What do you all think of this Torrey?

[Synack]

Well, I'm sitting here late at night getting ancy waiting for my first real straight to show up. I used an Ustura shavette long enough to want the real deal... I've got this razor: http://straightrazorplace.com/classifieds/showproduct.php/product/2635/cat/3 showing up, probably tomorrow. I also have a Filly strop from RupRazor quickly following it.

Any thoughts? Does this seem like an adequate starter set? I've got a total of $40 invested so far; I've been trying to avoid the wrath of SWMBO so I've really acquired both selling some DEs that I don't use anymore .

I realize the blade isn't fancy looking by any stretch and probably traversed a few miles of stubble... Still, I kinda like the worn in look in the photos. Hopefully it's still solid enough!

(Resisting the urge to pick up cheap plastic scales and a coffin case from Classic Shaving until I've broken it in a few time .)

 

[mdunn]

sounds like a good start to me!

 

[gugi]

i'm sure it'll serve you well. the cosmetic condition doesn't affect the way a razor shaves.

 

[Synack]

Well, you both made me feel quite a bit more confident about the purchase! Thanks!

(I'll definitely post a SOTD pic and thread when I put it to work!)

 

[gugi]

well that's good.
for your reference the most important factor forming my opinion was the seller, not the pictures, or the razor. if that same ad were from somebody who had just taken straight shaving or honing few months ago i would not have trusted the edge, or their judgment on the razor.

 

[zippo]

Torrey make excellent shavers,it dosn`t matter what she looks like,for a starter you probably wouldn`t have done much better. If the edge is up to it ,and I see no reason why it shouldn`t, I think you`ve done pretty well for yourself
Good luck
Kind regards Peter

 

[ambrose]

+1 great first straight, It could be a bit more cleaned up but as long as its honed to shave ready your all good. Im spoiled my first straight was a W&B wedge in near mint.

 

[Synack]

well that's good.
for your reference the most important factor forming my opinion was the seller, not the pictures, or the razor. if that same ad were from somebody who had just taken straight shaving or honing few months ago i would not have trusted the edge, or their judgment on the razor.

Well, that makes me feel even better! I had been slightly worried about how shave ready it actually would be. I've never even posted on SRP so I really don't know who's who over there. I gathered from the post he was pretty knowledgeable; Dealing with him has been pleasant as well.

Thanks again

 

[BillEllis]

It looks like the original owner had difficulty getting the front half of the blade sharp enough for a satisfying shave. His errant technique left him with a tapered blade width.

Although this is not a good trait, the razor is still serviceable and you should be able to get some good use out of it. Merely having it brought to shaving condition makes it worth more than you paid for it.

You will have to maintain the same pattern of honing to do touch ups, so as long as you are wary of it, chances are you will not develop the same bad habits the original owner had.

I would not invest in more scales for this razor. Wait until you get a blade without issues to gussy it up.

 

[Synack]

It showed up yesterday! I haven't had a chance to give it a test drive yet. Probably Saturday, when it doesn't matter if my face looks mutilated or not .

Thanks for the advice, Bill. I'm still very clueless as to honing at this point but even I found the uneven spine wear a bit strange. In person the edge does look quite nice (I don't have a loupe or anything similar, just eyeballing it.)

At first I wasn't interested in honing whatsoever, but now actually having the real thing makes me want to do a bit more research into maintaining it...

...You guys really are a bad influence here, one crazy AD after another!