Thread: Middle pin found on some razors

I'm not partial to two versus three pins. And traditional design or modern custom, depends. Some traditional razors are butt ugly and some modern customs are are crazy sexy! It all depends... Actually, I have seen many that blend attributes of both.

As far as squared off wedge? If it follows the form of the toe of the blade it seems to work for me. I do like the wedge end double pinned and I like an offset pin as well.

Now, back to the third pin. Let's explore the idea of it being a spacer to accommodate a wide tang.. in this case, is it a tube that is pinned between the scales to act as a spacer?

Originally Posted by BobH

Another mystery is the barbers notch but lets not go there.

As OP, I'll take the liberty and go there.. Well, really because I want to know the answer.. isn't it to go around/under a mustache or beard?

Originally Posted by MikekiM

Now, back to the third pin. Let's explore the idea of it being a spacer to accommodate a wide tang.. in this case, is it a tube that is pinned between the scales to act as a spacer?

Yes there is a spacer, or rather there should be a spacer

Originally Posted by MikekiM

As OP, I'll take the liberty and go there.. Well, really because I want to know the answer.. isn't it to go around/under a mustache or beard?

There has been no proof of any "Use" in fact it is not actually called a Barber's Notch it is a Hollow Point or Hollow Notch in all the old books so far that we have found, there may be no "Use" it might just be a design like every other point...

(We should have a few dozen "use" ideas soon)

Originally Posted by gssixgun

....there may be no "Use" it might just be a design like every other point...

I am in no position to dispute this.. ;-)

I just think it looks cool.

Originally Posted by MikekiM

I am in no position to dispute this.. ;-)

I just think it looks cool.

I think it is cool too but there seems to be a number of things about straight razors that are like the human appendix which nobody can seem to find a reason for it's existence either. Some things just are.

Bob

Originally Posted by MikekiM

I'm not partial to two versus three pins. And traditional design or modern custom, depends. Some traditional razors are butt ugly and some modern customs are are crazy sexy! It all depends... Actually, I have seen many that blend attributes of both.

As far as squared off wedge? If it follows the form of the toe of the blade it seems to work for me. I do like the wedge end double pinned and I like an offset pin as well.

Now, back to the third pin. Let's explore the idea of it being a spacer to accommodate a wide tang.. in this case, is it a tube that is pinned between the scales to act as a spacer?




As OP, I'll take the liberty and go there.. Well, really because I want to know the answer.. isn't it to go around/under a mustache or beard?

My thoughts on the barbers notch,I think when automatic forging hammers came into use,the notch was ground into the billit to be held against a round mandril for positioning the blade and hold it accuratly in place during the forging process.
Lot of romance about the notch tho,none of it holds any water,JMO

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

My thoughts on the barbers notch,I think when automatic forging hammers came into use,the notch was ground into the billit to be held against a round mandril for positioning the blade and hold it accuratly in place during the forging process.
Lot of romance about the notch tho,none of it holds any water,JMO

I think it had a purpose as you suggest. If not what you suggest then something along those lines. I always suspected some sort of tool to help hold it while grinding. Then again it would be great for popping a cork off of an old bottle of AS or opening a soap tin.

I can see the B-Notch functioning as described but with blade design in mind, it would seem like an overly large notch for an indexing pin and I would think it would have been something that was ground off before the razors were finished. Plus there are many B-Notch's that aren't round or would appear to not really sit securely against a pin..

Well.. here we go.. the exploration of the B-Notch couldn't be avoided...

Back to the pin.

The spacer would be used to spread the scales for a proper fit. I would think this stress on the scales from bowing them out would render many materials inappropriate for such use.. Those that are less resilient would just crack..

Barber's notch!? Barber's notch?! We ain't got no stinking barber's notch. For all you folks who may have a theory about the origins of the hollow point, I suggest you refer to this source. Read every page carefully and report back if you have a new or different theory than the hundreds expounded in these previous posts.

Regards - Walt

Originally Posted by gssixgun

It actually makes the scales more prone to Breakage/Warping rather then less, especially in the old Celluloid stuff

Originally Posted by MikekiM

Back to the pin.

The spacer would be used to spread the scales for a proper fit. I would think this stress on the scales from bowing them out would render many materials inappropriate for such use.. Those that are less resilient would just crack..

Yeppers...

Originally Posted by BobH

...To me they seem to take a lot of the flex out of the scales when you are changing grips or honing. Taking the flex out may make for less cracks at the pins at both ends.....

My first razor is a DOVO Bismarck with red celluloid scales and three pins. Cracked both scales when honing :-(