New Razor, New Shave

[Evyn]

Hi all,

After looking for an affordable razor locally for a couple of years, I finally found one in an antique shop in Rosebank (Johannesburg, South Africa).

It's a Kropp, ground in Hamburg, with "No. 2" engraved on the spine. The wooden box it came in has space for 2 razors, so I assume "No. 1" went MIA some time ago.

The blade is in good condition, if a little blunt. I sharpened it with a round stone I have, as well as I could. Then I launched into my first straight edge shave. The blade "snagged" a little, which I take as a sign of it being a little blunt.

But it certainly gave a better shave than a "safety". No cuts or nicks, and the hair came off even if I did have to attack it a few times.

Clearly there must be some optimal way to hold the razor when venturing under the jawline, but for now my weird posturing seems to have done the job.

Tomorrow I will try find something to sharpen it on, and maybe a piece of leather to strop it on. Very difficult things to find out here (at a reasonable price).

Regards,
Evan

 

[JPM]

Congratulations on your new acquisition and shave.

 

[Shredder]

soooooooo...how about some pictures?

 

[Evyn]

The B&B site times-out everytime I try to upload pics - so I posted them on flickr instead:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/39922956@N04/sets/72157622860777765/

 

[danjared]

Cool case.

 

[Cedrck]

A round stone?.. sounds like an ordinary sharpening stone, it may be too course for a razor, you may want to find a finer (smoother) stone and continue sharpening.

If you have no strop you may use an ordinary tanned leather belt. but give the blade many strokes on the belt to get the edge smoother and it will shave better.

Have you visited the honing forum?
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/forumdisplay.php?f=80

 

[Evyn]

I think it is just an ordinary sharpening stone.

Thanks!

 

[danjared]

I thought maybe he was referring to a honing rod but am honestly not sure.

I think it is just an ordinary sharpening stone.

Thanks!

 

[Cedrck]

I thought this was a "round" sharpening stone... looks like a "hockey puck".

but it could very well be the rod type.

 

[Evyn]

I thought this was a "round" sharpening stone... looks like a "hockey puck".

but it could very well be the rod type.

Similar to your pic, but with bevelled edges. Quite common here.

 

[Luc]

The razor is in a great condition! Nice!