Thread: Barbers notch

What is the point of a barbers notch?

I have heard that the barbers notch was made so the barber could open the razor with one hand by hooking the notch in something, like a pocket, and pull the blade out of the scales.



//Victor

Originally Posted by woork

I have heard that the barbers notch was made so the barber could open the razor with one hand by hooking the notch in something, like a pocket, and pull the blade out of the scales.



//Victor

That's the response I got when I asked that same question several weeks ago.

Originally Posted by woork

I have heard that the barbers notch was made so the barber could open the razor with one hand by hooking the notch in something, like a pocket, and pull the blade out of the scales.

There is that. I've also heard that it's to make it easier to get in around facial contours like under your nostrils.

Originally Posted by stdreb27

What is the point of a barbers notch?

Originally Posted by lawman2

That's the response I got when I asked that same question several weeks ago.

I don't mean to be rude, but searching before posting is a good idea. The databases are there to serve as a wealth of knowledge, and having several threads about specific questions makes that database less-easy to access/search since the information is not consolidated, not no mention somewhat cluttered and larger (number of threads/data size, which will require more space on servers and more processor power/time to search through).

PS I will freely admit that I have most likely started new threads when there was an old one already active, but I try not to.

Originally Posted by stdreb27

What is the point of a barbers notch?

There is no point to a barbers notch, if there was, it would be a Spanish Point....

Sorry I just could not resist, I really did try

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

I don't mean to be rude, but searching before posting is a good idea. The databases are there to serve as a wealth of knowledge, and having several threads about specific questions makes that database less-easy to access/search since the information is not consolidated, not no mention somewhat cluttered and larger (number of threads/data size, which will require more space on servers and more processor power/time to search through).

PS I will freely admit that I have most likely started new threads when there was an old one already active, but I try not to.

What do you see when you do a search for "barber's notch"? I just did one, and it came up with a list that shows mostly threads that contain someone's razor that the describe as having a barber's notch. So, in this case the search function did not prove to be all that effective.

Reason #2 for just opening up a new discussion is that it allows others who may not have thought to ask the question (or to search the databases for that question) a chance to reflect upon the question so posed and to glean the knowledge, musings, opinions and balderdash that is sure to follow.


Now, to the original question:
In reality, the original barber's notch was designed to open a bottle of beer after a long day at the barber shop...however, the inventor, a Mr. Judson "Lefty" McKensington after his first attempt, and subsequent severing of two or three of his fingers (he did however get the beer opened...) realized that wasn't such a great idea....
But the other barbers thought that it "looked cool" and differentiated a "barber's" razor from the ones the great unwashed masses were using. They started charging two bits for a shave after that point in time.

I really don't buy the idea that it helps shave around nostrils, etc. Who here has utilized their barber's notch for shaving around a nostril? I feel that is yet another old barber's tale.


I'm sticking with my story above!

Originally Posted by Seraphim

What do you see when you do a search for "barber's notch"? I just did one, and it came up with a list that shows mostly threads that contain someone's razor that the describe as having a barber's notch. So, in this case the search function did not prove to be all that effective.

True. If you search for "barber notch use" or "barber notch purpose", you find the answer, though, as that narrows down the list.

Originally Posted by Seraphim

Reason #2 for just opening up a new discussion is that it allows others who may not have thought to ask the question (or to search the databases for that question) a chance to reflect upon the question so posed and to glean the knowledge, musings, opinions and balderdash that is sure to follow.

Agreed; if we were to refrain from posting simply because the topic has been discussed previously, there would not be a lot left to say. It is also very easy to refrain from replying to a topic you have no interest in as you have seen it before

Originally Posted by Seraphim

I really don't buy the idea that it helps shave around nostrils, etc. Who here has utilized their barber's notch for shaving around a nostril? I feel that is yet another old barber's tale.

Agreed.

Originally Posted by Seraphim

In reality, the original barber's notch was designed to open a bottle of beer after a long day at the barber shop...however, the inventor, a Mr. Judson "Lefty" McKensington after his first attempt, and subsequent severing of two or three of his fingers (he did however get the beer opened...) realized that wasn't such a great idea....
But the other barbers thought that it "looked cool" and differentiated a "barber's" razor from the ones the great unwashed masses were using. They started charging two bits for a shave after that point in time.

Judson "Lefty" McKensington was also of great reknown, for other reasons, as you shall soon see.

After his bottle opening incident, he developed an aversion to beer.

His hand also hurt him quite severely for some time afterwards. So, he started in on "the hard stuff", for medicinal purposes only, you realize!.....one thing lead to another, and soon enough, old Lefty was drinking on the job in the barbershop.

One day as he was, umm, "self-medicating", a very important client came in...a big tipper you know, but he was a man of very conservative values, and was chairman of the local Prohibition lobby. So old Lefty, quick as a lick, took the flask from his lips and emptied it into a nearby bottle of herbal hair tonic....

And that's how Bay Rum aftershave was invented. Honest!

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

I don't mean to be rude, but searching before posting is a good idea. The databases are there to serve as a wealth of knowledge, and having several threads about specific questions makes that database less-easy to access/search since the information is not consolidated, not no mention somewhat cluttered and larger (number of threads/data size, which will require more space on servers and more processor power/time to search through).

PS I will freely admit that I have most likely started new threads when there was an old one already active, but I try not to.

can't someone be lazy for once? lol i'm just giving you a hard time.


I did however search, but "point of a barbers notch" didn't bring anything up.