What's your scariest blade to shave with...

Tonight for the first time I pulled out an old 6/8 graeves 1/2 - 1/4 hollow swayback squarepoint - This is the blade I have been holding off til I get some money saved up to have rescaled and shined up but I decided enuf is enuf and I should at least use it until the day I can afford to send her off for a makeover :)

Well, this is probably one of the sharpest blades I own and the square point is literally 90 from the bottom of the blade. I shaved nic free today but I have not been that nervouce in a shave in long time - practically felt like the wrong slip with that square nose would lop my ear or nose off.

Anyone else have a blade that shaves beautifully but still gives em the goosebumps when you put it up to the ol' jugular?

would love to hear about some of those blades and why

All the best
andy

Anything I've ever gotten back from Glen or Sham has always given me pause right before touching it to my skin... the problem is that these guys put on such edges that by the time you feel a cut, it's way too late :chop:

But all kidding aside, I don't have any razors that scare me... the sharper and more wicked looking the better :D

Andy,
I know what you mean. I have this beautiful John C. C.ockhill "Celebrated" spike point that Undream did up for me before Christmas. Lovely razor; big & hollow, and for some reason this thing just takes a wicked edge. The point is even a little muted, though I manage to catch myself with it every now and then...

http://straightrazorpalace.com/membe...-razor-6-8.jpg

I won't even start about the Hain's Junior I just picked up. The point on that thing terrifies me.

I wouldn't call them scary but I do proceed with caution when shaving with the Joe Chandler on the left or the Livi snake on the right. :eek:

Those things are massive, Jimmy. I've often wondered how the snake handles on the hones and strops. What are your thoughts on it in terms of performance? The aesthetics don't even need commentary :nj

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Originally Posted by richmondesi

Those things are massive, Jimmy. I've often wondered how the snake handles on the hones and strops. What are your thoughts on it in terms of performance? The aesthetics don't even need commentary :nj

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Paul, they shave as good as they look. The points being so aggressive does have me being more careful around the the ear and nooks and crannies in my throat area. They aren't razors to be daydreaming while shaving with them. :)

Stropping is about like any razor where you have to get the feel of flipping that particular one in a few round trips and than your good to go. I have a large rotation so it is not uncommon for me to forget how a particular razor behaves on the flip. After a number of shaves with both I've never had to hone either of them. They came from Lynn and Don and neither has needed to be retouched since I've had them.

I keep my wits about me with this one
http://i741.photobucket.com/albums/x...scenefront.jpg
It's only little, but the point is rather ... abrupt. It hasn't got me yet, touch wood.

This is mine. The French point is on the aggressive side, but it's great if you don't let your guard down!

That edge is nearly 3 1/4" long too!

This bugger can be deceiving at times. The finger notches make the razor feel smaller than it is so I have to keep from daydreaming with it :)

For me "the scariest blade to shave with" is not the one that is wicked sharp, I have a few of those, but the one that is a little too dull.

A blade that is starting to pull makes me want to use a little bit more force than should be needed. Thus "opening up" for a cut.

I note that the points that extend past 90 degrees from the end of the spine are given as examples by a few of us. I love them to look at and to shave with but I am extra careful. What Ben said about a longer 3 1/4 blade is something I've experienced too. You get used to a the standard but I've got one that is 3 1/4 and if I'm not paying attention it will get me in front of the ear every time. :)

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Originally Posted by ben.mid

This is mine. The French point is on the aggressive side, but it's great if you don't let your guard down!
That edge is nearly 3 1/4" long too!

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Ben,
After seeing that Harner, I am no longer scared of anything in my cabinet. THAT razor is terrifying! :tameshigiri:

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Originally Posted by ben.mid

This is mine. The French point is on the aggressive side, but it's great if you don't let your guard down!

That edge is nearly 3 1/4" long too!

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that is...*speechless* is that razor really intended to shave with? :confused: definitely scary :boohoo:

I can't really say that any of my blades scare me per se, just that from exerience I have to be a bit more cautious with some more than others. Though I'll admit the first couple honemeister edges I received had me a bit hesitant at first; after the first few strokes I realized it was no big deal and continued on shaving. Sometimes we tend to psyche ourselves out of a good shave over the little things, especially at the beginning.

I'd not given this any thought. Perhaps I'm reckless, or don't own any really outrageous blades. But I tend to agree with Otto, a dull blade is an invitation to problems and those blades are scariest. But, if I encounter one, which I've not for a very long time, they are not used for long.

Last week. I finished shaving then decided to have one more pass :boohoo::chop:
I nicked my chin with the heel of the blade whilst the length was positioned on the right side of my face, as the blade stopped and the nick appeared, my first thought was that I had given myself something far worse (scary moment)

oops sorry didn't read the full title of this thread

Once a razor has cut me, I find that I have just the slightest bit of hesitation when I hold it up to my face again. Sure, I still use it, but it just detracts from the whole experience, shaves are a tiny bit less than relaxed. I never keep biters, they eventually get sold. So the answer is, none.

My Wapi, because that big old clunky handle makes the balance so weird. I get a little antsy on any strokes that involve sort of rotating the blade, like the coup d'maitre(sp?) and going over the point of my chin.

Personally I've found that if I stay with a particular razor for more than a couple days, I "relax" & get nicked. I typically keep about 20 razors in my rotation & with something new every day, I stay on my toes. I finished up making my first razor below and shaved with it for 3-4 days straight (no pun intended) and the last day the toe got me not once, but twice. It was time to move on...

Attachment 41825

My first properly honed razor bought from a site member the point is something to be very carefull with. The wedge is a particular favourite bit for me

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Originally Posted by ben.mid

This is mine. The French point is on the aggressive side, but it's great if you don't let your guard down!

That edge is nearly 3 1/4" long too!

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It takes a lot to scare me and this isn't gonna do it but I would be sure I am wide awake and not distracted when I save with this razor! It's not that it would be easy to cut myself while shaving, which is a given. It more the possible depth of the cut! :tameshigiri:

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Originally Posted by Joed

It takes a lot to scare me

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+1

I'd say even more. No razor scares me. Hand me a French point 8/8 wicked sharp and I'll have a relaxed shaving experience.:mace:

No razor should scare any straight user. If it does it means it controls you not the other way around.

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Originally Posted by thebigspendur

No razor should scare any straight user. If it does it means it controls you not the other way around.

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Just admit it, you want a scary razor. One that is haunted perhaps

Like this one Bruno made:

http://straightrazorpalace.com/membe...6017-spike.png

Actually, I would not call it scary, but it does demand bettershaving technique and discipline than I was accustomed to using previously

My TI Spartacus dreadnought point. Its like a Spanish point on steroids and I've caught myself with it more than once...! :D

Any spike point.!!!!

Chris

My most consistent scary-sharp shaver is a slightly swaybacked Civil War-era 8/8 Wade & Butcher with about a half-hollow to 3/4-hollow grind. As far as I can tell it's the quality of the steel more than the design of the blade that makes the difference -- discounting problems like blades that aren't straight or lopsided. This one has the hardest steel of any vintage blade I've honed, and I've honed about 200. It isn't marked Silver Steel, but it's definitely Sheffield steel and I guess W&B had a closely guarded hardening process that gave them a nice grain size.

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Originally Posted by Del1r1um

Anything I've ever gotten back from Glen or Sham has always given me pause right before touching it to my skin... the problem is that these guys put on such edges that by the time you feel a cut, it's way too late :chop:

But all kidding aside, I don't have any razors that scare me... the sharper and more wicked looking the better :D

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Getting a spike point from Sham is a big BE CAREFUL sign! :rofl2:

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Originally Posted by hoglahoo

Like this one Bruno made:

http://straightrazorpalace.com/membe...6017-spike.png

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Ooooh! That looks nice!

My first shave with a Japanese razor was a bit... well not scary but I was extra careful. Loved it, want one....