Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 11
Like Tree8Likes

Thread: Straight razor and strop as a gift... Have no idea what I'm doing, any advice?

  1. #1
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Location
    London
    Posts
    2
    Thanked: 0

    Default Straight razor and strop as a gift... Have no idea what I'm doing, any advice?

    Hey, how goes it?
    So, please bear with me while I explain where I'm at...
    Its mine and my husbands 3 year anniversary coming and being the traditionalist that I am, I want to get something leather and a strop seemed like a superb idea at the time! However, having dipped a toe in the world of straight razors, I'm a little overwhelmed! I now know a little too much and nowhere near enough - can anyone out there please guide me in the right direction?!
    So basically, I know my other half would enjoy sharpening and honing (am I getting the lingo right? So sorry if not!) and would make the effort for a 'proper' shave if we were going out somewhere nice. I definitely think this would be his bag. But, I am at a loss as to where to start or what to buy. I don't know what my budget should be, but don't want to spend a fortune in case this could be a total dud gift (although I hope thats unlikely, I'm pretty confident). Criteria is that it def needs to be a straight and not a shavette as the whole point really needs to be the strop! Ha. But ebay seems like its a bit of a scam with probably shoddy blades, and I have no idea what I'd be buying second hand. I'd like to put a whole bunch of stuff together in a wash bag for him....
    Anyhoo, it would be a completely altruistic and unselfish act to offer me some guidance, but I'd be forever grateful if one of you kind people could point me in the right direction?
    Thank you!! :0)

  2. #2
    Sharp as a spoon. ReardenSteel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Nowhere in particular
    Posts
    2,409
    Thanked: 472

    Default

    Welcome to SRP. Happy 3rd Aniversary. For a strop, try going local, Vintage Straight Razor Sales & Restorations, Hand Made Strops, UK Razor Honing and Vintage Hone Stones. Neil is a member here and his strops are among the best out there. He might have a few razors lying around as well. Contact him and I am certain he can help you make a decision and make your husband's gift a superb one. Keep us posted.
    Substance and entropy1049 like this.
    Why doesn't the taco truck drive around the neighborhood selling tacos & margaritas???

  3. #3
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Location
    London
    Posts
    2
    Thanked: 0

    Default

    Ah, thank you so much for your quick and helpful reply. Already learning from his website! I will drop him a mail and see where that gets me. Thanks again...

  4. #4
    Seeking Shaving Zen Prahston's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Yakima, WA
    Posts
    825
    Thanked: 132

    Default

    A 'Shave Ready' Straight Razor, a Strop and a Barber's Hone is the direction I'd go in your situation... With this Gear your Husband will be able to Shave, Maintain his edge and Touch-Up his edge... Honing Gear is really individualized/specific on top of expensive and you definitely would not want to front-load that type of Gear unless you were certain he would want to do that type of work. Sending your straight razor out to be Honed is probably the wisest approach initially... After that initial Gear and once you know he is into it then grabbing a second 'Shave Ready' Straight Razor would be the way to go so, when he sends one out to be Honed, he has the other on Deck.

    Best of luck and hope he enjoys it... Sure sounds like a Homerun to me!

    Shawn
    -----

  5. #5
    Senior Member JTmke's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Milwaukee
    Posts
    1,367
    Thanked: 176

    Default

    I don't know what your time frame is or how long it would take to ship to you but...

    The shaving kits at Straight Razor Designs are very nice. They come shave ready. Lynn is awesome and all over the place if he needs any help. The strops they sell are very high quality and you will not have missed any needed item in your lucky husbands new hobby/preferred way to shave
    Substance likes this.
    "The best way to have a good idea is to have a lot of ideas." -Linus Pauling

  6. #6
    Senior Member blabbermouth edhewitt's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Location
    Perth Australia
    Posts
    7,741
    Thanked: 713
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default

    There is a guy called damo in london who is or certainly was quite active here, whilst not a vendor ( as far as i know) maybe drop him a line and see if he can point you in the right direction for vendors and such.

    The advice i have read so far seems pretty sound, you do need to decide if you want a vintage razor, or a new razor, personally i would go vintage, but new a brand like dovo, theirs issard, boker, ralph aust or from what i have seen my favourite, revisor are supposed to be fairly safe bets.
    Depending on the vendor you might need to get the razor honed to shave ready so bear that in mind when checking out vendors. Shave ready means hand honed, not factory honed, i have to come clean and say i have never purchased a new razor, but this is the advice you will be given.

    If the equipment you choose is at least entry level you will be able to resell it should your hubby not like the experience.
    Bread and water can so easily become tea and toast

  7. #7
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    Yorkshire , England
    Posts
    356
    Thanked: 44

    Default

    One thing worth noting here though, whatever strop you get your husband he is almost guaranteed to nick or cut it if he is new to the game. For that reason I would not buy him a really expensive strop to begin with..........maybe buy him a really nice one for the 5th anniversary

    Invisible edge are UK based and sell starter kits. Their razors are also shipped shave ready.
    Substance and Briwill99 like this.

  8. #8
    Senior Member blabbermouth eddy79's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Gosnells Perth Western Australia
    Posts
    7,041
    Thanked: 656

    Default

    Maybe try the classifieds here for anyone local. A site search might also come up with more information on local vendors. Good luck
    My wife calls me......... Can you just use Ed

  9. #9
    Junior Member GhostEdge's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Location
    Wigan, Lancashire, England
    Posts
    20
    Thanked: 2

    Default

    I think a Strop and Razor are the only necessary items that you will need. I'd give the honing stones a miss as an anniversary gift with your hubby being a newbie. If you want to get some other items then a nice brush, bowl and soap or cream would be nice.
    tcrideshd likes this.

  10. #10
    Senior Member Iceni's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    Coventry
    Posts
    710
    Thanked: 221

    Default

    Best bet is a kit.

    Someone already mentioned the invisible edge. I got my first razor from there and it was a great buy.

    Because it's for an anniversary I would suggest you spend a little more on the razor, A razor for £50-100 will have plastic scales (handle). For a little more you can get real wood and some nice gold wash or something that looks fancy.

    My personal pick would be the dovo bismarck.

    Name:  wp3194d505_05_06.jpg
Views: 77
Size:  100.0 KB

    It's £125 and will come ready to shave. It also is gift quality craftsmanship. IE also have it in stock.

    you can find it about 1/2 way down this page.

    Dovo Razors


    Add a kit to the razor and you have a full gift. The traditional kit would be my pick. It only cost £8 more and for that you get a bowl and a full sized soap puck.

    Name:  wp05887d58_05_06.jpg
Views: 77
Size:  49.6 KB

    Shave kits & Accs.


    Razor and kit should come in at about £200 and he is then set to shave.

    Hones and anything else he needs can be picked up later or for Christmas presents.
    Haroldg48 likes this.
    Real name, Blake

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •