Thread: Barbers Notch

I did a light search on the use of a barbers notch .

I've yet to read what I thought it used was for.

If I was a barber shaving some dude, I could hold the tang end in one hand and with my other hand place my finger inside the notch for total control whilst shaving some one els .

Am I rite or am I rite?

I don't think there was a definite answer.

If that was the case of the barber's notch, then why is there so many "For Barbers use" razors without one?

Many theories. We don't know. So you may be right, or not.

Originally Posted by Martin103

If that was the case of the barber's notch, then why is there so many "For Barbers use" razors without one?

I just figure that if its called a barbers notch , then that means its for use when shaving other people and the only use I can see it having in that case is to stick your finger in it
Try it

I'm not convinced the notch would be used in this way. Often the notches are too small for comfortably putting a finger in. I guess if it was for this use them it would need to be notched for the individual, which I'm very sure they weren't, I have two of the same model that I'm sure are not from the same collection and the notches are uniform in size.

I read somewhere, probably on here, that the notch was likely used to aid opening the razor, catch the notch on a pocket for safe one hand opening, it would make sense that this would be a nice little gimic to entice barbers to buy and explain why some makes don't have them even though those marks mention that it's specific for barbers. In that respect little has changed in razor world, it's always been about the gimics e.g. silver steel or magnetic steel compared to today's multi blade, vibrating, lubricating abominations.

Have the feeling a skilled barber would have been insulted by the thought that he couldn't use a razor properly with one hand.

There would also be the issue of stretching skin. The barber couldn't stretch the skin and use the notch with the same hand

There might be a few practical uses for the notch, but I just simply think they look good!

I do believe that in the old ads they were referred to as notched point razors and the term barbers notch is quite new.