I just wanted to share an observation/realization...

2 weeks ago I got a brand new Boker Edelweiss...honed by Lynn, etc etc. Best damn shave of my life. However, the past 2 or 3 shaves with it have been subpar. Not bad, but not as smooth as I've gotten used to. I think I've been stropping it poorly. My other two razors have light plastic scales, while the Boker's are heavy, substantial bone scales. For the life of me, I couldn't get a strong strop. The weight kept throwing me off. I finally realized I had to start over and re-learn how to strop it. So I spent like 15 minutes just slowly stropping on the linen with it, doing about 85 laps (after 4 laps on a barber hone), with increasing speed. Felt much better and I didn't get any of those dreaded ringing strokes. Just good swishy strokes.

I didn't even consider that the weight or material of a razor's scales would have that kind of an effect on how I stropped it. I definitely had an enlightening shave tonight. Hopefully the next one will be back on track!