Thread: Tried my first shave today

A friend of mine in Oklahoma gave me this straight razor and told me to try it out. I am hooked!
Did my first shave with it a while ago and it went fairly well. I had a couple of nicks but that will get better with time.
This razor he said was over 100 years old. It says Union Razor-Cutlery CC. Union City, GA on the blade tang.
Anyone familiar with these?

Thanks

Welcome to the wonderful world of shaving with a straight razor! I also welcome you to the most friendly, helpful and informative site on the net!

While I’m not familiar with that brand of razor I will tell you that it’s very hard to find better steel in any razor other than that of good old USA steel!

My Genco’s and Geneva’s are all great shavers! I have several Solingen made and a few Sheffield blades and only two of the Solingen blades comes close to the US steel as far as taking an edge and the shave it gives!!!

Good score! You owe your friend!!

Gute Rasur /glatte Rasur, mein Bruder der Klinge

(Smooth Shaving My Brother In Blades)

The company was established in 1902. In 1910 they moved to Olean NY. In 1952 they changed their name to K-Bar (yeah that K-Bar). So given that your razor seems to have been made in Union City, GA that would mean it was born sometime between 1902 and 1909

Originally Posted by 1OldGI

The company was established in 1902. In 1910 they moved to Olean NY. In 1952 they changed their name to K-Bar (yeah that K-Bar). So given that your razor seems to have been made in Union City, GA that would mean it was born sometime between 1902 and 1909

Thank You my friend, I appreciate the info.

Hey PMD,

You gotta watch those Okies.

Thank your son for us for his service, and give him a "Semper Fi" from me.

I have a Union from Olean, NY and its a nice razor and good shaver. I originally bought it because Olean is very close to my wife's home town. Glad I got it though. Enjoy that razor, and if we can ever help, ask away.

and great shaves!!

Howard

Glad you like it Mike. Happy to get you started!

Thank You SirStropalot. I appreciate the Semper Fi for my son and the offer for any help.

BTW my son is a Sgt. and graduates next month from DI School at Parris Island, SC and at the moment he is at the top of the class of 96 Marines.
We are very proud.

Originally Posted by maddafinga

Glad you like it Mike. Happy to get you started!

You My Fellow Shaving Enthusiast get an Atta Boy! Thanks for helping another lost soul take a step back in time when life was much simpler and shaving was a manly art that was passed down, generation to generation!

I have my Great Grandfather's W&B that my friend Glen (GSSIXGUN) kindly restored and put back into service. My son had taken up the art of using a straight at age 17. He was the first one to use that W&B in about 100 years!

My son will turn 20 years old in Marine Corp Boot Camp. He ships out March 11th, 2013.

To say that I'm very proud of him is an understatement!

Again I thank you for helping someone else learn to walk down the path of shaving with a straight razor!!

Originally Posted by ProudMarineDad

Thank You SirStropalot. I appreciate the Semper Fi for my son and the offer for any help.

BTW my son is a Sgt. and graduates next month from DI School at Parris Island, SC and at the moment he is at the top of the class of 96 Marines.
We are very proud.

You should be proud!!

Tell him that Semper Fi is from and old Sgt., Vietnam era.

Also reminded me of my first try with Proraso cream. Copied this from a post I made on it, thought you might enjoy it, being it was a remembrance of my Boot Camp days and the D.I.. Josh was on that thread too.


Tried Proraso Green this morning. Every time I've ordered from SRD for the last year I've intended to order Proraso and finally I actually remembered it. I think from other descriptions that it is the new formula, and I really like its performance. Nice lather, don't have to use a lot of the cream, and the cooling menthol is a nice change. But, the smell gave me one of those deja vu moments. Some things conjure thoughts of days gone by, and this was one of those. In my minds eye, I could see myself almost 50 years ago, 1965, in San Diego, MCRD, (Marine Corps Recruit Depot) - Boot Camp. Living in quonset huts with no plumbing and having to use a central concrete/adobe building with open showers, and individual sinks lining the walls with open plumbing and each a mirror. Add to that a Drill Instructor standing at the door clutching his swagger stick in both hands as if ready to strike, and his campaign hat pulled down to where those steely eyes peered just under the brim and burned holes in you if you attracted his attention. And as we poured in and out of the door all trying to get through it at the same time and not catch the gaze of the DI who roared obscenities and challenged every poor soul who dared to look at him and then trying to shave in a time that would be an Olympic record and knowing it could never be fast enough, you cringed at having to again make the dreaded exit through that little door and under the gaze of Godzilla in uniform. The old double edged gillette had zinged across your face and weepers would draw attention but you tried to make the perfect shave just in case you happened to be the one poor Marine who got the dreaded shave inspection. Oh well, those were the good old days!! I truly remember them fondly, but what a time for a 19 year old from a small Oklahoma town who had never been away from home. We didn't have Proraso, but what ever we used, it smells the same and gosh, what a flood of memories it caused.

My DI whispering -



Best Regards,

Howard

Congratulations and welcome to the forum!