It's pretty decent, few complaints, mostly just on the metal
It most certainly did NOT arrive with an acceptable edge on it. I'm a bit of a stickler. Every knife I own is sharp enough to shave with, even my EDC knife. I take pride in my knives' edges. A good tool is only as good as you keep it.<br /><br />So I'm picky. But I had to put a proper edge on it. It was sharp enough to shave with, barely, but it wasn't cleanly shaving.<br /><br />After I put a solid edge on it, it works pretty darn well. Much better with a really good edge put on it with a precision sharpening system.<br /><br />I like the strop. It's short, but hey, how much do you need for a straight razor? The strop does feel a little cheap. Because it is. I mean, look at the price, right? But it work just fine for knocking off that wire edge and returning an edge to straight again.<br /><br />It handles just fine, feels good and comfortable. I mean, it's a pretty standard straight razor.<br /><br />I do have serious concerns about the quality of the metal. Thing is that even after putting a crazy OCD driven best edge on it, it's still just, speaking purely subjectively here, I have a feeling I'm going to feel a lot different about this thing after a year of use. So far, the edge is holding, but honestly, I'd like it to be sharper. Need a better metal to get an edge sharper than it has. I imagine I'll have to be regularly busting out the stones and clamp. I highly doubt this edge will last a long time and that just the strop will keep that edge sharp enough for my tastes.<br /><br />But a pretty decent straight razor and strop for the price. Nice. Nice. Not thrilling. But nice.<br />Go ahead, pull the trigger. Unless you're looking for a high quality straight razor. This one is fine for light use if you know how to properly set and maintain a serious edge.<br /><br />-----<br />Edit/update: Total junk quality metal. I've given up on this thing. I'll get an edge on it and it'll barely shave acceptably.<br /><br />Listen, I know how to sharpen. My big ridiculous combat knife, my KA-BAR, shaves better than this thing and holds a better edge. I legit compared them. Yes, I shaved with my combat knife to prove to myself it would do a better job. And it did. By FAR.<br /><br />Here's the issue. This is a novelty item. This is a "I own a straight razor" conversation piece.<br /><br />The metal is just too weak to hold a proper edge vs hair. It degrades the edge far too quickly. You have to use the strop constantly just to get a barely acceptable shave. Honestly, it's junk. My everyday carry pocket knife would work better.<br /><br />Degraded to 1 star. Like the edge degrades on this blade after every individual hair it cuts.<br /><br />Pass on this item.
Rating: 1 stars