Review (1/5): 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.
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.
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.
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.
It handles just fine, feels good and comfortable. I mean, it's a pretty standard straight razor.
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.
But a pretty decent straight razor and strop for the price. Nice. Nice. Not thrilling. But nice.
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.
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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.
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.
Here's the issue. This is a novelty item. This is a "I own a straight razor" conversation piece.
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.
Degraded to 1 star. Like the edge degrades on this blade after every individual hair it cuts.
Pass on this item.