Yeahh.... My ancestors were raiding each others towns for a few hundred years as well. I don't think I'm going to be starting anytime soon.
That's what I've taken from most of it. 'Honing' was usually done by a specialist, but only once a year or so. The rest of the time, a razor was simply maintained with a strop and _taking care of it_. The other thing that is missing is the ceramic razor hone, and nobody's making those anymore. (Still trying to get one!)
I'm not one to try and pressure someone to try something they are not ready for. That said, after having tried DE, SE, lather catcher, shavettes and pain sticks, I was interested in straights but very cautious. They look dangerous, and that was both the thrill and the worry. When I finally decided to jump in, I was quite surprised at the results. I have yet to really harm myself with it, apart from a couple of small weepers. The truth is, I have shed more blood to all my other razors than I have to the straight. The worst wound I got was from a pain stick. I got back on that horse and road it until it worked well for me too, but I still feel more likely to bleed with my painsticks than with my straight. Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk
Using an aggressive DE or aggressive SE or shavette or properly honed straight I can get an epic shave, BBS with no irritation... but on average straights are kinder to my skin. I enjoy the challenge and the thrill of potentially killing me. Of course there is the feeling of superiority.
Let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater. "New and improved" isn't always so. Our hobby, to call it that, is a testimony. How many here have ditched the "new and improved" way of shaving (yes, I'm talking carts and canned goo) and strictly use razors (DEs, SEs, and Str8s) that are 50-60, even 100+ years old.
While I for one really enjoy shaving with my OLD, I have no desire to return to 1911 to live my life. Just sayin'.
Not sayin' you have to. Just sayin' we don't have to dismiss EVERYTHING from 1911 to enjoy 2017. And not sayin' everyone MUST try str8 shaving. Just sayin' it's not the scariest, most dangerous thing one can shave with.
Purely my experience, and based solely on my opinion: I find that there's a definite order of closeness with general groups of razors. In order of least close to most close, DE, Injectors, SE (Gem) andd straights. Now, I haven't had the pleasure of using every razor under the sun, but these are my findings based on what I've used. My most aggressive DE, a Pearl OC, still doesn't quite do the job like my Schick I. And my beloved Pal Injectomatic can't get me to where the Ever Ready's will. When I use my straight, I'm smooth for two days. To be clear, I'm in no way trying to say you have to use any of these, just sharing my opinions. I happily use all of my razors, and enjoy the nuances each delivers.
I watch "The Stallion" shave with a SR on YouTube, I really wish I could use a SR but my arthritis won't allow it. I have sensitive skin and after almost 5 years of TWS I've come to realize that a DFS with a DE or SE is good enough for me. Being around you guys that indulge in SR and Mayham I can see why you would get a closer shave.
