what was the point of making 7-day razor sets?

[Toplin]

Ok, I get the "One razor for everyday of the week" part, but why?

Why not just use your one razor every day? I think I read in wikipedia there was a theory that a razor "had to rest" and therefore that was the reason for 7-day sets.

I wanna know

[Del1r1um]

Oh that theory just developed as was a way to allow people to convince their significant others that they needed more razors (ok maybe not, but who knows)... They make seven day sets because there are seven days in a week and because they can and people will buy them. You certainly could get by with one razor, but what's the fun in that? Just sit back and let the RAD (razor acquisition disorder) sink in.

[janivar123]

there are a few different theoris about this going around
one is that resting the razor will let the edge realign by it self and reduce the need of stropping
another theory i find intresting is that depending on where you lived you didnt have the option to visit a barber to get your blades sharpened werry often and it would reduce wear on each razor

im sure theres more theorys out there but that seems to be 2 popular ones

[red96ta]

It's just like other things that the well-off have...why have one when you can have LOTS.

Why does someone buy a Lotus when they can get there in a Hyundai?

Why does Jay Leno have a hundred or more cars when he can only drive one at a time?

The simple answer is two-fold; 1) They have more because they can have more and 2) They have more than the average guy has

[superfly]

Back in the days, contrary to what we are doing now, razors were not maintained by their owners, but were taken to a professional sharpener, or the barber, if he offered that service to be honed.

So, 7 day sets were created for the wealthier gents to use one razor a day, and have them sharpened not that often...

cheers,
Nenad

[blueprinciple]

Back in the days, contrary to what we are doing now, razors were not maintained by their owners, but were taken to a professional sharpener, or the barber, if he offered that service to be honed.

So, 7 day sets were created for the wealthier gents to use one razor a day, and have them sharpened not that often...

cheers,
Nenad

+1 on that - and it was one neat marketing ploy!

[welshwizard]

It gave your manservant a chance to catch up. Especially during the shooting season when he would need time to clean your guns.

[flylot]

It gave your manservant a chance to catch up. Especially during the shooting season when he would need time to clean your guns.

Often called a "fowling piece"

....and of course they would be a matched pair!

[Stubear]

There are two schools of thought here.

The one you mention is that the microscopic striations on the edge need time to realign between uses, hence 7 day sets and the recommendation that you have at least two razors.

The other school (and the one I have found to be true) is that it doesnt really matter! Stropping is the key to keeping your razor in good condition and as long as you strop before and after each shave you will keep your edge in good condition. Oh, and making sure you dry it off correctly before storing it.

When I started out I only had one razor (as most of us did) and I used it every day for several months with no ill effect. I just did my normal stropping (25 material, 50 leather before and 10 material and 15 leather after) and made sure I dried the razor off properly and it was absolutely fine.

So you CAN get by with just the one, but wheres the fun in that..? :-) If you really want to make the "7 day set" guys go crazy, get yourself a 365 day set..! Hehe! And feel the RAD!

[sffone]

Interestingly, none of the old farmers and ranchers I knew when I was a kid in rural east Texas had more than one straight razor at a time, and they sharpened their razors themselves. The idea of someone else sharpening thier razors was completely unheard of. Also, they didn't spend any time fussing over honing technique.