Thread: The Barber's Notch

It seems logical that it would have given the grinder a second grip point and ease in the grinding, and they look cool, and you can stick them up your nose.

I think they look good and use them around the nostrilliums, whether i'm supposed to or not.

Also comes in handy when honing.

edit +++great minds+++ a copost with #11

In the 30 year anniversary video, Chimensch holds a razor how I think it would be used at about 8:08 or so. His blade doesn't have the notch, but again I think this is how it would be used if it did. Every time I watch him shave his lip toward his nose it gives me chills...way more advanced than me.

And here we go again

First I have a pic of a "Notch" that I believe would fit Pixel's theory of an index, totally different style and size and I believe the razor was ground lengthwise first, which would lend credence to his theory at least on this razor.. This razor however is much newer then the older Sheffields..

BTW you ain't sticking this one in yer nose hehehehe in fact many of them just won't work that way...






Second they have never been found to be called a "Barber's" Notch at least not that anyone has posted YET..
All the old ads I have seen they are simply listed along with every other "Point" style with the name Hollow Point / Notch

I have yet to see an old ad with anything special written about the point style or really any other point style...

Looking at the very old razors, "The Stub Tails" you tend to find a Clipped point on those, it looks almost like a very shallow C

Anyway I keep looking and reading and to this date I haven't found any proof of anything, my latest discovery was the pics I posted above as that one made no sense other then Pixel's theory...


All I got

I don't care what it's for...all I know is that on certain razors it looks darn cool If it serves a purpose then great, otherwise it just falls into another design like a Spanish Point, French Point etc.

Originally Posted by Catrentshaving

I don't care what it's for...all I know is that on certain razors it looks darn cool If it serves a purpose then great, otherwise it just falls into another design like a Spanish Point, French Point etc.

I'm goin with that theory too cause....well.....it is pretty damn slick lookin any ol way.

I dunno about using a mandrel to forge a blade. For the thin cross section out at the point (similar to along the rest of the blade) it seems more logical that the smith would beat the crap out of the mandrel (and ruin that and his hammer) before hitting the blade. Forging a hollow would be more or less a waste of time keeping it all straight in those thin sections too. Better to forge to a wedge then grind on a large wheel then small wheel grind in the notch.

Just the old smith talking...

I enjoy these discussions.
For me the barber's notch is an aesthetic (sp) thing.
I love the look!
Hearing all the other 'theories' is really neat.
Thanks to all who have contributed to this discussion...and the others on this topic.