Thread: "Shave Ready" in the Classifieds

Oh, and what if the razors they receive aren't up to snuff? Would they feel an obligation to hone them properly, or would they just be sent back as-is?

It sounds to me like a possible risk to the senior honemeister's reputation. As someone mentioned, the face prep for a shave can make or break the experience, regardless of how sharp a razor may be. I'm sure there are tons of cases where newbies have received perfectly shave-ready razors in the mail, mucked up the edge on their new strops they don't know how to use and then had horrible shaves, blaming the razor instead of their lack of skill.

I think that's when the spiritual honing pilgrimage must begin. Then you have to stand outside Lynn's door for three days to prove you really want to learn!

Y'know Blade Wielder got me thinking, I don't pretend to be a honemiester but I have shaved with enough razors honed by the celebrated honers to know a good one when I shave with it. So I will volunteer to be the official shave ready tester.

Send the razor and a small gratuity and I will give it a thumbs up or a thumbs down. I keep the razor on file here in case any SRP committee wants to come in at a later date and verify my conclusions. Don't thank me, it is the least that I can do to relieve my fellow forum members of this impasse that needs to be broken.

outstanding! getting paid to steal razors that victims send you voluntarily.

Originally Posted by Quick

outstanding! getting paid to steal razors that victims send you voluntarily.

It is a tough job but somebody has to do it.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

It is a tough job but somebody has to do it.

I am sorry, but this position has been already filled by me. If you want to be certified as a certificator (or certifier) please send me a complete set of 140 razors (14 different grinds on Henckel's scale and 10 different sizes between 3/8 and 10/8 of each grind) which you have evaluated as shave-ready.
I will proceed to verify the validity of your claim and if in fact they are all shave ready you will be bestowed the title of junior certificator, meaning that you have the ability to recognize a shave ready razor. This title does not allow you to extend such certification to other applicants, but you would be allowed to pass the requirements to them along with my address to send their set.
In case some of the razors do not pass the certification process you shall be allowed to reapply up to three additional times by submitting 7 razors of each grind+size that has failed. The number seven is to insure beyond any reasonable statistical doubt that your initial failure has been fuly rectified.

And, of course, anybody who wants a shave-ready certified razor can purchase one from the chief certificator (me) at a reasonable fee.
The availability may be limited and will depend on the amount of junior certificator applicants. So, be sure to use the PM system to inquire for my paypal address and place your orders early.

I personally can't understand any motivation to sell a razor that I haven't shaved with. My first razor was a Dovo Classic Special. Being the independent sort I am, I figured I'd buy a DMT D8EE, a linen strop, and a leather strop, and jump in with both feet. It took me a while to figure out that there was a big difference between barely cutting a hanging hair on a single portion of the blade and being shave ready.

Now that I hone all of my own razors and they provide me with a close, comfortable shave, I'm okay with saying that a razor I sell is "Shave Ready" because in every case, I have been shaving with it, and before I sell a razor I'll touch it up, then shave with it again to make sure that I personally can stand to shave with it.

As a side note, in a month or so after my birthday when I have a little extra cash, I'd love to send a razor to a reputable honemeister for a review...