Given in to the urge.

Ok OK OK I want a straight . I've pretended I don't want a straight for some time now ever since joining B&B but now I face the question which one? Is there a straight equivalent of a Merkur HD, any vendors who give new shave ready razors that are consistently good. Or should I go vintage in which case can I get a few good reasonably priced razors to look out for on the BST?

Regards Grant

Straights are not like DE's - there is just no way to compare one to the other. If you want to buy new, I'd recommend Straightrazordesigns.com. You can also pick up great vintage razors that are shave ready from the BST, the classifieds on straightrazorplace.com, or a number of vendors.

I am a straight razor newbie myself (on about shave 15), but the general recommendation seems to be for a 5/8 round point razor. Vintage/new is up to you, both are excellent choices.

Get yourself a shave ready straight, and a strop, and you should be all set to learn this new, and exciting skill.

Hey thanks for all the replies. Would a Dovo 5/8ths best quality half hollow do the trick?

It is certainly a great razor to start with. Just make sure you get her shave ready.

Not a straight razor shaver but I would not hesitate to recommend this site for straights.

http://gentlemensbest.com/default.aspx

Whoops forgot to mention I'm UK based so could anyone recommend a site that is Uk based which provides shave ready Dovo's thanks.

Regards Grant

Here.

http://www.strop-shop.co.uk/category/Vintage_Straight___Open___Cut_throat_Razors,b.html

Or here.

http://www.dovorazors.com/stockrazors.html

http://www.executive-shaving.co.uk/shaving/straight-razors/straight-razors.php

On dovo razors [ invisible edge] they say shave ready but have been known to be otherwise, executive shaving won't be shave ready however neil miller in the first link can hone a razor should you find it not sharp enough.

Id look at rasurpur as well, martin is great to deal with, all his razors are shave ready and come tax so customs won't be an issue.

http://www.rasurpur.de/english/shop/shop.html

I would second the recommendation for Martin at rasurpur.de, that's where I got my TI Le Grelot.

Larry Andro has shave ready, inexpensive razors on his site.

whippeddog.com

You can also call him at home, and he will hold your hand through a crisis.
Very nice guy.

Straights are a matter of choice. If you are looking for new blades, Classic Shaving, Art of Shaving, Nashville Knife Shop and even BudK has some nice new Dovo and TI stuff. Just be sure though you get it honed if you do not purchase from a vendor like Classic because it will not be shave ready. If you want something old school, you can try ebay, but you need to have a pro hone it up for you and research it before buying because you can get burned on ebay easily.

I purchased a Dovo Best Quality 6/8 and have been pretty happy with it.

Go cheap until you're sure you like it and get the basics down - a $30-50 'shave-ready' vintage from a reputable straight user/honer/seller from the B&B or the StraightRazorPlace.com classifieds combined with a low-cost starter strop will give you just as good of a shave as a $100-$200 Dovo or Thiers... and leave you with some extra cash in your pocket for an even nicer one once you discover how enjoyable it is and SRAD sets in.