Thread: Raconteurs' Recounts

Whether you're a novice or a 'blabbermouth', you've made your way here for a reason. Some of them are rational and some of them are personal. Whatever your excuse, each of you has stored in the recess of your memory an account or a dozen. Maybe it's the story of the first time you saw your grandfather shave. Perhaps It's something indelible about your old barber. Possibly it's something a stranger said when they heard about how you shave. Whatever it is, I know we can share them with each other here, so out with it. What's you're story cowboy shaver? Everybody's got one ... at least!

X

Sometimes.... Group members send me whiskey for work..

Send more..

I feel sober..

Wanting to "shave like a cowboy" was one of the reasons I gave in my opening post here at Straight Razor Place.

But I don't know exactly why I have a sudden interest in these razors. I've never seen anyone I know shave with one of them, or anything. I guess I've always had an interest in sharp, shiney objects. Now that I have to shave every day, I thought it would be interesting to do it in a stylish manner, and maybe convince a few others I know to try it themselves.

I don't think any modern shaver among us can honestly say that straight razors are easy, because they're simply not. Most of you likely learned to shave with safety razors and they did the job just fine. The allure is in the straight's look and collectibility. They're damn sexy instruments, is what they are. More hobby than anything else. And that's what I'm after: something I can collect, use, admire, and maybe pass down to some carpet monster years from now--who knows.

My old man has always had a full beard, so I never got to see him shave. However, when I was about 11 yo, he/we got into muzzleloading rifles. As he put together his collection of tools and sundry things, he got hold of a straight razor that he would use to cut the patch that goes around the ball before it is rammed down the barrel. I was immediately taken by the razor and the thought that long ago people shaved with such things.

Fast forward about 20 years and I find myself with some of his left over equipment and came across the straight razor. I still have a muzzleloader, but I use precut patches so didn't need it for that. Instead, I decided I would try and shave with the sucker.

I called an older barber on Music Row here in Nashville and asked if he knew how to sharpen a straight razor. He said yeah and to come on down. I went down the next day and he honed it quickly on his barber hone and stropped it with the strop still on his chair. Then he asked me, "Why do you want to use a straight razor?" I thought for a minute and said, "I don't know. I just do." I actually still cannot put words to why I want, or like, to shave with a straight. Why do some people drive Fords and others drive Chevys? Nike or New Balance?

I think part of it is that I am doing something that takes skill. A skill that I developed and I benefit from everything I put into it. I also enjoy learning about a "dying" art. It feels good not to be in the mainstream as well. I get satisfaction knowing I am doing something my way, and it is a little different. And, when I meet other folks like y'all who share this passion, I get to know kindred spirits who won't ask, "Why do you use one of those? Aren't you afraid you will cut your throat?"

Anyhow, the razor that dad used so long ago has no legible stamping on it, though there are the remains of about half of a letter. And even though dad never shaved with it, it will always be the razor I got from dad.

showme

My Grandpa took me to a barber when I got out of the army for a straight razor shave. I didn't have to shave for 2 days after and was hooked forever. Once I learned how to hone, I was addicted and like all my vices, I never give one up without a fight.....lol. Tis very cool watching new guys develop a new best bad habbit. :lol: Have fun. Lynn

When you shave on your own now, Lynn, do you still only have to do it every couple of days or so?

Well, in my case, I've always had an affection for old things and traditions. I don't ever remember seeing anyone shave with a straight other than in the movies. Sometimes at family events when the old-timers were talking about "the old days," the subject of the old razors would come up. My dad would shudder and say how he could never put one of those things to his face. "One slip the wrong way...," he would say, "and that's it." I'm also one of those persons who the best way to get me to try something is to tell me how bad it is, or how much I won't like it. Maybe I just like to be a little different.

I picked up my first straight when I was eith still in High School, or shortly out of it. I don't know if I just happened to see the straight razor in the antique store, or if I went in with the purpose of finding one, but that day I purchased my first straight; a 5/8 McDonald round point. As I recall, it only cost a couple of bucks. The dealer dug around and tossed in a coffin style box for it. It really was coffin shaped; narrow at the foot and wide at the shoulders.

My first attempts at shaving with it were not that great. I knew nothing about stropping or honing. One day a great-uncle of mine was clearing out some junk and gave me a box of stuff. In it was a razor strop. It's about 2 in. wide, and 24 in. long, and tapers down to a handle. On the back is a piece of old fire hose. If you look under the bracket that holds it together, "Imported 1916" is etched on the leather. There's no name. My dad showed me how to strop. I don't recall that it helped all that much. At this time, straight razor shaving was an on and off affair, and eventually faded away.

A few years later, another uncle of mine gave me a box of shaving equipment he picked up at an estate auction. In it were 3 straights, a cut in two strop, and a hone. That rekindled my interest for a while as one of those razors was a very good shaver. When I started to college a few years after I graduated from High School, I left the straights at home and they once again faded from my life.

It wasn't until many years later, after I moved out on my own, that I took up the straight razor again. This time, I stuck with it. I went to the hardware store and purchased a sharpening stone, and got some neatsfoot oil for the old strop. Online I found that website by, uh, I want to say Arthur, Is that his name? I worked with honing and stropping until I finally started getting better. At first, I cheated. I would shave the easy parts with a straight, then the rest with a disposable. As the sharpness got better, so did the shaves. Then I graduated to shaving the whole face, using the disposable to get what the straight missed. I finally got to the point where I got comfortable enough with the razor to go against the grain. By this time the disposables were sitting untouched in the bathroom. The rest, as they say, is history.

One day I overslept, and being in a hurry, I shaved quickly with a disposable. I felt almost as though I hadn't shaved at all. It didn't feel very clean, Bleachhh! That's when I discovered that If I shave with a straight the night before, I can get through the next day without a morning shave. Talk about close.

I don't have a whole lot in the way of razors. I have a couple that came down through the family. The Canton Hardware and
Geneva Pyramid belonged to my great-grandfather. I still have the old McDonald I bought years ago. It's a homely little thing, but it gives one heck of a shave. Two razors I bought new are a Dovo 5/8 with the pearlex handle and a TI Le Petite Francais, both of which I bought from Lehman's Hardware, and, of course, the SRP razor from Ray will soon be here. Every day I still use the old strop from My great-uncle, but, sadly, the box of razors from my other uncle has disappeared. It's probably floating around my parent's house someplace, but we haven't found it yet. I now have the famous Norton 4000/8000 hones which has been one of the best investments I've ever made.

Since I have not been fortunate enough in life to be married, there is no next generation for me to teach and pass on this art, or to leave my razors as heirlooms. I suppose when the time comes, my final instructions will be to sell everything and set up a scholarship. So, in a round-about way, I guess my belongings and collectables will provide a way to help young people long after I'm gone.

That's my story!

Mike

I wish I knew why I became addicted. I like Lynn's story. I just feel this is the best way to shave and I can get two days out of a good shave.

Bump. I'd still like to hear your stories.

X

Mach 3 cartridges were too expensive.

No, really. That's when I started looking for another way to shave. Shaving with straights IS economical, until it becomes more of a hobby, than just a way to shave.