Grandfather/Grandson Straight Razor Bonding Experience

I don't usually start threads like this; however, I feel that this is a story worth sharing. Yesterday my grandfather gave me a call and told me that he would like to try to learn to shave with a straight razor like his father did. He did not have much to do last night so I had him come over for a few basic lessons. I gave him a shave ready 9/16 Wapienica, a polish strop, Omega Boar Brush, Proraso Shave Cream, Proraso After Shave Cream, and some Pinaud Clubman to take home and use. Of course I also gave him a lesson on how to make lather, how to strop a razor, and had him watch the pre-shave and shave sections of Lynn’s DVD (which I also sent him home with).

He also wanted to see me hone a razor so I showed him the stones and techniques that I used; and he was absolutely fascinated and amazed that I had the patience, skill, and knowledge required to put an edge on a razor. After seeing me hone the razor he said that I reminded him of his own father who he said was the best craftsman he had known, I don’t think that I deserved the compliment as razor honing is a lot different that crafting something, but I did not want to argue with him. He really thought that “I had inherited his father’s genes” for working with my hands. I heard stories about my Great-grandfather that I had never heard before, and probably nobody else in the family had heard before. Now that I think about it, I had never even heard my Grandfather talk about his dad ever before. It really was one of the best bonding experiences that I can remember having with my grandfather.

Furthermore, my grandfather has extensive experience working with both woods and steel as he used to own be a machinist for the army, and later owned a business that constructed the steel frames for buildings. I showed him what I would like to do with respect to restoring and making scales and he assured me that he could definitely help me do this. Basically he has both the tools and experience that I need to do what I have been wanting to do with my good “project razors”. I sent him home with the Bill Ellis DVD and I am in the process of sourcing wood and parts so that we can start restoring these razors in the near future. Hopefully everything will work out well and I will have a few razors that my grandfather and I restored together to remind me and my children of him once he is gone.

I don’t know if my grandfather will be a straight razor user someday (I don’t think that he will), but that is not what is important. It really meant a lot to me that he wanted to take the time to learn about something that is important to me. He can have fun trying something new and we can bond a little by trying to build something together. These are good memories that I will keep with me for the rest of my life. I will be the first person to say that he is far from perfect, but he does want to take the time to learn about what is improtant to the people in his family. This is a very admirable trait and one that I would like to "inherit" from him because it makes life more worthwile.

David

Awesome story. This actually is the entire reason that I wanted to get into straight razor shaving. To share the experience with my sons and my grandchildren. To give them something of me that they can have for a lifetime and continue to pass down. I applaud your grandfather's heart in taking the time out for you. I needed a good story today. Thanks!

Thank You, David for sharing that beautiful story with us.

I loved it!

That's amazing. I wish my gramps was alive or that my great-uncle lived on this continent after reading about such an experience.

Great story, David. Thanks for sharing it with us.

I wish I was close enough to any of my grandparents to be able to share a night like that, that is wonderful, good for you.

Sounds like you just got one of greatest gifts of the year and it isn't even Christmas!!

Cool story....you'll have to post pics of your joint projects!

:tu

Greg

Most of my life was spent away from relatives. Now that I'm older I see how important these moments are. I have so few of them to remember, makes them all the more important.

Great story, keep up the projects :D

Excellent story. Thanks! It sounds like you and your grandfather have a great relationship. Definitely worth treasuring every second!

Unfortunately, I never got to know any of my Grandparents. I hope that everybody can have an experience like this. Great story David. Thank you.

Wow that was a great story. I never new my grandfathers as they had passed by the time I was born but it made me think about my father who passed 8 years ago. I know he would have been interested in this and would have been a great help with making scales. I remember him listening to me talk about computers and how they were made up and I know he really didn't understand a lot of what I was telling him yet he listened as if he was interested. That is something I really miss about him he was a great guy.