Thread: Shave Den On A Diet

Gentlemen,

The shave den has been on a diet for a while and my straight razor collection trimmed to a comfortable plateau of nine. I had about 50 straights of various brands and sizes. The big and heavy Sheffields dominated. Since my banged up hands limit my straight shaving to mostly weekends and one pass with the grain, I found it hard to see full racks of razors with a forlorn look. Straight razors have feelings, too, you know?

The modest collection now includes five Le Grelot razors: in snake wood, black horn, ebony wood, black plastic and white plastic. I have always been fond of the Le Grelot, especially now for being the most comfortable for me. They are also fine shavers. The other straights in the slimmed down lineup include: Kropp, Herder, Joseph Rodgers, Widerstrahl and Rudi Schaaf. Let's not kid myself, if I come across a straight razor that makes the ticker do the fandango, I'll probably buy it. As I said, beauty is hard to resist.

The double edge razors do most of the work these days. Fortunately I have always been fond of my double edge razors. And I have some beauties: Joris in bone, Muhle "Sophist" in bone, Muhle 41R open comb, about a dozen Edwin Jaggers in a variety of models, the stainless steel Feather, Weber, half a dozen Merkurs, and so on. What can I say, I have a soft spot for beautiful things. "They grow like rabbits," says the dearly beloved.

These days, with a cluster of years years in tow, I believe anything I hear, and see — and that includes singing rabbits and dancing raccoons. Something else I believe: that people like me don't give up the straight razor, for it's a way of life.

I agree it is a great thing to wake up to everyday and experience a better shave. And I'm always looking for razor to restore so I can get my collection up everyday

That's still a decent herd, Obie. Never surrender the last of your straights, my good friend!

All this talk and no pics?

Originally Posted by Snurd

All this talk and no pics?

Right you are, Snurd. I'll see if I can take some pictures in the next few days. Thanks for the reminder.

No problem.

Well Obie, it's all about adapting to new circumstances. I'm finding lately I simply can't do an ATG on my neck. It causes itching that won't quit and it doesn't matter if I use a straight or a DE. So it's one less stroke to worry about.

It's the old Grim Reaper starting to creep up on you little by little and I just can't imagine at your advanced age-har har.

thebigspendur,

How right you are, my dear friend. The Grim Reaper keeps inviting me to the local sports bar. I invite him to the ballet. "That'll be the day," he barks. So we're at an impasse for the time being.

Yes, we adapt and improvise. The best I can do these days with the straight razor is to shave with the grain from north to south. That puts the least pressure on the thumbs, which cause me the most problem. On the weekends I try to do two passes with the grain and call it quits. Going across the grain and against the grain require some contortion of the hands, and that creates problems. Stropping is especially hard on the right thumb — and I love stropping. Honing is even more of a problem for the right hand, but I do that occasionally. Just when I was getting good at it. After all, my teachers have been Lynn, Randy and Sham. Talk about a glittering honing education.

I have adapted, therefore, to shaving with the DE on weekdays. The DE is easier on the hands. Fortunately I have continued to love my DE razors — and I have some beauties. On the weekends the DE takes the third pass after the straights, and for cleanup. In the end, finally admitting I had a problem, I could not see all those handsome straights sitting in the racks and getting lonely. So I sold them — some 25 big and heavy Sheffields and scores of German and French hollows, for a total of some 40 straights. I have nine left now, which is all I need, really. I also keep them for my grandsons — one is on the way, due date in early August. I'll probably buy another straight to make it five each for the boys when they grow up. Of course, the next razor, whether new or vintage, would have to give me a big smooch before I buy it.

Stay well.

Gentlemen, here is a photo of the shave den on a diet: