Rounding a spike point

I have a C-Mon Diamond you can see in the picture just after I restored it. It was in a pitted mess sitting there in the showcase and I got it for 20 bucks. I didn't know anything about straights, it just seemed like the best of the lot.

A trip to Ken Rup to hone it up and I was in business. I really like the razor quite a bit but that spike point can be a hazard and here's my dilemma. I like how a spike looks, but I'm not caring for it's pin point sharpness.

I'm still very much in the learning stages of straight razor shaving and I find the spike point to be one more thing to worry about when I'm shaving and I'm thinking of rounding it off.

If I do, what is the best method for doing so? I have a Punjab, two sided hone I picked up at an antique shop that I spent the better part of an afternoon getting lapped. I'm torn about changing the razor from the way it entered the world. Part of shaving with an old razor is the history. You know, will it look bad with the spike rounded?

Should I keep it original and suck it up? Or round off the point and tame that incredibly sharp point? And what is the best way to round off the point?

Thanks for any advice and help fellas.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3510/...9fb_z.jpg?zz=1

Honsestly, its just practice. The first time I got a spike point I kept catching myself with it, but now I really like them.

So do bear in mind that eventually you'll get used to the spike and then it wont bother you. But if you round the tip off, it'll always be rounded off.

If you really do want to do it though, a low grit hone or a piece of 1000 grit sandpaper on a flat surface will do the trick. Just round the point off very lightly on the paper or hone and thats it. Two or three strokes will be plenty to take the lethality away, without dramatically altering the look of the razor.

If you do it on a hone, use the side of the hone not the top. Rounding off the point can leave gouges in the hone, and you dont want them in the surface you usually use for honing!

Leave the spike!

You'll probably cut yourself more often with blade's edge than the point anyway. With practice you won't even notice the spike. (I think I only ever caught myself a couple of times over the last year, and that was early on).

I personally prefer the look of non-rounded razors - and your razor looks nice as is!

All the best,
Michael

It's already rounded man! You should see some of mine. I'd leave it. It's something you'll start to remember is there. Nice razor. You've done a great job!

Don't do it. Chances are, it wont look as good as if it started life as a round point, you might not get it shaped right and every time you look at it, you will be wanting to kick yourself for doing it. It is a beautiful razor, don't turn it into an ugly razor.

As Ben says it is already slightly rounded. Leave it as it is.

That's a stunning razor. I especially love the hammered shank and tang. And it looks in perfect condition. I take it you don't have any before photos? How bad was the pitting and what exactly did you do to restore it? I'm asking because it looks perfect.

I also say leave it as is. If you really are afraid of the square point my barber said that they just put a small radius on the point with a hone just enough to break and dull the point. There is no need to round the whole end of the razor. Round points are more a style.

I also say don't do it! I had the same mentality for a awhile...Just liked the round tips..they seemed safer. Now I like the spikes because they can get the angles better..So hold on to it and your tastes will change over time...If you ant to alter it you chance ruining the form....If that's the case just buy a round tip and sell that one to help cover your cost.

As Ben & Scipio already pointed out that one has been neutered already, you should see the factory point...

Here:
C-Mon "Blackie" 6/8 - Straight Razor Place Wiki

and here:
C-Mon "Diamond" 11/16 - Straight Razor Place Wiki

The "Diamond" is a C-MON trademark, the hammered tang and the H.F. designate the name of that C-MON, as a "Hand Forged"

These razors when honed correctly are one of the best you will ever feel...

You have to really look hard to beat a Vintage C-MON razor for pure shaving pleasure...

Nice razor BTW :)

Hate C-Mon's, terrible shavers, don't hone well at all......get rid of them......

I round out spikes every day for people on a diamond plate. Takes very little effort to mute the point without changing the looks that much (personal opinion). A lot of guys don't like them and then as pointed out, many enjoy them after they get used to them. I find the biggest problems from them are the ear lobes and the cheek when shaving across the grain and you lean the spike into the face. Keeping the razor at a flat angle or with the spike angled away from the face will fix that.

Have fun,

Lynn

You don't really need ear lobes anyway.....!

dont do it !! give it time an concentrate on the spike while shaving you'll get the hang of it , and them Im sure you'l be thankfull that you didnt mute it ..

Actually to tell you the truth that looks more like a square point and not a spike. To me a spike has a more exaggerated edge to it but either way I wouldn't change it.

Don't change it, you'll do fine with it...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lynn

Hate C-Mon's, terrible shavers, don't hone well at all......get rid of them.....
Lynn

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Hmmmmm......
Attachment 46783

Realizing I'm in the minority (though not in bad company), I have to vote for rounding. I have Torrey and a W&B that I used to stick myself with every time I used them. I dulled the point very little on the side of my 4K. You can't really see the difference but boy, can you feel it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Scipio

As Ben says it is already slightly rounded. Leave it as it is.

That's a stunning razor. I especially love the hammered shank and tang. And it looks in perfect condition. I take it you don't have any before photos? How bad was the pitting and what exactly did you do to restore it? I'm asking because it looks perfect.

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The picture was pre-honing. The point on it now is much, much more pronounced.

I say do what you have to do for this razor to become one of your favorites. I've tried to adjust to square and spike points, and even if you can learn, the path of that learning will mean several digs of that sharp corner into your face. It is a nasty, nasty cut, not a nick. It will hurt, bleed, look unsightly for days, and leave a noticeable scar.

Everyone who knows you have started straight shaving will say "Yep, bad idea but he keeps on fooling around with those things..." Or they just look at you with the "What happened to your face?" look.

I would agree with rounding it off, or selling it to someone who loves spike-points and use the cash on a razor you can enjoy shaving with.

I'm all for learning a new skill, but not when the tuition is that much discomfort. This is supposed to be fun, a luxurious treatment of your face to a great experience. How many cuts does it take before that happens?

So…I guess must be deranged, but I say round that thing off or sell it off.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by LawsonStone

I say do what you have to do for this razor to become one of your favorites. I've tried to adjust to square and spike points, and even if you can learn, the path of that learning will mean several digs of that sharp corner into your face. It is a nasty, nasty cut, not a nick. It will hurt, bleed, look unsightly for days, and leave a noticeable scar.

Everyone who knows you have started straight shaving will say "Yep, bad idea but he keeps on fooling around with those things..." Or they just look at you with the "What happened to your face?" look.

I would agree with rounding it off, or selling it to someone who loves spike-points and use the cash on a razor you can enjoy shaving with.

I'm all for learning a new skill, but not when the tuition is that much discomfort. This is supposed to be fun, a luxurious treatment of your face to a great experience. How many cuts does it take before that happens?

So…I guess must be deranged, but I say round that thing off or sell it off.

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+1 That's damn fine wisdom.

I sat down at the table with my hone and it was hard to mess with the lines on my razor. Like I said I really like the razor.

So I split the difference and knocked down the point close to what you see in the picture in my original post. Still a point, but not as needle sharp. I'll see how that goes and round it off some more if I need to.

Thanks for the advice and opinions.

Shaved with it this morning and that did the trick. It just needed the needle point softened a bit. Great shave.

Glad it worked out for you. We have had some lively debates regarding this issue and some folks always prefer to leave an original spike for collectibility and other leave it for the accuracy needed to sculpt a goatee or stache. I always feel that if it is a razor you like and are keeping that you do what makes it comfortable for you. It is ever present how much personal preference plays a part in what we like when it comes to this sport.

Have fun,

Lynn

Interesting... my first two razors were spike points (Followed by a mixture of Spanish and spikes...). I just shaved with a round point for the first time today and I'm not certain I liked it.... It just felt like I was lacking some "detail" ability around the sideburn area and under the blow-holes.

I believe this means I prefer a spike over a more rounded blade... I haven't had an issue with the tip of a spike taking a bite of me (yet)... it is mainly an issue of blade and tip awareness in relation to body parts you don't wish to lacerate.

I'll try my round point blade a few more times to make certain my feelings remain the same... then I'll probably sell it and purchase another spike or Spanish point.:beer2:

Detail, thats what square and spike points are for. As others have said its your razor and your preference. IMO you had a great opportunity to "hone" your skills. Oh well, we are a minority in the modern shaving world and there are plenty of other razors still needing to be adopted by those of us who love them.


Save the blades!!!!!