Thread: Barber's Notch?

I think I already know the answer, but does a barber's notch serve any functional purpose, or just look really cool?

I've read that it makes it easier to open one handed....but that only makes sense if you hold the razor by the scales when you shave.

Which people usually don't.

It's a mystery...

I read a thread a while ago stating that the old-time barbers would hook the notch on a pocket or apron corner to assist in opening the razor.

And why is it called a barber's notch if it is often referred to as a "hollow point" in the old razor catalogs?

Alright, so it sounds like it has no real purpose other than allowing a skilled barber to make a show of opening the razor at the risk of cutting his apron strings.

That's kind of what I figured. Still looks fantastic.

As for being called a "hollow point," I've never heard of that before. Of course, my not having heard of it means precisely nothing. lol

Originally Posted by VeeDubb65

Alright, so it sounds like it has no real purpose other than allowing a skilled barber to make a show of opening the razor at the risk of cutting his apron strings.

Sometimes I will use a notch to open the razor if my other hand is wet. Other times I have used the notch to help me pry old wedges out of their scales

Originally Posted by VeeDubb65

As for being called a "hollow point," I've never heard of that before. Of course, my not having heard of it means precisely nothing. lol

hmm...

Here is such an one from an 1897 Sears catalog:

In Phillip Krumholz's "Getting To Know Your Straight Razors," he quotes a 1915 barber manual from the Jacksonville Barber College of Arts on page 77. It states "Mark (the lather) to indicate warts or other facial imperfections with the notch at the tip of the razor so they can be avoided when shaving."

Looking closely at the notch on my W&B Barbers Use razor, the inner surface of the notch is curved rather than squared. My W&B Celebrated has a similar curve, but more slight. My Greaves Sheaf Works wedge has the same curve as the W&Bs, in the same direction. So it doesn't seem to be a grinding trademark unique to W&B. It's a small thing, but seems to be done for some purpose. Not sure why.

Maybe this curve is to help direct away the lather when "marking." Or, maybe nobody really knows what the notch is for, and this barber's manual just figured out a practical use for it. Whatever it is, it's cool though.

I'm going with the manual's answer. That makes perfect sense.

Unless you can't see people's warts/bumps through the lather. Then it stops making sense. The shape looks to be perfect for doing just that. And speaking from personal experience, bumps on the face bleed horribly when shaved.

Ever seen those guys with a thick thatch of hair luxuriantly curling out from each nostril? You couldn't get a full-size blade in there....

Regards,
Neil