Inheriting straight razors

I will soon inherit a couple of straight razors from a relative who was a barber. The razors have not been used since the 1970s. I might also inherrit a leather strop. What shape are they likely to be in? Will washing and stroping them be enough to start using them? I have never shaved with a straight razor before.

You're fortunate to be getting these straight razors.  It's virtually certain that they will not be anywhere near sharp enough to shave with.  Hopefully they will not have any rust.  You'll have to send one of them out to be honed before you can use it.

So just stroping probably won’t be enough, eh?

(11-27-2022, 11:00 PM)Ilnones Wrote: So just stroping probably won’t be enough, eh?

Unless you're doing it for hours and hours and hours without any false mouvement whatsoever and considering that the edge was top notch a couple of decades ago. And doing that you're gonna wear out your strop big time too.

(11-27-2022, 11:00 PM)Ilnones Wrote: So just stroping probably won’t be enough, eh?

Highly unlikely that stropping will be enough.  Stropping does not sharpen an edge, it helps maintain an already sharp edge.

Is it fairly easy to learn how to hone a razor, or is it better to send it to be honed professionally?