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..

Originally Posted by dwessell

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

Send more..

I feel sober..

How do you top this! Actually my story is closer to Lynn's. While stationed in Korea in '77 we had a barber shop out back behind the hut, it didnt matter wether you had just spent 10 days on the GPs(w/o water) or a month in the field, I would come in clean the weapon, get some hot grub, a hot shower and mosey to the barbershop and get the works, shampoo, haircut, massage and a straight shave. You would walk in there feeling like a whipped pup and walk out feeling like a king! There was nothing that could compare to it, absolutely nothing!

I got tired of throwing away pieces of plastic and metal every few shaves...and getting a lousy shave to boot. Being a hands-on kind of guy, I figured I would give it a try.

After reading many many posts, for many months on these forums, I decided I better join instead of lurk. There you go!

I suppose I should share my story again too. Here it is in exquisite detail.

In The Deep End » Blog Archive » This Dying Art

X

Evening Gentlemen.
This is my first post on this forum, I registered a while ago but until now i have been lurking.
After years of "shaving" with one of those electric hair trimmer things and having an assortment of goatees and beards I grew a handlebar moustache. It somehow just seemed fitting that I shave with a straight razor. What really surprised me was that I discovered that I actually enjoyed shaving whereas in the past I found it an unpleasant chore. Like many on here I now find myself a little obsessed with it.
Bill

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?