Thread: Ludwig van Beethoven’s Straight Razor and Honing Stone

This is fascinating to me as a classical music composer/performer by profession. Especially because I'm thinking of buying a new straight. I will now consider tortoise shell for the scales!
Thanks for sharing.
July10newbie

Make sure you do not buy illegal tortoise shell.

Originally Posted by July10newbie

This is fascinating to me as a classical music composer/performer by profession. Especially because I'm thinking of buying a new straight. I will now consider tortoise shell for the scales!
Thanks for sharing.
July10newbie

Tortoies are a protected species and the sale and purchase of real tortoise shell is illegal. You'll have settle for faux tortoise shell scales which are still pretty nice looking.

Bob

OK. Thanks BobH and Kees for the info. What other types of non faux horn or natural animal scales are available?

There is a very real looking synthetic ivory and some of the guys here have used imitation mother of pearl and abalone. These tend to be available from knife making suppliers. Hard to find in lengths greater than 5”.

If you want non faux materials, check out the handle materials available at one of those vendors. You’ll need 6” length for razor scales.

What size do you think Beethoven's razor is? 4/8, 5/8 or 6/8?

I look forward to your replies as I want to get a razor similar to his. I found one: https://rasiermesser-manufaktur.de/e...-spanish-crown

This is why I think it's similar to Herr Beethoven's razor.
1. Made in Germany
2. Horn scale is authentic as Beethoven had authentic tortoise.
3. All silver blade
4. Multi color horn, multi color tortoise shell.
5. slightly Spanish point on Beethoven's. Do you agree with this point?

It's sentimental to me to get a razor of great resemblance to Beethoven's because I'm a classical music composer and have a bust of him over my work area.

Well July,

there is nothing to say against Ralf Aust razors. He is one of the last real razor grinders in Germany and his razors are absolut top quality.
But you cannot compare the modern razors to the ancient ones. Beethovens razor was produced in Sheffileld at a time where the cutlers in Solingen didn't even think about razor manufactoring. Horn scales ar good and could maybe serve as a replacement for Tourtoise - ol. Beethovens razor has more a square than a spanish point. Beethofens razor might be somehow around 5/8 in the median as seen in the picture, but started maybe as a 6/8.

But anyhow - a vintage razor is a vintage and cannot be replaced with a modern in terms of meaning, history - whatever. It is a total different feeling shaving with a real ancient razor.
So if you are looking for something comparable you should search for a real vintage razor. They appear here and there on the net, not very often though. But with a little patience you should be able to grab one.

If you are only looking for a straight to get a good shave and have a quality product - Ralf Aust is a real good choice.

Regards Peter

Hello Peter,
Thank you for your thoughtful reply which answered all my questions. Your website is very impressive and since you are an expert I'd like to ask you some questions if that's ok.

I may now consider having three straights: my original Ralf Aust with plastic scales which I want to upgrade to a more elegant razor, the Ralf Aust horn scale which you saw via the link I sent, and a vintage razor. I'm probably going to get the horn one now and take my time researching a vintage.

How is the shave different with a vintage vs. a modern razor? Is the shave quality just as close and good? Or is it just the idea of shaving with an antique razor with old fashioned craftsmanship the main benefit?

Does a 6/8 shave feel similar to a 5/8? I've had my first twenty or so shaves with my Ralf Aust plastic scale 5/8 rounded point. I haven't tried a 6/8 or other points. What do you recommend for a beginner or something I can grow into? I already have a 5/8 rounded point. Perhaps my Aust horn razor should be a 6/8 Spanish point. What do you say?


Regarding honing:

Since that is also your expertise and I'm a total beginner with zero experience I wonder what is your opinion of the video below if you have a chance to look at it? I bought two stones recommended in this video from YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXVW_S6VaBw

I look forward to your reply.
Best,
July

...........................

Dr Matt is persona non grata round here, or at least his video's and methods are very unpopular. I asked about one of his ideas once, and the fury of the gods was visited upon me.

My advice, now I've been shaving and honing for a couple of minutes would be to forget Dr Matt and watch some of gssixgun's videos.

Not only does he really know what he's talking about but his videos are very easy to understand and he's actually here on the forum to answer any questions you have.

If you really want a two stone honing system, I'm sure the guys here can point to good ones but you can buy a whole Norton progression pretty inexpensively.

If you are going to take the advice of Dr Matt (I'm sure he's a really nice guy), be careful and take his advice with a pinch of salt because he does have some pretty unorthodox and generally frowned upon ideas. He pointed out that you don't have to set the bevel a lot, sort of one and done.

He is not necessarily wrong but I do set my bevels every time, not because I need to but because it is so very important that a person learns to do it if they want to hone. I set a bevel at every chance I get simply to learn and improve and practice. I highly recommend learning to set a good bevel because it is the most important part of being able to hone and you can rub away until either you run out of razor or stone but if your bevel needed to be set for some reason and you didn't do it, that razor will never become shave ready.

JMHO