Thread: Straight razors on a ship

Ok so I am in the service and am stationed shore side for the next few years, I am just starting my journey into straight shaving, and I was just wondering since my next duty location will be a ship, are there any other service members in here who have any experance with straight razors on a ship, is it a good idea or should I also invest in a DE?

I have a old barber friend who was in the navy and when he busted out his straight on the ship everyone would leave the room. But he said he never nicked himself so id go for it.
Good Luck and Welcome to SRP.

I guess it might not be such a good idea. I have been on a destroyer and in any kind of slightly heavy weather I would not even consider it. It is hard enough to hang onto something and shave one handed with a DE on a DE in those conditions. Might be a totally different story on a larger ship though.

Bob

Welcome to the forum! Wow, that would be challenging, to say the least under bad conditions! Good luck if you try. i guess you could get both and use the DE for the rougher days and the straight on the calm ones.

Aloha and Welcome to SRP. Sorry I can't offer any advise on ship board ops. I am in a land based service component.

I've never been in the military, and I'm not a sailor; but I did read a series of historical novels that took place on British Navy ships around 1815. So I'm basically an expert.

British Navy officers were very fussy about being clean shaven. They always wanted to look their best, and were required to be clean shaven at all times. Of course they had no modern conveniences, so they used straight razors for shaving. they did this daily on wooden sailing ships.

Since fictional British Navy officer from 1815 could shave with a straight at sea, then you should have no problem. Right??

Michael

I went on a cruise around the Caribbean at the start of the year and only took my straight with me to shave with. Most of the time you would not know you were on a ship but there was one day when it got fairly choppy( was actually struggling to stand up ) but still found it no problem to shave. Even the water seemed good on the ship and I got a great lather

I guess it would depend on the size of the ship, and how much movement it has at sea.

Originally Posted by mjsorkin

I've never been in the military, and I'm not a sailor; but I did read a series of historical novels that took place on British Navy ships around 1815. So I'm basically an expert.

British Navy officers were very fussy about being clean shaven. They always wanted to look their best, and were required to be clean shaven at all times. Of course they had no modern conveniences, so they used straight razors for shaving. they did this daily on wooden sailing ships.

Since fictional British Navy officer from 1815 could shave with a straight at sea, then you should have no problem. Right??

Michael

Well if Admiral Hornblower can do it anybody can! Seriously though, straight razors were the only option (aside from fire) to remove facial hair for hundreds of years & people got by just fine. Just takes experience/confidence and possibly a DE or disposable for the days of rough sailing.

Edit: I do hope those are the books you meant. Forrester is one of my favorite authors.

Oh, there are many books. Moby Dick, for example - Ahab melts down his straight razors to make a tip for his harpoon, and tempers it with the blood of heathens! However, I was under the impression that the officers were shaved by others. Maybe I am wrong about that.

I cannot see why you couldn't take a straight razor on a ship. My only advice would be to get really, really good at using it while you are on shore. I have no idea what the amenities are like on board a ship of this nature, but if you can wedge yourself in using your legs you should be ok, even if things are rocking and rolling - it's the relative movement that'll cause issues, not the movement itself if you know what I mean.

James.