Thread: Terminology

Good day to everyone,

I'm hoping some of the more experienced members of this forum will either point me into an existing thread or help fill this one out for all the beginners.
looking through most of the posts on here I have picked up a lot of the abbreviations used but some of the terms used still elude me.
I'll add abbreviations and terms onto this post as and when I come across any that I don't understand. So to start with:

What does it mean when you mention a smile on a razor?

If you look at the blade the edge is not straight. It actually forms a smile because the ends go up. If the ends went down and are lower than the middle it's a frown.

If you read the Forum's Library quite a bit will be explained there including what a smile on a razor is.

The straight razor - Shave Library

Undoubtedly you will have more question after reading that so fell free to ask.

Bob

I'm guessing you're asking for a reason. To tag onto what Bob said, it's not mentioned but worth noting that a smile can either be intentional by the manufacturer or a result of honing.

I know how you feel. Keep reading as mentioned and follow postings.
I'm still learning too.
Here are three examples of blades, I hope this helps.

Smile



Frown



Straight

Thank you MisterClean for showing beginners the different blade conditions, very helpful.

Hi mate

For a list of acronyms here you go.

Acronyms and Abbreviations - Shave Library
Even after a few years I still find some baffling.

I can never remember SWMBO or how ever it goes

Originally Posted by ejmolitor37

I can never remember SWMBO or how ever it goes

In context I always understood that one but went years before I finally looked it up…

She Who Must Be Obeyed.

There's also terminology for notches. There may have been some confusion around this in the "Show us your thumbnotches" thread recently. Not sure if thumb and finger notches are covered in the library.

Barber's Notch


Thumb Notch


Finger Notch