Thread: The answer to the barbers notch

Interesting! I personally like the part about the square point catching ears and noses!!
I have heard the one arm thing before, the same story is pushed for one hand opening traditional knives like this one:

Here ya go, it's a lot easier on my neck. I hate sideways pics................

It doesn't make much sense to me either.

Originally Posted by engine46

Here ya go, it's a lot easier on my neck. I hate sideways pics................

It doesn't make much sense to me either.

Thanks steve.
It wasn't like that when i took it.
But i was never a upstanding kind of guy. [emoji1]
Thought this post might help in the ongoing plight of the holy search for answers.
Has anyone compiled the info to see what matches up the most.

Heres my best guess and 2¢.

It was for balancing the blade. Thats one ideal spot to remove metal if the blade is too heavy for the scales. :-)

Hows that?

With the purpose of a barbers notch not being immediately blazingly obvious and the real answer seemingly lost in the mists of time, I'll just accept it as a cool looking feature on a heavy wedge.

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

With the purpose of a barbers notch not being immediately blazingly obvious and the real answer seemingly lost in the mists of time, I'll just accept it as a cool looking feature on a heavy wedge.

Bob

Works for me

I don't choose a certain "point" for it's function, if any. I choose it for the aesthetic's of the particular razor.

I have read this in the past, that it was for working around the mustache. Another theory was to mark around moles or warts on a persons face. I also read as Mike pointed out that it was for balance. I have also read somewhere it was for working around the sideburns but the mustache one is the one that really makes sense. It may have been a more useful modification for all of the above. We may never know the real reason though unless someone can find it in writing in an old document!
I found this old post by JimmyHAD which is very interesting:

http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...ers-notch.html

It is an old thread but I find it very informative.

Originally Posted by Neil Miller

What is it called? Who is the author? It doesn't make much sense to me, to be honest.

Regards,
Neil

This info was from the Akron/Summit county public library.
By the american premium guide to knives&razors

Hmmm - that book was published in 1999 by Jim Sargent. That makes it just his opinion, not a fact. Now, if it was publishe in 1899 or earlier... :}

Regards,
Neil