Thread: Another barbers notch story

When I was about 12 years old I used to watch my grandfather shave with his straight sometimes. He did not have running water, and had to heat the water on the wood stove they cooked on, and poured it into a large white granite coated pan used for washing and shaving. Once in a while he would get his stone out and sharpen and then strop the razor. He held the razor with two hands when sharpening, using the index finger of his left hand in the barbers notch of the razor to steady it on the hone. He told me that was what the notch was for. To keep his finger from slipping.
Just another story to add to the many others.

Its so cool that you remember that Mack.
Thanks for sharing!

Great story mackie, thanks!

It makes sense, I've wondered myself what purpose the notch served.

I was learning to hone at Maxi's yesterday with a couple of other guys from here. He thinks it might be for the barber to open the blade on his belt one handed while shaving a customer. We all thought that was a great theory. I hope Maxi doesn't mind me letting his theory out.

Interesting...my wifes grandfather used to use both hands to push his roundtip razor on his hone..barbers notches next to french points are my favorite..under the nose they smoothly go...

"There are 7 million stories in the Naked City and that (this) has been one of them".

From an old T.V series many moons ago

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

"There are 7 million stories in the Naked City and that (this) has been one of them".

From an old T.V series many moons ago

I remember it.........now I feel old........

They developed the barber's notch because they knew it would make it easier for ME to trim my mustache under and around my nostrils .... if you believe that ...... you'll believe anything .... Cool reminisce Mackie. Do you have grandpa's razor ? That would really be cool. To have the razor and maybe even the shaving wash pan.

To me the barbers notch is simple, its there to make it easier to open when the razor is fully closed. Why do most "for barbers uses" razors have a barbers notch because they are the ones who use it day in and out.