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Sharp enough to shave with

We always hear the phrase "Sharp enough to shave with". It is something a knife owner takes pride in. Knives were meant to cut so let's see how sharp we can get them and keep them that way. Knives come from the factory with a sharp edge but most are not shaving sharp. Shaving sharp is a learned skill. I personally use a Lansky sharpening system but am looking at a new Wicked Edge system I learned about here.

But is shaving sharp used anymore in everday life? I recently sought out a barber who does an old fashioned shave with a straight razor. I would have never thought of this before joing iKC. But being a member has spurred in me a sense of longing to learn everything about cutlery. Talk about blindly following someone! So I went to the source of the shaving subject, a barber. The results were amazing! After the barber spent time reassuring me that he had done this before, I relenquished my exposed and soaped neck. As soon as the edge touched my skin I knew this was the point of no return. What a phrase to think about when a stranger has a razor at your throat. At the first upward stroke I was in awe. So smooth. Such an effortless movement. The stubble was cleanly removed! As soon as I realized I was not in a slasher movie and my widow was not going to be contacted by police, I settled down to enjoy my first shave from a barber.

Why did I do this?? I have acquired several razors over the past couple of years. They are usaually in among knives or such items of interest. I realized I had "collected" a small gathering of straight razors. Interesting pieces. Rich with history. Full of mistique. We can all remember movies with the likes of Clint Eastwood having at least a weeks worth of brush sythed from his face by a barber who also needed a shave. So here I am with these straight razors from yesteryear. I have seen new razors advertised in today's catalogs but I am wondering, do they sell with the advent of the safety and disposable razors.

Does anyone else have razors floating in the knife collections? Does anyone have a collection of razors? I'll start off with one from Clauss Shear works of Fremont, Ohio made prior to 1919. Anyone else??

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FeaturedPermalink Reply by Charles Sample on June 9, 2013 at 22:36

I only have one razor. My sister bought it at an auction a few years ago and gave it to me. I wouldn't try to shave with it, I would probably cut my own throat!

Since the Battle of Manila Bay took place in 1898, I assume this razor dates from that time period.

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Permalink Reply by Max McGruder on June 9, 2013 at 23:09

very cool piece of history all wrapped up in a straight razor!

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FeaturedPermalink Reply by Craig Henry on June 10, 2013 at 1:16

That's cool Charles!

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Permalink Reply by Chuck Parham on June 10, 2013 at 3:22

That is a nice collection! You have some beauties there. The one on the upper left, is that Bamboo?

Jan Carter said:

Craig,

WOW! That one is a treasure

The round stone in the picture is a sharpening wheel or whetstone that was used on Donnies Grandfathers farm.

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Permalink Reply by Chuck Parham on June 10, 2013 at 3:25

That is awesome, Charles. I love the etch. It really shows some age.

Charles Sample said:

I only have one razor. My sister bought it at an auction a few years ago and gave it to me. I wouldn't try to shave with it, I would probably cut my own throat!

Since the Battle of Manila Bay took place in 1898, I assume this razor dates from that time period.

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Permalink Reply by Chuck Parham on June 10, 2013 at 3:31

This gets more interesting with eveyone's pictures! Max, is the one on top redone? It looks like it may have been chopped off or broken and reground on the end. Or is that a razor strictly for the upper lip? Or couyld it be for shaving/ trimming around tight areas? Very cool indeed!

Max McGruder said:

Man, them sure are some beauties! I do have a few and some have boxes.

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Permalink Reply by Alexander Noot on June 10, 2013 at 4:22

I shave almost exclusively with a straight razor. I have an old Worldmaster brand silversteel razor that has custom Cocobolo wood scales. Best shaves of my life :-)

I'll have to see if I can take some pictures of it sometime.

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Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on June 10, 2013 at 4:51

Alexander, that is cool! You may be the only person I know that does

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In MemoriamPermalink Reply by Robert Burris on June 10, 2013 at 13:53

Chuck, I messed up, I posted the info on knife grinds, on the Post about Knife Handle materials. Check it out.

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FeaturedPermalink Reply by Craig Henry on June 10, 2013 at 17:07

Some great looking razors!

There's videos on how to shave with a straight razor!

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Permalink Reply by Chuck Parham on June 11, 2013 at 5:18

My hat is off to you Alexander!! As Kipling said, "You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din"!

Alexander Noot said:

I shave almost exclusively with a straight razor. I have an old Worldmaster brand silversteel razor that has custom Cocobolo wood scales. Best shaves of my life :-)

I'll have to see if I can take some pictures of it sometime.

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In MemoriamPermalink Reply by Robert Burris on June 11, 2013 at 8:31

Chuck, did you find my list of different blade grinds, that I mistakenly posted on the Blog Post, "My Favorite Handles" by Stanley May. It's on the clubs main page. Check it out.