides the standard black plastic scales. If there isn't one today, I'm sure there will be one in the next few days that meets your needs.
Also, you/he will need a strop to maintain the edge. A strop is a must! The razor must be stropped before/after each shave. A brush is also a key shaving tool, but I guess it may not be essential. Proper shave soap/cream and brush is very helpful to build a proper lather. The better the lather the better the shave. Cheap brush/shave bowl/soap sets can be purchased at local pharmacies for about $10. The typical canned shaving cream is not the best for straight razor shaving. You may just want to pass the info about the strop and brush/bowl/soap info along to your bf.
Here is just one example of a razor from the classifieds that fits your needs. This particular razor would be an outstanding starter razor. There are several others in your price range.
http://straightrazorpalace.com/class...repoint-&cat=3
Good Luck!
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You're a super cool chick! Tell your bf he better hold on to you!
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Or you could get a straight razor and strop from Larry over at whippeddog.com. Larry is a great guy, will work with you and will be able to stay in your budget.
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Welcome to SRP. A Dovo is your best bet. It's budget razor only in that it doesn't have fancy scales (handles) but it is a quality. You will get what you pay for when shopping retail. Do be aware that not all online recommendations are good ones.
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These are some good suggestions, I appreciate all ya'lls help. I didnt even realize this site had a classifieds sections. What a relief, I was beginning to think I might not be able to afford to get him this gift at all. So, questions still on my mind, can the handles, er, scales I mean, be replaced at a later time? Is this something he can do, or will he have to send his razor off to be serviced somewhere? He's pretty crafty. I know that he will be able to maintain the blade well, he used to sharpen knives for a living. All of the knives he owns are sharp enough to shave with lol. And what about the engraving on the blade? Is this a no-no? Any other suggestions are certainly welcome!
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Many members here make their own scales, and scales are interchangeable with these razors. Your boyfriend can learn how to do it, or you could send the razor to a number of people on this site to do it for you for a fee.
Just FYI, sharpening knives and sharpening razors are VERY different, and require different stones, methods, and a lighter touch. He should still watch some of the honing videos on this website and consult this forum for advice.
You can actually bring the razor to any Wedding gift supply store that sells things like fine China and cutlery, or any "Things Remembered" gift store, and they will pretty much engrave anything onto any object.
I almost forgot to mention - in the classified, you might be able to find a shave ready razor with wood, bone, ivory, or horn scales in your price range.
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At this point I would just worry about getting him the basics. if he is skilled he can play with the razor later and customize it. I would skip the engraving.
Welcome from N.M by the way.
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Talk to Larry at whippeddog.com. He's great to deal with, and he'll answer emails in a timely manner. Tell him what you're wanting and he'll take care of it. His sight-unseen deal is a good way to start, and it includes a shave-ready razor and a strop for less than $60. He also has some nicer razors that you can get for just a little more.
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My advice when buying parachutes or straight razors:
1. Research the seller.
2. Don't buy apparent bargains unless you have the skills to modify the item yourself if needed. It may not be cheap in the long run especially if you pay someone to repair it.
3. Always see what you're buying first even if its from a blood relative. The product may simply not be what you want.
For your price range the SRP classifieds would be a good start Main Index - Straight Razor Place Classifieds
Again research that the seller is experienced in honing &/or restoration.
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Well it seems all good ideas have been covered here pretty well. My personal pick would be this one http://straightrazorpalace.com/classi...repoint-&cat=3
if it's still for sale, I don't really see how you can go wrong with the henkels as a starter razor and the people here are by and large, incredibly generous and incredibly honest, so if it says it's shave ready I would pretty much believe it. Good luck on your hunt. And I'm sure your boyfriend will like whichever you pick as that is a great gift to receive
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Ya'll are awesome!
Attachment 89144Attachment 89144 Thanks everyone for your help and advice. You wont believe this... Stopped at an antique store here in town today, there were not 1 but 4 straight razors! I purchased a very decent blade for only $25, because the lady who owns this particular store is closing soon and retiring, so everything in the store was seriously marked down. The blade is nice, clean, and very sharp (shaved the back of my arm to test it out). The scales are chipped but otherwise decent, a good firm close and lines up perfect. Now, its nothing quite as nice as I would have liked to have purchased, but this will do fine as a starter razor.I have no idea of what brand it is... the tang has been polished too much to read the embossing. Looks to be half hollow if I am looking at it right? I wish my camera was working so I could upload a pic, but I think based on everything I have read on this site and all the advice I have recieved that this razor will be a fair deal and we can upgrade soon enough. Probadly best to insure that Joe will actually utilize this as much as he claims he would before purchasing anything expensive anyhow. Now, about that picture there... I'm not sure whether that blade could be salvaged although I've seen some pretty amazing pictures... What do you guys think? I found this online in an antiques store and bought it today for 6 dollars... The scales intrigue me. If the blade could at any point be salvaged, well, wow, although possibly if not, the scales could be re-used? Intriguing idea, nice decor additive if not eh? Also today purchased a cool strop from the antique store here in town for dirt cheap, circa 1850 (approx) and in original box... not very useful likely as i have examined it closely and its pretty nicked, worn, and damaged, however, there are lots of leather places near here, possibly it could be refurbished. Dont know. Think I will take it around to some leather repair shops in the next week and see what they say, if not, well, also cool old stuff to decorate with. I like antiques anyway lol and I will buy him a decent one that he can use. Let me know what ya'll think!
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For a moment there I thought you were describing the razor in the pics, which btw looks to be in pretty bad shape.
Personally I'd advise against throwing good money at that one expecting a good shaver but it could be improved cosmetically for display.
On the other hand my crystal ball could be way out of tune. :)
Even tho the good one may cut arm hair get it honed up before your guy uses it so he has a good start.
Old strops can be refurbished but as with all razor things they need to be done by someone who knows what's required for effect.