Didja Ever Strop to Think ... (vintage)

Did you ever stop (while stropping see) to think about all the other guys who've owned and honed and stropped and shaved with the very razor you're using today?

That's part of the mystique and fun of using old stuff for me.

Most of my skillet collection is right at 100 years old. Wonder how many 'taters and chickens have been through some of them, and how many bellies filled.

As with the razors, especially the older ones. Even if you don't like to think of the other beards managed by them or nicks imparted or mini-home-surgeries performed...consider the changes and advances in human experience since they were made and put into the distribution.

I'd guess (completely un-researched and totally biased) that the average self-shaving fella back in the day might have had two or three razors for his lifetime of shaving. Maybe one handed down, and then a few he picks up along the way.

Now us enthusiasts aren't even getting started until we have a week's worth honed out proper and three more in various stages of restoration.

Wonder what countries they've seen, maybe they traveled? etc.

Today I'm shaving with a smiling notched Sheffield, a round Solingen, and a square blade from Germany (not Solingen). They were all finished on a rock from South Africa-including some slurry from Tennessee. The Sheffie has a bit of hone-wear, probably seen a LOT of face-time. The other two, practically none-one looks like it was tried one time and put up (unstropped dangit but i fixed that).

Okay, i better wet a brush...