Thread: What a suprise!!

Most of you know I'm new to using a straight.
A few weeks back I purchased a Kropp 5/8 round point razor on ebay. Picture looked clean, but you know the story, only one photo, too far, little fuzzy, etc.
Sent the seller an inquiry about cracks in the handle, nicks in the blade, rust, pitting, the usual. Response is the razor has been in the family for decades, stored in the family home attic, no flaws. Well, for $16 shipped I bit and won as the only bidder.
Razor arrives and she is almost perfect. No bite marks or scratches on the black scales, just some soap residue inside. Blade has slight water marks along the edge that will polish out (when I buy some polish).
More on a whim I took her to the hone (my grandfather's Swaty) last night just for the ride. I don't have a Norton yet and, as the blade showed no oxidation, just thought I would give it a try. Honed up nice to the point I could shave hairs off my arm. Dang!!
Tonight I stropped her up with my Grandfather's strops. Rough side of the horsehide for 40 and smooth side for 60. Tried her out with just some wet beard and Proraso pre shave. Back to the strop for 60 more passes. Tried again. Back to the strop for 60 more passes.
Next test seemed promising. Lathered up and gave the old girl a spin. Best straight shave I've had so far. And, believe it or not, my left cheek using my non-dominate hand is smoother than the right cheek.
Now it did seem to hang up on the third pass ATG, so I did another XTG pass instead. One nick.
I'm very, very excited. Stropped her up another 60 passes and will try again in the morning. WooHoo!!!

That sounds like a lot of stropping, but amazing how easy it is when you do it the old fashion way huh?

Welcome to the maligned world of barber hones.

Congrats!

Barber hones rock, unless you have a big ol' chip to work out.

Good work!

Josh

That does seem like a lot of stropping though. I do the most at 35.

I did a bit more work on the Kropp over the weekend. About twenty more strokes on the hone, taking the advise (I am new to this so I need all the help I can get), I then did 25 strokes on the strop. Shaved even better and passed the hanging hair test. The razor must have been in good shape to start, but it has been fun to have a bit of success. I have an old Torrey purchased on ebay just for practice. I'll try that one next.