Thread: Old Barber Practice

I have mentioned this some while ago and nobody seemed interested in this fact so today I have taken a photo of the evidence and am presenting it here.

It was common practice for barbers to remove the sharp point of their razors by dragging the point along the side of one of their hones. They did this so they would not cut their customers with a square point or French point or any other point. They literally removed the point by rounding it on the side of a hone.

The accompanying photo shows the drag marks on the side of a carborundum stone from the 1950's that I bought in 1968. I bought this stone along with a 3 line Swaty from my barber at that time. The carborundum 118S is used to flatten my 3 Line Swaty.

I have a DOVO #25 square point that shaves great but has a tendency to nick yours truly if I get too fancy with the point. ( I scythe ) This is a nice razor with an ebony handle, gold spine and I am reluctant to round off the square point because I want to conserve the original configuration of the razor but if it nicks me one more time, I will round it off just a bit for sure.


hi_bud_gl has some good thoughts on carborundum stones if you are interested. I think he is researching carborundum stones and their possible uses.

If you have ever had a problem with unruly sharp pointed razors, tell us how you handled the problem...........

Jerry
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[QUOTE=mrsell63;508451]I have a DOVO #25 square point that shaves great but has a tendency to nick yours truly if I get too fancy with the point. ( I scythe ) This is a nice razor with an ebony handle, gold spine and I am reluctant to round off the square point because I want to conserve the original configuration of the razor but if it nicks me one more time, I will round it off just a bit for sure.



Jerry
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Hi Jerry,
That is pretty good evidence.You do realize that the rounding off part does not have to look that way. i.e "rounded off" I use a super fine carb razor stone and gently take the edge off the point, but it does not look any different. Just draging the point across the side of the stone with a gradual tilting stroke so as to not to make any flat spots on the point and no nicks.
Way cool pic for sure! That took a long time to do. You got to love the history.
M

Great stuff there indeed - there really seems to be no end to the levels and depths of Straight Razor Shaving....great piece of history there indeed

I had an old barber show me that exact move in the mid 1980s. Personally I am glad when I buy a vintage barber's razor in which the point is intact. I've gotten some that were and some that had been blunted.

I honed an old Spartacus that belonged to a barber yesterday that has the wicked spike point and almost got my ear when I shaved. I got it in a lot of 4 of the old barber's kit and all had the spikes unaltered. It is just a matter of aesthetics but I'd rather have the point. If I was shaving customers all day long I might have a different point of view.

I haven't nicked myself with the point yet. I just take my time and am extra careful when that point is getting near my ear, nose, etc.

*knock on wood* I personally don't like round points, so I would never mute the tip like that. Just my 2cents.

I have been asked by quite a few people to round of the spike points of their razors. Normally, I will use either the belt grinder or a wheel.

Lynn

We are very fortunate to have access to the internet where we can find just about any info we need. This forum is a testament to that fact. Years ago, the only source for razor technology was the old barber across town.

Info on equipment care and maintenance was shared one barber at a time but today we merely have to push a button to answer our questions.

Thanks to Lynn for this forum......................

Jerry
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