(I'm posting here because I'm a straight shaver and the Rolls is a straight on a stick. If anyone's offended, I'm happy for a mod to move it.)
I inherited my grandad's Rolls a couple of weeks ago. The hone was in good condition and the strop, although a little dry, has suffered only one small nick. However, it hadn't been used for decades and the blade, which I though had only light surface rust, proved to be quite pitted once cleaned.
After several hours of manual attention, comprising four grades of grit-impregnated rubber block, both sides of a coarse oilstone and all three Spyderco hones, it felt ready for a shave.
I wasn't sure how it would shave, as I've read varied opinions. Now, having just used it, I'd have no hesitation in recommending one to anyone familiar with a straight. The grip is obviously different, but the shave feels very similar. That's no great surprise, I suppose, since it really is just a short piece of hollow-ground blade with a handle. The blade guard sets an upper limit on angle, but I didn't find it limiting. I did suffer some very, very minor razor burn (I never suffer with straights), but the two-pass shave (WTG + ATG) was closer than I normally achieve.
It's impressed me enough to guarantee it a place in my travel bag, not least because it saves carrying a strop. I'll almost certainly use it in leiu of a straight occasionally, too.
Try one, if you get the chance.
I inherited my grandad's Rolls a couple of weeks ago. The hone was in good condition and the strop, although a little dry, has suffered only one small nick. However, it hadn't been used for decades and the blade, which I though had only light surface rust, proved to be quite pitted once cleaned.
After several hours of manual attention, comprising four grades of grit-impregnated rubber block, both sides of a coarse oilstone and all three Spyderco hones, it felt ready for a shave.
I wasn't sure how it would shave, as I've read varied opinions. Now, having just used it, I'd have no hesitation in recommending one to anyone familiar with a straight. The grip is obviously different, but the shave feels very similar. That's no great surprise, I suppose, since it really is just a short piece of hollow-ground blade with a handle. The blade guard sets an upper limit on angle, but I didn't find it limiting. I did suffer some very, very minor razor burn (I never suffer with straights), but the two-pass shave (WTG + ATG) was closer than I normally achieve.
It's impressed me enough to guarantee it a place in my travel bag, not least because it saves carrying a strop. I'll almost certainly use it in leiu of a straight occasionally, too.
Try one, if you get the chance.