Well, some of you know that I was contemplating learning to hone my own razors this go-around with straights. However, I was convinced to get a pro to set my edges for me, and then to work on a "project" razor to compare to those edges that were set by somebody who really knows what he's doing.
I sent two straights off to our own Ambrose to have honed. He took the liberty of before/after microscope shots of the blades to demonstrate the difference - and what a difference it was! So far, I've only shaved with the Thiers-Issard Special. While this razor is about as hollow-ground as I'd EVER want a razor to be (I prefer stiffer grinds), the edge was super sharp but an extremely smooooth shaver. I can say categorically that it's the smoothest shave I've ever had with anything this side of half-hollow, and quite possibly ever. I have another razor (a Hammer Mark hollow, i think 1/2 or 3/4) that I've yet to shave with, but I'm eagerly anticipating it. I didn't even strop before I started the first shave on the TI, and there was no tugging, skipping, dragging, anything. It was superb.
Guys, I know, I'm a newbie when it comes to straights - but I know a close comfortable shave, if nothing else, by the results. And the results were outstanding. The service, btw, was really quick as well. Maybe this rave review will make that a little harder for him to keep up, but he had my razors back to me within a week of when I sent them (I did pay for Priority USPS service - but a small flat-rate box easily held two straights). Of course, I'm not surprised - his reputation with his strops precedes him.
If you need some razors honed, give Ambrose a call. My review:
PS: I was coin-flipping between here and the Vendor Corner, so Mods - I'm sorry if I got it wrong.
I sent two straights off to our own Ambrose to have honed. He took the liberty of before/after microscope shots of the blades to demonstrate the difference - and what a difference it was! So far, I've only shaved with the Thiers-Issard Special. While this razor is about as hollow-ground as I'd EVER want a razor to be (I prefer stiffer grinds), the edge was super sharp but an extremely smooooth shaver. I can say categorically that it's the smoothest shave I've ever had with anything this side of half-hollow, and quite possibly ever. I have another razor (a Hammer Mark hollow, i think 1/2 or 3/4) that I've yet to shave with, but I'm eagerly anticipating it. I didn't even strop before I started the first shave on the TI, and there was no tugging, skipping, dragging, anything. It was superb.
Guys, I know, I'm a newbie when it comes to straights - but I know a close comfortable shave, if nothing else, by the results. And the results were outstanding. The service, btw, was really quick as well. Maybe this rave review will make that a little harder for him to keep up, but he had my razors back to me within a week of when I sent them (I did pay for Priority USPS service - but a small flat-rate box easily held two straights). Of course, I'm not surprised - his reputation with his strops precedes him.
If you need some razors honed, give Ambrose a call. My review:
PS: I was coin-flipping between here and the Vendor Corner, so Mods - I'm sorry if I got it wrong.
... Its not that his strops are not my first choice, its just that my current job situation is not good. So I am forced to consider less desirable choices (ebay)
its from Australia. 
So that was one of my primary reasons for getting a decent strop from ebay first. 
