What hones for the pilgrims ?

Surely the colonists brought with them at least some sharpening equipment to maintain axes, knives chisels etc., and I imagine every ship would also have some too.
Maybe sandstone for the coarse work and english slate for the finer. Apparently coticule was known from Roman times...

What I'm wondering is - Did they shave? and if so what would their razor look like and how would they hone it ? Pictures show a mix of beards and clean shaven- I wonder how accurate though. Maybe a historian will know.

They used a Plymouth Rock,,,,,:beer2:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KenG

Surely the colonists brought with them at least some sharpening equipment to maintain axes, knives chisels etc., and I imagine every ship would also have some too.
Maybe sandstone for the coarse work and english slate for the finer. Apparently coticule was known from Roman times...

What I'm wondering is - Did they shave? and if so what would their razor look like and how would they hone it ? Pictures show a mix of beards and clean shaven- I wonder how accurate though. Maybe a historian will know.

---

First of all, coticule was known from the Roman times because it means "slipstone", it does not refer to a specific type of stone but to a specific shape of stone, or simply what we today call a "sharpening stone". Sandstones were common on these times. As well as the use of coarse sand or emery on a piece of wood, acting as a base that was working just like a sharpening stone. For finer edges, there were more than a few choices, since men especially had beards from time immemorial, although the "everybody should regularly shave" thing is a recent one, after WWII. But on woodworking tools, there were more than a few choices for finer honing, and finding a fine stone is not something difficult, every area has its type. Slow, or not super fine maybe, but it's not hard to find something good, assuming you are not buying and bringing it from the other side.

Since the first edged tools existed there were materials to keep them sharp. Chipping and flaking were the first methods. I imagine over time they started using rocks and then more specialized rocks as the tools become more sophisticated.

I would bet they brought what was being used at the time, with them. Until they got to Arkansas :<0)
Surely they came with skills and the tools they needed to perform them.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 10Pups

I would bet they brought what was being used at the time, with them. Until they got to Arkansas :<0)
Surely they came with skills and the tools they needed to perform them.

---

Agreed. My speculation is the same, from the subjective standpoint that if I was to go infiltrate a 'new world' I'd bring my Kiita. ...Wonder what NASA's stance is on that. ...Wonder how rocks on other rocks around the verse are... Let's start a fund to return NASA's budget for the single mission: To find the best sharpening stones in the multiverse.

Not a problem at NASA, H.A.D is rampant … When they left the moon, what did they bring back?

Moon Rocks.

John, you’re rubbing off on me, man…

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Vasilis

assuming you are not buying and bringing it from the other side.

---

Since old sailing ships were ballasted with stones, no reason not to bring a few choice "ballast" rocks.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jnats

Agreed. My speculation is the same, from the subjective standpoint that if I was to go infiltrate a 'new world' I'd bring my Kiita. ...Wonder what NASA's stance is on that. ...Wonder how rocks on other rocks around the verse are... Let's start a fund to return NASA's budget for the single mission: To find the best sharpening stones in the multiverse.

---

Since their plan for Mars is a one way trip, perhaps its best if Astronauts take up SR shaving. It's going to be hell to get more cartridges!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Hirlau

They used a Plymouth Rock,,,,,:beer2:

---

John, you're stealing material from Fozzie Bear.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KenG

What I'm wondering is - Did they shave? and if so what would their razor look like and how would they hone it ? Pictures show a mix of beards and clean shaven- I wonder how accurate though. Maybe a historian will know.

---

Of course they shaved! Razor blades were know from the stone age period on. During the bronze age one or tow sided razors made from bronze have been used. Also, in a lot of graves of the bronze age in Europe sharpening stones have been found as burial objects.

Here is a table with finds of bronze razors in middle europe (Taken from: Jockenhövel, A.: Die Rasiermesser in Mitteleuropa, München 1971)

Attachment 220235

So of course these people shaved and they also shaprened their razors (don't know if honing is a correct term in this context). Before the razors were sharpened on a stone, the blades have been beated out with a hammer on an anvil. The same procedure we know and do up today with scythes. This corrects bends and outbreaks in the blade edge and makes the edge thinner. But of course compared to what we understand of honing today, this was a real "rough sharpening". And I am absolutely sure, it wasn't a pleasure to shave in this old days.

The form of razors changed a lot in history and of course different cultures had different forms and shapes.

Here is an information that shows the development and variation in shape of razors in the Latène age (approx. 400 B.C. to 0) turning into the roman empire age.

Attachment 220234

During the roman times also a lot of different forms of razors had been established. It is a very interesting theme, but you can spend pages over pages on this. Maybe a theme for a different thread on the Straight razors site (if there don't exists already something comparable).

At what point does the "modern" configuration appear (scales and blade...not blade shape)?

Funny...i have known that you have something useful to add here Peter !! Thanks for the short trail on history....

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Splashone

At what point does the "modern" configuration appear (scales and blade...not blade shape)?

---

Well they have also been known from the roman ages on, maybe earlier. The following example was found in Augst/ Switzerland, the ancient roman city Augusta Raurica. It is a foldable knive, used as razor.

Attachment 220243

Taken from: Riha, E.: Römisches Toiletgerät und medizinische Instrumente aus Augst und Kaiseraugst, Augst 1986