Thread: Speculation as to excessive hone wear

and other blade "anomalies"

As much as I have learned this early in the experience, one thing keeps popping up that doesn't make a lot of sense. The way we do it, a blade might last 5 lifetimes (more for those "big rotations").

Or 10 even. Why then do we see a continuous stream of old blades (and some not-so-old) that have had their smiles erased and toes rubbed nearly off and just generally ground to be useless without attentive restoration.

Is it simple over-use of aggressive hones? Or lack of finishing stones for refreshing an edge? Or just general ignorance of how to managed that fine edge with a rock?

Answer "all of the above" of course, but what's your thoughts?

I saw a blade offered as '5/8 tapered to 4/8' recently...

And of course I left out "repairs" where someone takes out a nick or ding or pitting and grinds away the spine too.

But also I think there are more truly sharp shaving razors "happening" every day because we have been able to spread the word, and the pursuit isn't semi-shrouded in mystery and "I hear tale..." falsitudes and fictions.

I think that back in the day, hones/stones for putting an edge on a razor were more rough, less forgiving than these waterstones of today. There was less of a variety to choose from & maybe the general population of straight shavers were not as concerned with hone wear as we hobbyist/collectors are.

You do see a lot of the hollow ground razors with wear at the toe. Probably bad honing technique, or maybe the sign of a favourite razor, but in the day I guess it was just a tool to get a job done and that job was shaving. While not disposable, they were common and easily replaced. I think the main concern was a good shave, not a good looking razor.

I think, back in the day just about everyone who had a straight bought a hone when they got their first straight but most didn't really know how to use them or at least use them well. Afterall razors were a dime a dozen so you could easily replace them.

Good point. Very true about the price of razors years ago. Everyone probably honed with their thumb or finger on the spine for stability and destroyed same. Pricewise, in the 60's I shopped in a five & dime store run by Mennonite ladies. I asked if they had any straightrazors . The lady looked on a top shelf and found one. It was an Imperial Extra Hollow Ground NOS. Price on the coffin box was $3.00 and that's what she charged me.

I've just sorted a razor with a worn toe. It is a full hollow. The thing is the spine and edge at the toe were well polished with no sign of deep marks or heavy wear. When I was sorting it I thought perhaps barbers palm hones were to blame. It's not holding the blade wrong, I think it's holding a stone and twisting your hand a little to create pressure that causes it.