Thread: Getting Rough Rider Black Widow s"shave ready"?

I have purchased a Rough Rider Black Widow as my first straight razor, i've shaved with a Merkur 34C for 1.5years.

However, the razor is rather dull, wont even shave my arm hair (my spyderco bug did that even)

So, what would i need to get to have it shave ready, its 440 steel.

Judging from what I saw when I looked that razor up it looks like a collectors item and not really meant for shaving. Also from my understanding 440 steel is not good for taking a shaving edge.

So unfortunately you will have to buy a new razor to start straight shaving.

You can check out whippeddog.com and the classifieds here to get a shave ready razor at a good price.

Rough rider is just that, rough. A good letter opener or paint stirrer. We all make mistakes. This is yours!
Lots to learn here, keep reading before buying and you will get good shaves.
Good Luck!

Well then that sucks :/ i know its really cheap, but i really like spiders (owner of 10 tarantulas)

Shot a picture of the edge, maybe it could work if honed properly?

I would think that most members listed that do honing wont even touch that razor. Sorry

As Castel pointed out...its something to look kind of cool...as for shaving with it, not gonna happen. The steel, heat treating, etc. is not up to snuff on those to take and hold a proper shaving edge. Chalk it up to learning experience. Check out the Library here and look for the list of approved straights Dovo, Thiers Issard, Hart are a few of the modern production blades that'll give you a fine shave when honed right

The fact you can see microchipping on the edge without the aid of magnification is not a good thing. Sorry man, this is not the razor for you.

Too bad :/ will put it in a glass frame on the wall then.

What about the shavettes? maybe the best choice for a beginner?

Originally Posted by Will3

...
Shot a picture of the edge, maybe it could work if honed properly?

That edge is awful, i'd try to hone it and see how good it gets.
Don't know if you are able to do it yourself, i wouldn't spend the 20-25$ to get it done.
In principle 440 steel is good, but the final result in therms of hardness and honing capability is depending on the correct heat treatment it has undergone.

Yeah i know the edge is awful.

Im looking for a good beginners razor now for up to 200$, WITHOUT any text or anything on the blade itself
What would be best for a beginner? hollow, half-hollow or solid? 5/8"?