Honing the barber's notch

I've read around about the barber's notch. I've seen different opinions about its original function. Nobody seems to know for sure.

I got a barber's notch razor not long ago that turned out to be sharpened in the area from the edge up to the notch. I discovered this by slicing my cheek with the toe of the razor--the part between the edge and the notch.

So, I have a question: is this area supposed to be sharpened? And if it is supposed to be sharpened, how is it supposed to be used?

For the one I got, I dulled the area from the edge to the notch. That was a deep cut.:(

Joe

Never heard or seen that before. Who knows what purpose it would have ????? Guys who work restoring know what the notch is for :<0) It makes it a lot easier to hold while buffing or grinding. It's the only thing that makes sense to me. I don't think they did it for giggles.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 10Pups

Never heard or seen that before. Who knows what purpose it would have ????? Guys who work restoring know what the notch is for :<0) It makes it a lot easier to hold while buffing or grinding. It's the only thing that makes sense to me. I don't think they did it for giggles.

---

Yeah, I'm sure it had some function. The idea that it helps in holding the razor at least makes sense of how one might use it now.

Has anyone ever made any use of the notch while shaving? I mean, has anyone ever used it to work around a mustache or other facial hair? I've heard that mentioned as a possible function, but I haven't been able to envision how it would work.

Joe

From what I've read, it is for use when holding a razor to shave someone else (not yourself), hence "barber's" notch. (probably debated)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by shawndo

From what I've read, it is for use when holding a razor to shave someone else (not yourself), hence "barber's" notch. (probably debated)

---

Ah! That's a good answer. THAT I can envision. I think I might even have seen that in old videos or photos.

Joe

I've also heard that the notch would allow the barber or user to use the notched area to shave in the nostril / below the nose area...there doesn't seem to be a definitive answer, but there's lot of speculation as you can see....

The purpose of the 'barber's notch', A.K.A. 'notch point', is unknown. Many have speculated. My personal opinion, having only recently shaved the mustache I sported for decades, is that the notch enables the shaver to get above the mustache, around the nostril area, more easily. A Spanish point, and to some extent a French point are equally handy IME. Other than that I see no practical purpose for the notch besides looking cool. Some say it was for ease of opening the razor but I've never found it difficult to open any razor sans notch, so I don't buy that theory.

I've never encountered a razor with a barber's notch that was sharpend from the end of the bevel up to the notch. Not a vintage razor, nor a new model, and I've had quite a few come and go. YMMV. :)

Okay how does the barber stretch the skin if both hands are on the razor ? Keep that *&^%ing thing out of MY nose :<0)

In answer to the question, no, that area if the toe that is perpendicular to the edge is not normally sharpened. I have never encountered a razor, with or without a barber's notch, that was sharpened in this manner.

You did the right thing dulling that edge. Maybe someone could come up with a use for it, like really precise shaping around a beard, but if you are not going to use that edge there is no point in keeping it sharp. That is, unless you really like scars.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 10Pups

Okay how does the barber stretch the skin if both hands are on the razor ? Keep that *&^%ing thing out of MY nose :<0)

---

10, if you're referring to my post supposing that the notch is for ease of getting around the nostrils, it is held in one hand, just as with any straight. Visualize the notch going to the edge/side of the nostril to better fit the area under the nose. It can be done with a standard point but requires more of a 'coup de maitre' tilt to get in there. IME. :shrug:

I have run into a few razors (Various points) that the bottom half of the grind is pretty darn sharp, hollow grind Round Points mostly, I have always dulled them as I just assumed this was a factory error when the final grinding took place..

I think the barbers notch harkens back to the days when barbers were also surgeons. The profile of the toe matches the profile of a scalpel. Looks just like the scalpel blades I used to geld boar pigs and bull calves. The Spanish point mimics the lancet or bleeding point. This may just be a romantic notion (classical allusion) but I kind of like the idea of the continuing blade shapes based on tradition.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kyguns

I think the barbers notch harkens back to the days when barbers were also surgeons. The profile of the toe matches the profile of a scalpel. Looks just like the scalpel blades I used to geld boar pigs and bull calves. The Spanish point mimics the lancet or bleeding point. This may just be a romantic notion (classical allusion) but I kind of like the idea of the continuing blade shapes based on tradition.

---

I really like this explanation, might keep it as my reason until further evidence of the origins of the blade shapes comes to light.

According to my 75 year old barber from Italy, he did use the barbers notch when trimming nostril hairs. (scary) So that is at least one of the purposes of it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

10, if you're referring to my post supposing that the notch is for ease of getting around the nostrils, it is held in one hand, just as with any straight. Visualize the notch going to the edge/side of the nostril to better fit the area under the nose. It can be done with a standard point but requires more of a 'coup de maitre' tilt to get in there. IME. :shrug:

---

No bud I think we were writing at the same time :<0) I get what your saying and agree with the advantage of the notch in that area of the face. I can only imagine because I can't remember not having a mustache. But shaving nose hair :rofl2: Now if the notch was created for that ???? who knows. I do know I prefer restoring a razor with a notch because it helps a lot in holding it for certain operations. In fact when I start making customs if it has a notch ,,,, everyone will know why now :<0)

The nostril hair aspect was interesting, until it was pointed out in another thread that many razor's are notched quite differently? I like the surgeon idea.

Possibly they started out with a practical application and with time became an ornamental aspect???

Carrolljc, there's a thread here called Tapered blades. It shows razors like what you're describing. http://straightrazorpalace.com/show-...ed-blades.html

I don't know if that link will work correctly. Lmk.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 10Pups

I do know I prefer restoring a razor with a notch because it helps a lot in holding it for certain operations. In fact when I start making customs if it has a notch ,,,, everyone will know why now :<0)

---

The barber's notch couldn't be a notch for the barber, but for that type of razor, just the way how the worker can hold it when grinding the blade.

I've always found that a notched razor feels more comfortable when shaving across the chin area under the bottom lip i.e. from side to middle. It reduces the possibility of catching the lower lip protusion.

Regarding the original question, is the razor a frameback - faux or otherwise? The business parts of these could probably be sharpened more easily than a hollow ground - although why you would want to do it is beyond me. Anyone who wants to trim nasal hair is better off with round end scissors and I'll bet that even barbers know that.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by UKRob

Regarding the original question, is the razor a frameback - faux or otherwise? The business parts of these could probably be sharpened more easily than a hollow ground - although why you would want to do it is beyond me.

---

No, not a frameback. A Wostenholm IXL 6/8 wedge. I bought this in shave-ready condition. Other than muting the area between the edge and the notch, I haven't worked on it. It's in pretty rough shape. There's a good deal of stabilized pitting on the blade near the toe. The grooves on the tang are too deep to try to sand out. I'll just live with those. It shaves well.

Attachment 167659

The etching on the horn handle says "The Old English Razor." Much of that etching is visible only under magnification.

Joe

Honing the toe as described by the OP sounds like an excellent way to fillet your face...