Strange how things change

I found an old post I made on a thread about spike points back in 2009. Just a little history, I started with a square point and still have it to this day. Back in 2009, I was loudly proclaiming my love of spike/square points. Now, my love has changed. I really like the barbur notch razors, such as the W&B and G. Wolstenholm razors. But I'm finding I prefer these or round points now vs the spike and square points. I just sold two razors on the bay that were both square points as the last time I used one I sliced my cheek. I know it was my fault, but if my preference has changed, why keep them around when someone out there could give them a better home?

Sorry for the ramble. I just found it odd that so much has changed since then. I love the look of the spike points, but will never own one, as the square point is more than I want to play with. I also never have any problems shaving with a round point. I don't have any spots I can't shave with the round point.

Anyone else here change their view on the favourites in their herd?

I try to keep everything as my preferences seem to change almost on a monthly basis. I've had my barber notch phase. Also had a Sheffield phase. Lately I've been lauding American steel. I'm sure that one good shave from a Sheffield and I'll be back on that bandwagon. Perhaps 4/8 German razors will be my next thing. Who knows?:rofl2:

I think changing passions is half the fun - thank goodness we have options!

I can’t imagine what it’ll be like in the future as collectors seek out today’s razors lol. I can just hear the conversation. “Yeah this one was the original year the 5 blade came out! It’s blue plastic! What?! They were all blue plastic?” lol.

I haven't had a large enough change of heart yet to start selling anything off... yet lol. Still hording here lol.

I have not really changed much, I still use my top 2-3 razors consistantly and love them. I guess once i find something im happy with i stick with it.

My preferences in stones have changed. I really didn't have a razor preference for the first 6 months or so. I just bought every cheap razor I could find and tried to hone it and shave with it. Once I finally decided I had a preference, it was for hollow ground roundpoint razors of 6/8 width or smaller. My preferences in honing stones have changed more throughout my time with straights than anything though. First it was coticules, then mystery hones that might be something special, then finally the good old Norton 4/8 with a Chosera 1k. After the Norton, everything pretty much stayed the same. I still buy mystery stones for fun, and post pics on forums and such, but I use a Norton stone 99 percent of the time. Which, after the razors finally got sharp, is just about never.

I have no preference to razor size, shape or grind. I shave with a different razor every day and usually don't got back to any one in particular for a year or more. If your preference changed for square to notched what's to say it won't change back to square some time in the future when the price of the razors will be much higher to obtain?

Well I had a similar change of heart. I had some points and learned to shave with them only giving myself an occasional poke and one good cut. Then as I was gaining some experience(don't have much yet) it occurred to me round point were just better razors. :rofl2:

No I really mean it. Everyday I shave the face of the Stay-puff Marshmallow Man. It has the consistency of a breast implant(good reason to rub my face after shaving) and there just isn't a straight inch to be found. The razor is in a constant motion of following one curve or another and it isn't possible to enjoy shaving in that manner if the tip of a square point is forever aimed at skin. The square points look lovely though so they now have all been muted and I don't need stitches except the time I sneezed while performing the fool's pass. Sneezing while performing the Coup de Maitre just results in getting the point of my chin done simultaneously with my upper lip.

I've always liked Barber's notch razors and have a few. I swore I would never shave with a "chopper" or anything larger than 6/8. Now I have a few big blades and really enjoy how they shave. I guess as we learn our preferences change. No harm in being flexible and willing learn.

Enjoy the day.

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Originally Posted by Mvcrash

I've always liked Barber's notch razors and have a few. I swore I would never shave with a "chopper" or anything larger than 6/8. Now I have a few big blades and really enjoy how they shave. I guess as we learn our preferences change. No harm in being flexible and willing learn.

Enjoy the day.

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That's the other change in my preferences. I always love the feel and look of the big blades, however, I have one 5/8 that is a heavy blade and scales with a lead (I believe) wedge. I was able to put a very nice edge on it and it shaves like a dream. So far that's the only blade under 6/8 that I found I liked though. I can get great shaves from them, but they just feel too light in my hands. I find with the lighter blades/razors I'm always a little too heavy handed and end up with a less than stellar shave. That may change over time, but I'm happy to feed the RAD with what it wants now. ;)

Good point. Perhaps I'll keep some of the razors I don't like as much now in hopes that I will enjoy them more later. There's just something about a W&B Barber's notch that I don't believe I will ever outgrow though.

Is the one you sold me the same one that cut you.

I like to shave with a razor that has a good sharp square point because it forces me to focus on what I am doing, it is the only time in my day where everything is clear and in focus. The rest of the day moves so fast that it is all a blurr.

I can't wait for it to get here so I can give it a go. I like to take a problem blade, give it some work and make it sing

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Originally Posted by fatnash

Is the one you sold me the same one that cut you.

I like to shave with a razor that has a good sharp square point because it forces me to focus on what I am doing, it is the only time in my day where everything is clear and in focus. The rest of the day moves so fast that it is all a blurr.

I can't wait for it to get here so I can give it a go. I like to take a problem blade, give it some work and make it sing

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I think it was the other blade I had on the bay. The W&B just needs some work. No chips, just a problem (for me) on the heel.

My razor preferences took a while to evolve, and it took a couple of chance purchases to really nail them down. One of those purchases netted me a blade that is my perfect archetype, and a blade that makes me wonder what the seller must have kept in his own collection because it's such a stellar shaver.

First blades were 5/8, with little attention to other details. Then I decided I liked jimping. Then I decided I kind of liked thumb notches. I've got one singing square tip that bites me every time, but shaves amazingly--it does in a single pass what all my other blades take two passes to accomplish. And yet, I will sell it, because I like a round tip so much better. I won't mute it because someone out there will love it ecstatically, just the way it is.

So, at this point, I'll only add to my collection if it's a jimped thumb notch 6/8 blade. I think I've got seven of those around, so will soon cull the herd and focus on my own definition of ergonomic perfection.

The one 5/8 unjimped, unnotched blade I'll keep is my Noonan and Sons Harvard, which has a concave grind. All the mass of a wedge, with the honing ease of a hollow. That thing is freaking amazing. Another purchase where I wonder what the h*** the seller keeps for himself.

Give me a 8/8 to 10/8 sheffield of any grind, especially 1/4 hollow or near-wedge sheffield, about 150 years old, any day. Its the nostalgia, the historical significance, the rarity that appeals to me. Any razor will give you a good shave if you know what you're doing.

And yes, barbers notches, deep makers marks, and some engraving or text on the blade is icing on the cake :)

I have only been SR shaving for 3 months or so and just establishing my preferences. Until yesterday I only had 2 serviceable razors, both 4/8 full hollows one round point the other spike point. Yesterday I got my first usable 6/8 round point full hollow and can say I like the extra weight and size. It seems less jittery in the hand than the 4/8s ones. The new 6/8 is also shoulder less with a thumb notch and jimps. Just love the clean lines of the new blade. I see the beginnings of a preference forming towards heavier 6/8 blades of this style. Can't wait to get an old Reynolds 6/8 1/4 hollow honed up for use because of this. Might have to start looking for an old Le Grelot 1/4 hollow too.

Bob

I don't mind spikes, but after learning to shave very cautiously with them, I've gone to just dulling the point, not so much that you can see it looking at the razor, but if you look like you were checking an edge, you can see it. I do it just with the finishing stone rounding the corner a little bit and blunting it, maybe a mm worth of the end, and no more "unespected fillets" on my face, only on my plate.

Someone on here said they saw a barber do that and say that point's good for nothing. Otherwise, I'd probably still have it sharp to the hilt and still shave slower. I hate shaving real slow.

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Originally Posted by BobH

I have only been SR shaving for 3 months or so and just establishing my preferences. Until yesterday I only had 2 serviceable razors, both 4/8 full hollows one round point the other spike point. Yesterday I got my first usable 6/8 round point full hollow and can say I like the extra weight and size. It seems less jittery in the hand than the 4/8s ones. The new 6/8 is also shoulder less with a thumb notch and jimps. Just love the clean lines of the new blade. I see the beginnings of a preference forming towards heavier 6/8 blades of this style. Can't wait to get an old Reynolds 6/8 1/4 hollow honed up for use because of this. Might have to start looking for an old Le Grelot 1/4 hollow too.

Bob

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Your shoulderless 6/8 with the notch and jimps sounds like my ideal blade. I'd forgotten to mention how much I like the shoulderless blades, too. They're a tiny bit easier to strop and hone, without the stabilizers.