Well - I have been messing around with straights. My Wife thinks I am totally nuts and at this point I might agree. I did my first one saturday. I started with my right hand on the right side of my face. It was pretty good there. I was able to get through the entire cheek area down to my jawline without any problems. Then I switched sides and used my left hand. It was pretty clumsy and I got all confused with my strokes in the mirror and just had to stop and finish the shave with my DE. My Plan was to let it go a few days and try it again but after I lathered up this morning I just could not stand it. SO I went to my room and got my straight. This time I just used my right hand and I was able to get through my whole face and neck without donating any blood. However I did the second pass with my DE. I will have to do some practicing holding the razor this week and then give it another go next weekend. I got a nice surprise yesterday while at my Moms. I was telling her about using a straight and she got up from the table and then came back with grandpa's straight. You can see it here in the pic. The box it came in is not the right box. the box says Wester Bros, Solingen, Germany and ATTA BOY. But the razor is a Terrier from Terrier cutlery. The hinge pin (if that is what you call it ) is loose and I think missing something on one side. You can see where grandpa took a pair a pliers to the scales and squeezed them back on the pin and they are not lined up right either. It is also very dull. I have enclosed a pic so maybe someone can tell me if it is worth messing with or just keep it as a heirloom.
I am not an expert on Str8's by any term, but worth it? Having your GRANDFATHERS straight razor restored? Absolutely! I would use it only once just so you could feel and share what Grand Dad did. Become a part of his past, so to speak. Then, I would wrap it in the softest cloth I could find and re- box it and stow it away for show and tell for your Grand children. What a treasure! It sounds like you are on the right track in regards to your st8 shaving. Do what feels comfortable, then stop. Eventually, you will become proficient at it, and even chuckle at your intimidation once you do have it down pat.
Send it off to Larry at WhippedDog.com . He and Nerdman will restore and hone it very well and very reasonably.
:happy088 Stick with it. You'll get it. happy088 Cool gift of Grandpa's str8! Me? I'd want to use it. Glen gssixgun has done work for me, to include a custom set of scales. Drop him a line with some pics and see what he suggests. Weather you use it to shave with or use it for a conversation piece, it's still very cool.
I would restore it. and display it in my den. I prob wouldn't use it that much just because of wear and tear. I'd wanna pass it down.
Thanks for the input on this. I am toying with having it restored. It will have to wait a bit before I can do it. So that brings up the next question. Should I have new scales put on it or just have this one cleaned, re-pinned and honed. I am leaning towards the later. Then do like Mynorx said and display it in my den. I could just use it for special shave days. I did some research on it. (read - had a tough time sleeping last night and google was my friend) I found out that it was probably made by Robeson Knives. Which make cutlery in Rochester NY under many different names from 1880 through 1977. They used the name Terrier Cutlery from 1910 through 1916. So this makes it quite a bit older than I thought. This also might make it my Great Grandfathers razor. I am only guessing but I wonder about things like that. Anyway - yes it is definitely a treat to have this piece of family gear in my "collection".
I'd try to restore what's there and not replace scales-Glen gssixgun will give you an honest answer on the best approach, and will do a great job restoring and honing your razor. I think you're absolutely going about this the right way-I also went very slowly when I first started shaving with str8's. I'd just go WTG on my cheeks and finish off with a DE. I progressed to ATG and eventually XTG. There is no hurry in this. Take your time and enjoy.
Have Glen or Larry Andro restore it and then use it in your rotation. You're not likely to wear it out.
I always recommend on Heirloom razors that you try to preserve the scales that are on the razor unless they are broken. I think it adds to the sentimental value. The blade pictured has a little wear, but can certainly be cleaned up to look a ton better as well as being honed which should give you a great feeling being able to use a piece of family history. Have fun, Lynn
