Thread: Giesen & Forsthoff, #571, 6/8 Real Horn

Originally Posted by bobski

This doesn't mean it's a good razor, it means that to get it shave ready it takes 7 or 8 hours and 10 different techniques on the hones.

Did you also melt it down & reforge it ? Sorry couldn't resist.

When you get a real bad one that needs a grinder to correct the profile, you later throw 3 layers of tape on it & start on your 320 grit hone then work up & remove tape as you go.

I imagine 8 hours would have been starting @ 1k & any profiling work by hand ?

Trying to sound presidential I must say that it "depends on what the meaning of the word 'is' is"

Some would say that a new 'razor' is a razor because after 8-10 hours of work it can shave, others would argue that that much work to get it to shave means the object was closer to a 'razor blank' or a 'chunk of steel' than a finished 'razor'.

Or you may say, what about those well abused things that used to be razors decades or even centuries ago, and need 8-10 hours of work to be able to shave?

Then there is the question of whether that famous spoon of Murray Carter is a spoon or a razor, I mean it's a piece of quality steel shaped as a spoon, but the edge is sharpened to cut hair like a razor. For that matter there are all these 'custom razors' with alien shapes, that only resemble a razor in the ability to cut hair, not in looks, not in ergonomics, not in stropping, not in honing - are these razors?

I say, it's far more important to know what the object is, than what it is called - then each of us can be happy regardless of whether they are the type of person who'd spend dozens of hours working on something before it could shave, or they're the opposite type.

And the big question what is is remains?

Excellent points, well made, gentlemen. My persistence is linked to my inexperience. I also hate buying a razor that won't shave like my others do, so I put in the time and kept at it. So...it survived. It has certainly been a comment for others to note when they think they are getting a good deal on G & F razors. We all agree on one thing. They are an ordinary steel that needs heaps of attention to get it to cut hair. So Oz & Neil, your'e both right. But it IS going to enter the rotation for a while anyway. If it digs in one day, it's days are over. I like the scales though!

Regards Rob

Originally Posted by gugi

Then there is the question of whether that famous spoon of Murray Carter is a spoon or a razor, I mean it's a piece of quality steel shaped as a spoon, but the edge is sharpened to cut hair like a razor. For that matter there are all these 'custom razors' with alien shapes, that only resemble a razor in the ability to cut hair, not in looks, not in ergonomics, not in stropping, not in honing - are these razors?

They are only razors because our mind makes them so.

When I opened the box containing my order, I took out the really nice 3 inch black latigo strop. Nice strop. Then I opened the G & F 6/8 razor and it was rusted around the pin/tang. I am entitled to be annoyed. But as the last weeks posts show, I never chucked it. Sure I spent a stupid amount of time on it. But we all hate to think we are the dill at fault, so hence the hours I put into getting it sharp. Well.....I just had my 2nd shave with this problematic razor and it was a very acceptable shave. So I guess, every time I feel down trodden order a G& F you are sure to get an amazing feeling when it suddenly shaves nice. Call me nuts........many have