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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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Permalink Reply by Alexander Noot on June 11, 2013 at 12:31

Thanks Chuck. I'll tell you, it's more comfortable. More fun and it saves me a bundle in new razorblades. Took a little while to learn but like Craig said there's loads of Video's on the net on how to and everything. Wasn't like that in 2005 when I started doing it. Hardly anything back then.

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Permalink Reply by Chuck Parham on June 12, 2013 at 5:26

Yes Robert and thank you so much for the information!! I've already set it into my research documents.

Robert Burris said:

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.

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FeaturedPermalink Reply by Craig Henry on June 22, 2013 at 1:14

I don't have the nerve to try a straight razor without an EMS crew standing by.

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Permalink Reply by Chuck Parham on June 22, 2013 at 2:48

Craig, I'm with ya on that one! There are things better left to professionals like surgery, dynamite, and straight razor shaving. Although Alexander Noot uses one every day. He's my hero!! I have several razors and my add more but I will probably never buy a strop. That will help keep me from getting silly thoughts.

Craig Henry said:

I don't have the nerve to try a straight razor without an EMS crew standing by.

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In MemoriamPermalink Reply by Robert Burris on June 22, 2013 at 9:01

I'm not so brave either, to put a straight razor on my throat, with some what dis-abled arms. That's why I grow a beard...lol

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Permalink Reply by Stanley May on June 22, 2013 at 9:01

For me, this is in the category of "don't try this at home".

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Permalink Reply by Chuck Parham on June 22, 2013 at 9:06

Like I said, I had a professional shave me once. The only reason was she was a lady and really had a crush on me so I knew she would be very careful. However.....I almost fainted when I received word she had died from a drug overdose. I then started sweating when I remebered I had allowed a drug addict (unknown to me at that time) to take an extremely sharp object and place it against my throat while I smiled. Oh Lord, thank you for watching over fools!!!!

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FeaturedPermalink Reply by Craig Henry on June 23, 2013 at 0:59

I'm with you Robert. I have a weak left arm because of nerve damage in my neck. And, nowadays in my old fartedness, I'm afraid my hand would do something on it's own I wasn't intending for it to do......and it would be just as I got to my throat. Or, I'd drop it and cut the top of my foot open.

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In MemoriamPermalink Reply by Robert Burris on June 23, 2013 at 11:46

Yea Craig, I know what you mean. I quit using an electric knife years ago for that same reason. I have friends that use an electric knife to filet fish, I am scared to use one. If my arm does something on it's own, then I might just cut my finger a little, but if I'd be using the electric knife I might just cut my finger off a little. lol I can keep up pretty good until I get tired but heck, I enjoy using my knives, so I don't consider it a "job" to clean fish, but part of the fun of the fishing trip.