Thread: Straight razor shave in 1880?

Originally Posted by TomSD

With that said I can see how you could do this with just a cup, puck of soap, brush, basic sharpening stone and decent straight while out on the trail or in the field as a soldier.

This sums up my routine, and actually I try to be an old fashioned shaver. I use a W&B chopper, MWF soap, and badger brush. I also have a small coticule bout and a filly strop.
I use the chopper because I find it keeps its edge longer, is more reliable, and generally an easygoing shaver. My filly strop was never good, even when I bought it nearly two years ago, but if I'm lucky it will improve the edge. My coticule is good but I'm not great at using it. When I've finished honing my razor it pops arm hair but there's always some drag when shaving. (The blade is warped so that doesn't help). I use cold water. I don't put anything on when finished (unless it's a special occasion). I touch the razor up on the hone on Sundays.

The good points are:
I can pretty much get a df shave with a blunt blade (my honing is inconsistent).
I use one puck of soap a year.
I don't spend anything.
I enjoy the economy.
I enjoy making the best from less than best products.
I enjoy knowing that my technique is more than adequate.


Having said that, I really would like a decent strop. And when I'm not so damned poor I will get one.

all points about the resourcefulness of our grandparents are good but I can shave with a teaspoon it just wouldn't be a good shave.....I imagine that their standards for a quality shave were extremely low....especially if they only shaved twice a week then it obviously wasn't critical to be BBS daily like I strive for.

Originally Posted by volleykinginnc

I imagine that their standards for a quality shave were extremely low....especially if they only shaved twice a week.

I think a lot depends on what they did for a living, how much they earned and where they lived.
Maybe a farmer living out in the country could get away with two shaves a week and a bath once a month, but most likely a city bank clerk or physician probably would not have.

Originally Posted by volleykinginnc

all points about the resourcefulness of our grandparents are good but I can shave with a teaspoon it just wouldn't be a good shave.....I imagine that their standards for a quality shave were extremely low....especially if they only shaved twice a week then it obviously wasn't critical to be BBS daily like I strive for.

Think about it though. How hard would it be to maintain a good shave, not BBS mind you, with just the basic tools? All hobbiest addiction aside just the basic tools will have you looking respectable much easier and for much less than the current disposable, mass market, tools available.

As for back in the day I'm pretty sure shaving came down to profession as has been mentioned already. If you are a ranch hand or farmer you didn't need to be clean shaved so, unless you wanted a beard, you only had to shave a couple times a week, if that. I would imagine city folk or professionals had no problem maintaining a clean shave on a daily basis.

This is very true--we like to make it out to be a hobby for the most part (which is very enjoyable! ), but really, if you're just interested in a good, cheap shave, all you really need is: 1 or 2 razors in shaveable condition, 1 basic badger brush, 1 basic strop, 1 touchup hone (barber hone, Thuringian, coticule, etc.) & soap & AS of your choice. Nothing more needed unless you damage a razor--then you can just send it out.

Originally Posted by PA23-250

All you really need is: 1 or 2 razors in shaveable condition, 1 basic badger brush, 1 basic strop, 1 touchup hone (barber hone, Thuringian, coticule, etc.) & soap & AS of your choice. Nothing more needed unless you damage a razor--then you can just send it out.

That's me.

Originally Posted by Obie

Hello, oldschooltools:

What a delightful story. Thanks for telling it the way you have. You must be a great storyteller.

Note: Gentlemen, forgive me for hijacking the thread momentarily, but I could not resist that story.

Regards,
Obie

+1 to what Obie wrote. Great story. Bless you.

I recall reading that George Washington was a steadfast shaver- rarely missing a day. So at least some people went at it with regularity. I'm sure his razors, etc were the best available, and that for a good part of his recorded history, he lived at the apex of society. But he was a soldiers' soldier, leading from the front- and all the time clean- shaven.
I'll bet he would have paid dearly for one of my diamond paste strops, though.
Happy New Year All!

Ed
quicknicker

Originally Posted by quicknicker

I recall reading that George Washington was a steadfast shaver- rarely missing a day. So at least some people went at it with regularity. I'm sure his razors, etc were the best available, and that for a good part of his recorded history, he lived at the apex of society. But he was a soldiers' soldier, leading from the front- and all the time clean- shaven.
I'll bet he would have paid dearly for one of my diamond paste strops, though.
Happy New Year All!

Ed
quicknicker

As an officer and a gentleman who learned his trade in King George's army I'm sure George Washington had the luxury of a batman.

Originally Posted by quicknicker

I'll bet he would have paid dearly for one of my diamond paste strops, though.

Yeah, and a set of porcelain or acrylic teeth instead of those wooden choppers.