Thread: ethical badger brush

I think if your really concerned abut the ethical treatment of badgers you just shouldn't shave with a natural bristle brush. Its really that simple. I would take a claim from any commercial operation that the animal was treated humanly with a grain of salt.

The fact is the badger is a pretty ferocious creature. If you've ever cornered one you know what I mean. A spooked badger can force a Grisley Bear to back down so no wild badger is going down without a fight.

Nev,
I think I would eye that PETA website with a bit of skepticism; that said, I own one of the Men-U synthetic brushes and like it quite a bit. Its somewhere between boar and badger (the feel of the brush) but lathers really well, at least for me. And it does just as well with any cream I've tried it with.
Otherwise, you have some research to do. Yes its possible badgers died for your brush (among other things...wouldn't surprise me if quite a few ended up in a stew pot) Not only that but painbrushes, makeup brushes....If a badger dies/gets sheared/whatever they do, it definitely is not being wasted. Whats left is up to you to decide.
John P.

all good points guys,
you do have to be careful what ngo's say, everyone has an agenda. yes my next purchase if i ever need one will be a synthetic brush, and as jerseylawyer says you can get a good shave with one i'm struggling to get a good shave with a badger brush so i suppose for a newbie there are far bigger issues for a newbie like sharpness of edge than quality of brush,and there i was hoping i'd get a good brush and cream and all my problems would dissappear.anyway i have ordered a classic shaving dovo sharpened by lynn on order so i'll hope to get back to you later about more relevant not so political matters.
i'll also take up your point about contacting the manufacturers no harm to see what they say,
thanks guys nev

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

The fact is the badger is a pretty ferocious creature. If you've ever cornered one you know what I mean. A spooked badger can force a Grisley Bear to back down so no wild badger is going down without a fight.

Well... this doesn't sound like a critter anyone is likely to try to skin alive.
Drifting off topic...
I have a friend who works for the department of motor vehicles, and does environmental impact studies where road work is being done. He has lobbyists from PETA come to visit him from time to time if there are issues involving animals, like displacing beavers or something.
One of the PETA folks gave him an official PETA coffee mug. He has it proudly displayed on his desk... filled with Slim Jims.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

The fact is the badger is a pretty ferocious creature. If you've ever cornered one you know what I mean. A spooked badger can force a Grisley Bear to back down so no wild badger is going down without a fight.

Badgers are tenacious fighters and extremely fierce. No other animal will mess with them 1 on 1 except maybe a game pit bull. They have been horribly abused (badger baiting) for the sake of entertainment in England for centuries. I own badger brushes but shudder at the thought of their tratment by the Chinese. I really appreciate posts that make me (at least) think about where stuff comes from. Let's raise a glass to the tough little badger.

Ah hah! I knew I'd seen a site that treated badgers humanely. Raise a glass to the poor S.O.B. that gets to shear the badger!

Humane badger brushes (scroll down towards bottom of page)

Originally Posted by mgraepel

Ah hah! I knew I'd seen a site that treated badgers humanely. Raise a glass to the poor S.O.B. that gets to shear the badger!

Humane badger brushes (scroll down towards bottom of page)

I'm halfway tempted to say "phooey". I would take that claim (that the badger are "sheared like sheep") with a grain of salt. A big grain. Maybe an entire can of Mortons....

I don't have anything authoritative to say they're wrong, of course. But it just seems to strain credulity.

-Keith

And what would a PETA approved strop look like?

regards &c
LG Roy

Originally Posted by Library Guy

And what would a PETA approved strop look like?

maybe... just linen?

Originally Posted by JerseyLawyer

I'm halfway tempted to say "phooey". I would take that claim (that the badger are "sheared like sheep") with a grain of salt. A big grain. Maybe an entire can of Mortons....

I don't have anything authoritative to say they're wrong, of course. But it just seems to strain credulity.

-Keith

I see your can, and raise you a 40lb bag of Mortons salt pellets!

I think it's interesting to note that this is the only website that lists these Col. Conk brushes as being from 'sheared' badgers. You can see several of what appear to be the exact same brushes at www.col-conk.com/brushes.htm and yet oddly they do not mention this 'humane shearing' selling point. Nor does any other retailer of Col. Conk. that I've been able to find. Perhaps they have an exclusive arrangement with them?