Thread: Why sets of seven?

Originally Posted by JTmke

What about months with 31 days?

Maybe a different set 30/31 day set for each month and of course an extra February set with 29 blades for leap year.
Not that anyone around here would have 394 razors...

Hard to get good servants nowadays. Mine quit when I told him to hone my 7 day set after he brought me my smoking jacket ..........

Originally Posted by JTmke

What about months with 31 days?

Maybe have 2 sets. It would drive me nuts if I have to skip a razor in a set. I would get uneven wear.

On a more serious note ...... I've had a number of 7 day sets come and go. I've seen even more up close and personal that belonged to friends. In many cases, most in fact, only one or two of the seven were used. Sometimes very old sets were in mint condition. They were probably given as presents and the owner kept them as new. I still have one set which was mint when I got it.

One of those Souvenir of Solingen sets with the names of prominent German cities etched into the belly of the blades. I keep it because it is a Wilhelm Mandt, an obscure German maker whose razors I began to collect. I've honed all 7 and shave with them from time to time. It is the only set I've got that didn't bore me to shave with. That is the main 'problem' with sets for me. Maybe that is why so many only have one or two used.

I have a 4 day set marked with Wales on the tang for country of origin. Probably made in Sheffield though. I've read that the 2, 3 and 4 razor sets were made to accommodate those who couldn't afford the more expensive 7 day sets. Sounds reasonable. Some of the most beautiful razors I've seen have been ivory scaled Sheffield wedges in two razor sets. Never lucked out on one of those but a friend had a gorgeous set from the 1830s.

Originally Posted by RezDog

With a set of seven you or your valet did not have to worry about stropping the blades and they could be regularly stropped by someone else during the week and the gentile or his man servant need not worry about such a menial task.

Yes, the gentiles shouldn't have to be bothered!

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

On a more serious note ...... I've had a number of 7 day sets come and go. I've seen even more up close and personal that belonged to friends. In many cases, most in fact, only one or two of the seven were used. Sometimes very old sets were in mint condition. They were probably given as presents and the owner kept them as new. I still have one set which was mint when I got it.

Well. I grabbed an ivory handled Sheffield set thanks to you. And to be entirely honest it's more as an heirloom for the kids than for actual use. I wanted something with a link to my roots. However indirect. It's unlikely that I will come across any Ivory in the land of oz.

Originally Posted by Rami

Well. I grabbed an ivory handled Sheffield set thanks to you. And to be entirely honest it's more as an heirloom for the kids than for actual use. I wanted something with a link to my roots. However indirect. It's unlikely that I will come across any Ivory in the land of oz.

That 'buy it now' on the bay I linked to in another thread ? I had it in my watch list and saw it was gone. Nice set. Glad that you got it.

(full disclosure ....... I didn't know the seller, and had no interest whatever in whether it sold or didn't)

Back in the day, 7 day sets were a symbol of manhood. When you wanted to impress a young lady; you took her into the Shave Den & whipped out your 7 day set.

Originally Posted by Hirlau

Back in the day, 7 day sets were a symbol of manhood. When you wanted to impress a young lady; you took her into the Shave Den & whipped out your 7 day set.

If I didn't know any better, I'd say you made that up

,,,,,,now would I do something like that ?