Thread: In The Days of Old ...

In many parts of Mexico it is still quite common to see people who go door to door offering to sharpen knives, they would probably try to sharpen a razor if you asked them. And as a kid I remember seeing older men coming into the barbershop to pick up (not buy) razors, I didn't get why but thinking back the barber probably offered honing services. So pretty much what Stu, Holli and Jimmy proposed.

Also keep in mind that not everyone knows (knew) that keeping a great edge on a razor is very important. About a month ago I walked into a shop that sold razors and they told me that the razor was good to go out of the box, that it rarely requiered honing (maybe once every couple years) and that when it did you could use sandpaper!! I immediately made the sign of the cross and walked out of that blasphemous place...

My mother's uncle, the only person I know who never shaved with anything but a straight razor had a barber hone his razors.

My 1909 barbers' manual complains about the state of the edges of razors that customers bring in for honing.