Hello everyone.
It started with buying a beautiful Aust on BST (with the wife's blessing) from @03Jarhead (a great seller, very honest, and very concerned with the buyer being happy). Thanks!! This made me aware that I was very attracted to a shoulder-less blade where the heel starts a little forward of where they usually do, and a Spanish point. The two make things easy for my goatee (sides). After some begging I visited Jarrod at The Superior Shave and ordered two blades with similar "personalities." One was to be the Sunday Shaver (but I got the Barbossa instead), the other was a Dovo Bergscher Lowe.
I started this hobby with an arbitrarily-picked Dovo Prima Steel (a fine blade) from Jarrod, and later got two eBay rescues for less than $20 for both. One a Wade & Butcher with some oxidation but otherwise beautiful, and the other, a W.H. Morely & Sons in amazing condition. The personal agreement would be I learn how to make an edge, then put one on my new Dove Prima Steel (which I might have gotten too happy with balsa strops). Once the W&B and W.H. Morely were easy enough to achieve an edge, I worked my Prima Steel through the progression and discovered I nearly knew what I was doing.
With the Aust, the Barbossa and the Begscher Lowe, I went to stropping and LOVED all three. The shorter blade length makes it easier to handle. The Aust is a 7/8 but not unwieldy. The vote goes to the Barbossa. It's touted as a "barber's blade," because it's short, I suppose for specialized work and maneuvering.
Jarrod was feeling generous and sent free stuff! I got some French Soap that came in a wooden "tin" that resembles a brie container--"Savon A Barbe" from Maitre Savonitto, made in France, and a metallic tin of balm called Manufaktur Zartgefuhl, which needs to be used sparingly, but smells wonderful.
What I'm getting at--is that this Barbossa, with it's scant blade makes for such a pleasure pushing around foam and removing hair, that I forget I'm shaving sometimes--but not to worry--I'm very careful.
It's been a short but very eventful journey thus far. Having an idea what I love now narrows the field. One day I'll get a Wacker Chevalier. I'll call it my "bucket list" blade. If I ever get out of hand, the last one will be the Barbier's Bride (that @haggis had for sale on BST, but I'm not mad at him!) It's beautiful and has all the attributes I want.
I'm certainly blessed. Life is good. DE safety razors will only follow me on planes from here on out!
BTW, this soap is amazing!! I don't get the feeling it's terribly expensive, but reading the ingredient labels, it doesn't seem anyone's product has anything to make it kissed by Midas.
It started with buying a beautiful Aust on BST (with the wife's blessing) from @03Jarhead (a great seller, very honest, and very concerned with the buyer being happy). Thanks!! This made me aware that I was very attracted to a shoulder-less blade where the heel starts a little forward of where they usually do, and a Spanish point. The two make things easy for my goatee (sides). After some begging I visited Jarrod at The Superior Shave and ordered two blades with similar "personalities." One was to be the Sunday Shaver (but I got the Barbossa instead), the other was a Dovo Bergscher Lowe.
I started this hobby with an arbitrarily-picked Dovo Prima Steel (a fine blade) from Jarrod, and later got two eBay rescues for less than $20 for both. One a Wade & Butcher with some oxidation but otherwise beautiful, and the other, a W.H. Morely & Sons in amazing condition. The personal agreement would be I learn how to make an edge, then put one on my new Dove Prima Steel (which I might have gotten too happy with balsa strops). Once the W&B and W.H. Morely were easy enough to achieve an edge, I worked my Prima Steel through the progression and discovered I nearly knew what I was doing.
With the Aust, the Barbossa and the Begscher Lowe, I went to stropping and LOVED all three. The shorter blade length makes it easier to handle. The Aust is a 7/8 but not unwieldy. The vote goes to the Barbossa. It's touted as a "barber's blade," because it's short, I suppose for specialized work and maneuvering.
Jarrod was feeling generous and sent free stuff! I got some French Soap that came in a wooden "tin" that resembles a brie container--"Savon A Barbe" from Maitre Savonitto, made in France, and a metallic tin of balm called Manufaktur Zartgefuhl, which needs to be used sparingly, but smells wonderful.
What I'm getting at--is that this Barbossa, with it's scant blade makes for such a pleasure pushing around foam and removing hair, that I forget I'm shaving sometimes--but not to worry--I'm very careful.
It's been a short but very eventful journey thus far. Having an idea what I love now narrows the field. One day I'll get a Wacker Chevalier. I'll call it my "bucket list" blade. If I ever get out of hand, the last one will be the Barbier's Bride (that @haggis had for sale on BST, but I'm not mad at him!) It's beautiful and has all the attributes I want.
I'm certainly blessed. Life is good. DE safety razors will only follow me on planes from here on out!
BTW, this soap is amazing!! I don't get the feeling it's terribly expensive, but reading the ingredient labels, it doesn't seem anyone's product has anything to make it kissed by Midas.