Thread: It's a miracle!

WOW. I should be in the Emergency Room right now. I don't get how I am not.
I was in the middle of what turned out to be one of my best late-week shaves ever this morning.
My big wedge that I'm sure anyone who is paying attention is sick of hearing about (9/8 Greaves Fencing Foils restored by Traveller) was doing it's job nicely of removing Tabac soap and hair from me. We were in the middle of the across the grain pass. This razor is sharp. I just touched it up on the 12K, CrOx, 50 canvas and 100 latigo. It was passing the HHT without bending the hair (it was my wife's kinda course hair, admittedly). I was going across my upper lip, and my hand must have been wet and soapy, because in one flash of a second, before I could even move, the razor fell. This thing weighs a ton (for a razor)....it slipped out of my fingers and twisted, and I WATCHED the middle of the edge (no doubt the sharpest part on this blade) BOUNCE off of my lower lip. The micro-second after it bounced off my lip, my fingers closed again on the scales, and I saved what likely would have sliced me in half AND destroyed the balde. Note...I have pretty insane reflexes, and would not have grabbed had I not KNOWN that I was only going to get the scales. Razors can be replaced and repaired...hands are more difficult.
The full weight of the blade fell on the edge, ON my outstreched lower lip...right in the fleshy part. It should have sunk in. Deep. Painful, tetanus, stitches and a scar deep. I saw it happen, it wasn't the side of the bevel, it didn't fall sideways. Straight down...and there is not a mark on my lip.

The wedge Gods have smiled upon me. Whatever spirit lives on in that old (1835, IIRC) steel decided that cutting me that badly wasn't in its plan for the day.....
Wow.

Wow, well thank goodness your ok.

Visualizing that makes me queasy. I used to shave naked upon getting out of the shower. I read a post pointing out that if the razor slipped from the hand it could be a disaster and require an embarrassing explanation at the emergency room.
Now I put something on before I pick up the razor. Glad you're okay.

Yeah, I always at least have a thick towel (I use a double sized "bath sheet" made from thick terry) around me. I am at least safe below the waist. This incident could have sliced my face open pretty good. The more I think about the damage that could have so easily occured, I almost feel sick. There is no reason why my entire lip isn't split, or for a shorter distance, the full thickness. If it had hit my chest, or my belly.

Well, one more thing to be thankful for today.

+1 Jimmyhad i got goose bumps just thinking about how bad that could have been Glad to hear you and your razor are ok smokelaw1.

That's it! I am going to drill hole in the scales and attach a wrist lanyard so that I won't drop my razor. I have been planning to do this anyway. So far, I am careful to always have a washrag stashed somewhere to continually wipe my hands free of lather, etc. with- especially when changing to off hand for the left face. Please do be careful. You are lucky. We are all better off for the critique of your very near accident. Robert

Originally Posted by smokelaw1

WOW. I should be in the Emergency Room right now. I don't get how I am not.
I was in the middle of what turned out to be one of my best late-week shaves ever this morning.
My big wedge that I'm sure anyone who is paying attention is sick of hearing about (9/8 Greaves Fencing Foils restored by Traveller) was doing it's job nicely of removing Tabac soap and hair from me. We were in the middle of the across the grain pass. This razor is sharp. I just touched it up on the 12K, CrOx, 50 canvas and 100 latigo. It was passing the HHT without bending the hair (it was my wife's kinda course hair, admittedly). I was going across my upper lip, and my hand must have been wet and soapy, because in one flash of a second, before I could even move, the razor fell. This thing weighs a ton (for a razor)....it slipped out of my fingers and twisted, and I WATCHED the middle of the edge (no doubt the sharpest part on this blade) BOUNCE off of my lower lip. The micro-second after it bounced off my lip, my fingers closed again on the scales, and I saved what likely would have sliced me in half AND destroyed the balde. Note...I have pretty insane reflexes, and would not have grabbed had I not KNOWN that I was only going to get the scales. Razors can be replaced and repaired...hands are more difficult.
The full weight of the blade fell on the edge, ON my outstreched lower lip...right in the fleshy part. It should have sunk in. Deep. Painful, tetanus, stitches and a scar deep. I saw it happen, it wasn't the side of the bevel, it didn't fall sideways. Straight down...and there is not a mark on my lip.

The wedge Gods have smiled upon me. Whatever spirit lives on in that old (1835, IIRC) steel decided that cutting me that badly wasn't in its plan for the day.....
Wow.

Thank God you are okay! Sometimes things just go like that. I stuck my hand into a vat of hot fryer oil one day at work in Grand Forks, ND (Simplot) and pulled my hand and arm out immediately and did not even receive a blister. But I was lucky due to the moisture on my skin. You probably got saved by any lubricants from your soap! God Bless!

Originally Posted by rrp1501

You probably got saved by any lubricants from your soap! God Bless!

Maybe. I don't get hw that works, but SOMETHING stopped this blade from sinking in.

Your experience sounds terrifrying! (oh, man, that's not even funny.)

Originally Posted by timberrr59

That's it! I am going to drill hole in the scales and attach a wrist lanyard so that I won't drop my razor.

So, the moment the razor drops, it swings downwards, gashing open half of your underarm. Fantastic idea!

I would hone again using light strokes then try the lip test again. Your blade isn't sharp enough.

bj