Thread: Why?

Gentlemen,

I am curious:

1. Why is the "Spanish Point" razor called the "Spanish Point" razor?
2. Why is the "French Point" razor called the "French Point" razor?
3. Why is the "Irish Point" razor called the "Irish Point" razor?

What is the origin of these appellations? In other words, what is so "Spanish" about the "Spanish Point"? What is so "French" about the "French Point"? What is so "Irish" about the "Irish Point"? How is each distinct razor point connected to the country for which it is named?

A "round point" razor is "round." A "spike point" is . . . well, you see what I mean.

Regards,

Obie

Disclaimer: I mean this in jest

I think the french point is called a french point due to the long sloped nature of its nose.

Thank you gentlemen

Drew

Originally Posted by DPflaumer

Disclaimer: I mean this in jest

I think the french point is called a french point due to the long sloped nature of its nose.

Thank you gentlemen

Drew

Should we call it the 'Freedom point' instead ?

This is going to be wonderfully informative as I had not yet heard of an "Irish" point. And no where yet has there been mention of my favorite tip shape, the "Dagger Point."

I always figured the french point got its name because it's primarily used on the little 3/8 and 4/8 coochie/moustache razors. I think the Irish point is the same as the french point.

The Irish point is the same as the French point, they just look different b/c when you see the Irish point, you're seeing it double.

My understanding of an Irish point is that the top half is like a round point and the bottom half is like a square point - at least, I refer to that type of point as an Irish point.

Then again, I'll only call a blade a spike point if the cutting edge extends past the spine and makes a spike. (What the database/wiki calls a spike I would call square)

As for the naming of French, Spanish, and Irish points - I have no idea.

Originally Posted by Bruce

This is going to be wonderfully informative as I had not yet heard of an "Irish" point. And no where yet has there been mention of my favorite tip shape, the "Dagger Point."

I believe the "dagger point" was immortalized by Shakespeare, among many others, but he also used the name "Danish point" to signify the rottenness of the state of said razor.

Originally Posted by Pete_S

The Irish point is the same as the French point, they just look different b/c when you see the Irish point, you're seeing it double.

This is obviously wrong, it is sextuple... Here's the reference:


The teetotalers who see it double are the american-irish who have lost large part of their genetic abilities.

They are so named due to a long-standing, but little known, treaty signed in Maastrecht in the early 19th Century. At the time it was known as the Correct Razor Anatomy Project, or The Project (acronyms not being in favour during that period).

Up until that treaty, points had been named in a rather ad-hoc fashion: curvy point, point like a little crescent moon, watch-your-ear point, what's-the-point point, pointy-point point and so on.

So a committee was formed to standardise the names of points. Many countries held a seat on the committee, and thus we get points named after those countries. Unfortunately for the Irish, who did not send a representative, all the good points were already taken and they were given whatever was left by default.

Many of the points have since drifted into oblivion due to either the country/place disappearing or simply through lack of use. Lord Berkeley's Knob point is one that springs to mind.

James.