Thread: Barber Coticule, grooved by rounding off spike points?

Back in the 60's I bought a 3 LINE SWATY from my barber. This stone had a Carborundum 118S companion stone to flatten the Swaty.

There were grooves along the side of the carborundum stone where spike points were removed so the barber would not cut the customer. This was very common practice.

I include a photo of the grooves. I don't know why this point removal is so hard to believe for some people. Razor knowledge was basically "word of mouth" until the internet came along in the 1990's.

Any info you have acquired in this modern technological age is a direct result of information shared by us old guys who got our knowledge prior to the electronic age. Pay attention to the old guys...

Originally Posted by mrsell63

Back in the 60's I bought a 3 LINE SWATY from my barber. This stone had a Carborundum 118S companion stone to flatten the Swaty.

There were grooves along the side of the carborundum stone where spike points were removed so the barber would not cut the customer. This was very common practice.

I include a photo of the grooves. I don't know why this point removal is so hard to believe for some people. Razor knowledge was basically "word of mouth" until the internet came along in the 1990's.

Any info you have acquired in this modern technological age is a direct result of information shared by us old guys who got our knowledge prior to the electronic age. Pay attention to the old guys...

Hi Old Guy. I was trying to think what are the techniques which would have been better suited as has been suggested.
If you wish to knock off the point to keep from accidently nicking a patron there is no need for it to be sharp.

Overall seems us hobbyist do not like the look and find good use for the spike.

Originally Posted by kevint

Overall seems us hobbyist do not like the look and find good use for the spike.

The old barber, Frank Natal told me about rounding the point and, like Kevin, I could never bring myself to do that even if I was to risk a nick. If I was shaving other people one after another maybe I wouldn't be so reluctant.

Originally Posted by mrsell63

Any info you have acquired in this modern technological age is a direct result of information shared by us old guys who got our knowledge prior to the electronic age. Pay attention to the old guys...

Thanks Jerry. Sound advice.
I think maybe that in the barbering golden age, razors were looked upon as very personal tools, not historical items to be preserved. Comfort and personal preference, along with convenience, would trump preservation.

I've not had many issues with using spike point razors. But I do round off the corners of all my hones with a lapping plate, to make them more resistant to chipping at the corners. I'm sure that makes some people's skin crawl and they might consider it defacing the original sharp cut of the stone, but I really like the way it make the stone feel in the hand. Same deal with lapping rare stones.

Originally Posted by FatboySlim

I do round off the corners of all my hones with a lapping plate, to make them more resistant to chipping at the corners. I'm sure that makes some people's skin crawl and they might consider it defacing the original sharp cut of the stone, but I really like the way it make the stone feel in the hand. Same deal with lapping rare stones.

+1 I've been surprised to receive vintage hones from some members that weren't rounded that way but I do it with all of mine.

very nice stone. Keep it as is.

I did that to "Tiny Tim," a coochie razor I made for my GF. I made Tiny Tim from an old Wedge brand razor that had bad chips in the front. Cut it in half w/a variable speed drill, cutting wheel, ice water, & lots of patience. This operation left Tim with a vicious spike point. Last thing I did was grind the tip of the spike off using some sandpaper. Seemed like a sensible precaution.

It looks to me like natural fissures. I would think if it was used to modify razors or other pointed items the lines would be more uniform. Of course that's just a guess.

It was probably for sharping needles and fish hooks. My grandfather had a stone in his tackle box that I would now say was probably a barber hone with a couple groves on each side. He would draw his hooks threw the size groove he needed before he baited it.

Personally I prefer to listen to old guys. They mostly tell it like it is except of course walking to school 5 miles uphill both ways in the snow with no shoes, and most fishing stories.