Thread: Gifted with a Boker. Right or wrong to start with?

Hello.
I have been wanting to move into straight razor shaving and have talked about it
with a few people.

Today my father in law dropped by and gave me this older Boker king cutter that he used to use.
I have not used one before and have been told that a round point is better for beginners.

What I am looking for is opinion and advice on whether I should get this cleaned up and try and learn with it or get a round point and start with that??

I'd use it. Send it off to someone in the classified to hone it up. My feeling is that if the corner is muted, and yours looks to be, then it's not that much different than using a round point. It's always neat to have something that's been in the family.

Get that baby honed by a pro and stay aware of where the point is as you shave. Some say round point to start, others say no difference. Major thing I have learned in shaving with a straight is that, regardless of point or round, you have to concentrate on where the razor is on your face and the amount of pressure you are using. Read the wikis, watch the vids, find a mentor in your area for one-on-one and know it is baby steps before running the mile.

(Had a great dinner in Winnipeg in 1965)

I think you can learn with any kind of razor... just like you can learn to drive using any kind of car. Seriously. Moreover, that Boker in my mind doesn't need cleaning up - though it might need a hone!

Great father in law BTW!!! Good luck!. And welcome to the forum!

Very nice gift! The Arbolito line was for the South American Market. Good razor!!

I would agree with the others as well... Learning to shave with a straight is difficult no matter what, but with some good focus and light, light pressure you should be ok. Buuuut if you really are nervous about the point I'd gladly take that razor off your hands for you

Get that bad boy honed up and you'll have a great shaver!

Originally Posted by ADG638

What I am looking for is opinion and advice on whether I should get this cleaned up and try and learn with it or get a round point and start with that??

Both.

You should get it cleaned up and honed. Then you should put it away and practice with some other razor. Learn the various ways that a razor easily can be destroyed. Favorite variants are the drop, the sink-side smash, and the strop roll, but others such as the suddenly opened door, the screaming flailing child, and the wild dog can also happen. Given that this razor has gold-leaf, you have the added peril of corrosion due to the nasty chemical dihydrogen oxide.

I suggest that you find some other razor with which to learn and only after you are more adept with it should you start using the gift from your father in law.

However, your mileage and father in law may vary.

Lucky! That's a great starting razor. Spend lots of time on the forum and learn from the experience of others. It's a fulfilling hobby!

Originally Posted by chapman

I would agree with the others as well... Learning to shave with a straight is difficult no matter what, but with some good focus and light, light pressure you should be ok. Buuuut if you really are nervous about the point I'd gladly take that razor off your hands for you

Get that bad boy honed up and you'll have a great shaver!

Haha thanks Chapman but I can't sell a gift.
He might ask for it back one day.

Looks like a great razor and should be a great shaver. I'm with Utopian though as my first razor is considerably small due to dropping it, nicks etc. Keep it for once your past that stage.