Thread: In Search of First Straight Razor

Alright folks, this is my very first post here and hopefully this will yield me some great information.

This summer I'll be working at Philmont Scout Ranch in the mountains of northern New Mexico. I'll be heading a camp there where we dress, live, and act as though it were roughly 1890-1915 and we were loggers. I'm hoping to keep as much in character as possible and so I'm in search of straight edge razor. I'm pretty sure that these would have been the normal in use for shaving back in that time period. Anyway, I'd like to get one that would look somewhat period (ie. no plastic handle) and not expensive. I'm currently a college student and that camp does not pay well enough to buy an expensive set. My job doesn't start until the summer of course so I've got until then to find one and hopefully learn how to use it correctly.
Any recommendations folks? My old man used to use one but all he has left is a new Russian king style strop from the 70's. (or something along those lines)

Thanks
Ron

Hey! I would imagine any type of wood scales (handle) would be appropriate? I don't really know, but wood has been around for a while They weren't really into figured or highly textured wood back then I don't think, so it would be a plain color like ebony or mahogany probably. But then again, I am brand new to this as well... please take someone else's advice lol.

Welcome by the way!

Ron,

Perhaps one of the razor resuscitators can help you out here with offering for sale one of the period correct razors. On the other hand, those who may be watching you shave likely won't be close enough to determine what the scale material is and were they to become too critical of your shaving tools you can always challenge them saying that you killed the elephant last year for its ivory only and made the razor handles from the tusks yourself, while greenly hugging all nearby trees.

hah, yeah

We are VERY well adept at BS'ing our ways out of situations like that. In that situation I think I'd say I chased down a 12-point buck in 4 miles and after dodging its swinging antlers and sparring with it for 3 hours, I put it in a headlock and snapped off one of the points and while keeping that buck in a headlock I used the other hand to fashion a handle for my blade and then proceeded to shave that buck bald with my newly made razor.

Yeah, I guess if it had atleast a wood colored handle it'd be fine. But yeah, whatever would be good for a beginner would be best. I've used nothing but the usual Mach3 thus far in life.

I do alot of period work and for the most part people just dont notice all the details. If you pull out a razor with celluloid or even plastic most people will only see a razor! Care to buy a little snake oil?

as opposed to wood ot plastic scales think horn... lovely buffalo horn.... maybe a nice set of blond horn scales ... but i digress... 5/8 or 6/8 sheffield steel, 1/4, hollow horn... WB or rodger, elliot or reynolds

that should fit the bill nicely, as forthe strop... well they really have not changed all that much over the years... get one of Tony's 2.5" black latigo the a natural linen back and you will be right as rain.

Doc,

That's a wonderful picture!! Were the oil of snake able to guarantee that I too could look so dapper I'd order at least a barrel.

Well, I do have a friend out there whose father is a blacksmith and works alot with making old time knives using elk horn. I wonder if I could get him to make me a handle for a straight edge. Is this possible, I mean to make your own handle for them or are they produced in such a way that you are kinda SOL, what you bought is what you are stuck with?

they are called scales and they get made and changed around here like changing socks

I went to Philmont about 6 years back as a boyscout. Went with 9 other guys, and we hiked for 22 days straight. It was a fantastic experience! I have nothing but good things to say about that trip. It was also quite awesome how we spend 14 days at one point without seeing another human being. I hope you have a fantastic time!