Thread: Got a shaving set for my birthday.....

Well as the title says, I got a straight razor set for my birthday and I like it, well if I could shave with it. I am not really sure where to start explaining whats going on in my head so I will try to sort it out the best I can....

Its a Red Deer blade, there is no more signs on it for what it could be (google pulls nothing) so I am not sure if its junk or not. The blade says its German steel, made in the USA. I was reading quite a while back that you dont want to spend the big bucks on your first razor because you will screw it up. But with that said, I love how the blade and handle feel in my hands, the few dozen times I tried messing around with it on the strop, rolling it over the spine and back - it just felt smooth and natural to me, so far I think the blade is a keeper for beginning.

The first issue I have though is I only have a leather side to the strop, the other side is like an unfinished leather. I am pretty sure I need a rough cloth sided one as well to try and hone in the blade a little bit. The blade came sharp-ish but not shave ready. I was also reading that I shouldn't need a stone, I should just have to work it a little with the cloth side and some of that grit stuff you put on it. I have a stick of it, right in the middle as far as grit goes (or so I was told) but only a leather side. Again, I think I need a new strop.

I bought some burts bees shaving cream, I used this stuff when I shaved with a mach 3 or whatever that crap is called. I love it, it holds a nice lather and doesn't dry out quickly, has anybody else used it? The straight razor did cut hair off of my arm when I put some of the lather on it but not as clean as I would like (or would hope) from a straight razor.

The brush, I dont know what its made out of but I like it. My friend used it on his shaving soap and said he really liked it and actually ordered one of his own - I dont know much about it though.

So a little breakdown here - has anybody heard of Red Deer? Do I need a new strop? If so, whats a entry level one I can get? Do I need a stone? I really dont want to spend a hundred bucks per stone...

I know this isnt cheap to get into but I really want to give it a shot. I always used a electric shaver but it would die about every year and I would have to buy a new one. Then I would have to shave easily twice a day... This I am told,the blades should last secaes if you take care of them. At this point I am at a Y in the road - I can stick with electric or spend a little more money (a little, I hope) and get the other tools and give it a shot. I am not even sure if I will like it or not.

I don't know anything about your razor. But my suggestion is to send it out to a pro to have it honed and evaluated. At that point you'll have some basic information on its capabilities. Until its sharp enough to shave with, if that's possible, you cant move off of start.

Could it be this?

straight razor red deer | eBay

Originally Posted by HaiKarate

Could it be this?

straight razor red deer | eBay

Looks like that. By the price, I would say its crap.

I looked in an old out of print book of razors I have (2007) and couldn't find it.

So I took another track and googled RED DEER CUTLERY since a lot of razors were made by cutlery companies. It said Red Deer-Frost Cutlery (Frost Cutlery - The World's Fastest-Growing Cutlery Company). This company began with the original owner collecting knives as a hobby in the 1960s and it evolved into a successful business.

At the Frost Cutlery site, the second item pictured was a Red Deer straight razor (regularly $29.95 now $16.95). I read the About Us section and it is definitely an American company that sells cutlery from around the world.

In addition to Red Deer, this company re-introduced the Hen and Rooster razor, which is here: Frost Cutlery - The World's Fastest-Growing Cutlery Company

I don't know anything about knives and am unfamiliar with these razors. If I identified your razor and it cost only $16.95 I'm leery about it. I'd get someone here who offers honing and restoration services to look at it, and assess it, and make it shave ready if it is of sufficient quality.

I'm always encouraging people to get away from the typical department store fare because of all the misery I experienced with electrics and multiblade razors. So I hope you will take up straight razor shaving.

Nice man, guess your googling skills are much better than mine. My razor is not listed though so I dont know what to say.

There is a guy around here that hones and sharpens blades. He is kind of an ass though and said "if I know your blade is cheap or I dont like it I will not work with it". Excuse me but not everybody wants to drop 500$ on a blade when I am not even sure if I am going to like it. I dont want to give a guy any of my money if thats how hes going to treat me when I dont know anything about him. He tried to sell me one over the phone, said it is perfect and ready to shave and he sells them for 700$ but he will give it to me for 6. I laughed and said no.

Originally Posted by jmgb4

Nice man, guess your googling skills are much better than mine. My razor is not listed though so I dont know what to say.

There is a guy around here that hones and sharpens blades. He is kind of an ass though and said "if I know your blade is cheap or I dont like it I will not work with it". Excuse me but not everybody wants to drop 500$ on a blade when I am not even sure if I am going to like it. I dont want to give a guy any of my money if thats how hes going to treat me when I dont know anything about him. He tried to sell me one over the phone, said it is perfect and ready to shave and he sells them for 700$ but he will give it to me for 6. I laughed and said no.

There is a huge world of razors between .99 and $700. To be honest, this is what I usually suggest to people somewhat interested in this. Start with a DE. An excellent Edwin Jagger DE is about $30. Then invest in a decent soap/cream (try Proraso or Arko, both excellent values). If you're enjoying the shaves and the idea of a straight razor continues to intrigue you, go in for a straight and a strop. Keep an eye on the classified section here for a razor that fits your budget. Some days you'll find one for under $50. Be sure its shave ready. If there's any doubt, have it honed. There's a lot of money that can be invested in this and if you're not certain, don't jump into it with too much cash. Shaving with a DE will give you an idea if the whole wet shaving thing is something you want to stick with. But a good soap/cream and brush will enhance any shave.

Save yourself a lot of frustration and go to whippeddog.com and ask Larry about a sight unseen razor. It will be a vintage razor that's shave ready. It might not win a beauty pageant, but it will shave.

Originally Posted by robellison01

Save yourself a lot of frustration and go to whippeddog.com and ask Larry about a sight unseen razor. It will be a vintage razor that's shave ready. It might not win a beauty pageant, but it will shave.

+1 on whippeddog. I got my first razor from him. Great guy to deal with!

I would recommed you pick up a vintage blade from SRP's Classifieds section. You should easily be able to find an affordable, shave-ready razor here. What you have sounds like a "razor-shaped object" of some sort that is worthless for real shaving.

Good luck!