Thread: What's the "barber's notch" for?

I'm just wondering, what was the point of having a barbers notch on a razor? I assume it has something to do with finger placement for certain hand positions while they shaved customers, but anyone really know? Maybe it was to have a more comfortable grip, since the guys face was would have been so low, and awkward to reach with a typical method.

This is a very common question but I haven't seen it come up in a while now. No one really know for sure. This page in the WIKI sums up the previous versions of this question: Frequently Asked Questions - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Your question is good, that's why several people have asked in the past. Keep the question coming!

I'm sure this response will be debated, but my barber's answer to that question was this: The notch was designed sometime during/after the US Civil War to make it easier for those war veterans who only had one arm to open their razors. My barber demonstrated this by opening the razor on the edge of his trouser pocket with one hand.

Warm regards,

Larry

Ahhh that great debate:

First off we are really not even sure it is called a Barber's Notch see here

http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...tml#post578486

Second they were around before the Civil War... although I had heard that reason before too...

Some very, very early razors had a clipped point like this one...



Perhaps it evolved from that, so far there is no definitive answer to the question, although many have put forth tons of good guesses, maybe someday we will find the real answer...

Aha! Then it is not the Barbers' Notch after all. It's the Soldiers' Notch. Finally the truth comes out.

Thank you

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Ahhh that great debate:

First off we are really not even sure it is called a Barber's Notch see here

http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...tml#post578486

Second they were around before the Civil War... although I had heard that reason before too...

Some very, very early razors had a clipped point like this one...



Perhaps it evolved from that, so far there is no definitive answer to the question, although many have put forth tons of good guesses, maybe someday we will find the real answer...

Ya know those scales have held up remarkably well. After 150 years they look almost new.

Ahhhh Bruce, ya crack me up sometimes

oh and BTW that lady is a bit older then 150 LOL

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Ahhh that great debate:
Second they were around before the Civil War... although I had heard that reason before too...

Thanks, Glen. While my barber's answer sounded plausible, I suspected that it might not be the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I like to think the notch was designed on those early razors just because it looks cool.

Originally Posted by LarryP

Thanks, Glen. While my barber's answer sounded plausible, I suspected that it might not be the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I like to think the notch was designed on those early razors just because it looks cool.

I am beginning to think the same

I always wondered myself what the term meant, but for me is was one of those, "something I wanted to know but was afraid to ask" questions...