Shaving one handed

**Gibbs** · 02-26-2011, 08:41 PM

Danke for the move to the proper forum category, now where it belongs! *S* I enjoyed reading that link as well. Willie's Grandfather's razor!! I have several old razors, a Wadsworth & Sons, a WISS & Sons, a J.A. Henckels, and a Gold Bug made by WITTE in Germany (last made in 1930), and I am sure that they are someone else's Grandfather's razor. I only wish I had the straight razor of my Grandfather, or even my Uncle. Too many times they were discarded afterward and not much thought about it back then. I got Uncle Hemran's mug and brush, but I know they pitched the razor as they felt it was not clean to pass along someone else's razor. I have shaved with all the above older razors, and have a new Dovo 6/8 myself. The J.A. Henckels is a wonderful razor for shape, but it is slightly under 1/2" or as put here 4/8. It is a little more difficult to shave with, but I have now (2-26-11) shaved with a straight 4 times. Maybe later it won't seem too bad.

Is there a way I can tell if the J.A. Henckels is "over the hill" and not good enough to use for shaving anymore? If I posted a detailed picture can one tell from that?

**commiecat** · 02-26-2011, 10:37 PM

Originally Posted by Gibbs

Danke for the move to the proper forum category, now where it belongs! *S* I enjoyed reading that link as well. Willie's Grandfather's razor!! I have several old razors, a Wadsworth & Sons, a WISS & Sons, a J.A. Henckels, and a Gold Bug made by WITTE in Germany (last made in 1930), and I am sure that they are someone else's Grandfather's razor. I only wish I had the straight razor of my Grandfather, or even my Uncle. Too many times they were discarded afterward and not much thought about it back then. I got Uncle Hemran's mug and brush, but I know they pitched the razor as they felt it was not clean to pass along someone else's razor. I have shaved with all the above older razors, and have a new Dovo 6/8 myself. The J.A. Henckels is a wonderful razor for shape, but it is slightly under 1/2" or as put here 4/8. It is a little more difficult to shave with, but I have now (2-26-11) shaved with a straight 4 times. Maybe later it won't seem too bad.

Is there a way I can tell if the J.A. Henckels is "over the hill" and not good enough to use for shaving anymore? If I posted a detailed picture can one tell from that?

Post a pic. I have a 4/8" razor and like it -- it's not my top razor, but it shaves well and is easy to maneuver. I believe the Dubl Duck "Style edge" was usually 3/8" or 4/8" for detail work.

**Gibbs** · 02-27-2011, 12:54 AM

Ok, Commiecat, here are some picutres I just took and put on one of my websites in thei "pictures" folder.

I thought about postin a picture my wife just took of me on my 4th shave. But, instead I'll start a new thread where I will post my picture and anyone else who wants to post a pic of themselves may do so. They did this on a couple of other forums I belong to and it was really nice to see the actual face behind the avatar. I don't look like Mark Harmon aka Leroy Jethro Gibbs. *S*

**Sheebay** · 02-27-2011, 10:33 AM

Originally Posted by Gibbs

I don't look like Mark Harmon aka Leroy Jethro Gibbs. *S*

NOOOOOOOOOOOO!

**jeness** · 02-27-2011, 10:44 AM

I was one hand shaving for about a year now, and I started to use my left hand too. Not so easy, but now all two sides are BBS, and not just one

Needs a little practice thou.

**Pops!** · 02-27-2011, 10:57 AM

both are great videos.. and very good to have in our forums.. it should be encouraged to post valuable information like this..

it helps all users.

double plus thanks. ++

**commiecat** · 02-27-2011, 12:56 PM

Originally Posted by Gibbs

Ok, Commiecat, here are some picutres I just took and put on one of my websites in thei "pictures" folder.

That razor would definitely be serviceable and looks like it was originally about a 4/8" or so, as there's little hone wear that I can see and looks to be in great shape. As long as it has a good edge it should serve you well.

I love the antique razors. I also have an A. Witte Gold Bug that is one of my favorite shavers (some details on mine).

**Disburden** · 02-27-2011, 01:27 PM

Originally Posted by Gibbs

This video on youtube.com showing shaving one handed: YouTube - One Handed Straight Razor Shave, pt. 2.

This was actually part 2, but what I noticed is that he is holding the razor nearly perpendicular to his face. Is that right?

**Gibbs** · 02-27-2011, 03:55 PM

Originally Posted by commiecat

That razor would definitely be serviceable and looks like it was originally about a 4/8" or so, as there's little hone wear that I can see and looks to be in great shape. As long as it has a good edge it should serve you well.

I love the antique razors. I also have an A. Witte Gold Bug that is one of my favorite shavers (some details on mine).

I looked at your Gold Bug link. Beautiful restoration. Would you want me to post a picture of mine here? The only Restoration I did was I took off the original handles, broken, and put it on another very rusted and pitted razor I got at the antique store for 7.00 for the pair. I shaved with it Saturday afternoon and pic of the shave (and me) is here: http://straightrazorpalace.com/conve...tml#post746132

I got the razor for a practice razor, and it was somewhat pitted, and rusty, along with a broken scale. So I literally dulled it down on an medium/fine grit Norton stone I use for sharpening knives. VERY dull, and I used it several times for a practice razor getting off the lather and feeling the angle, getting down my hand to eye co-ordination, trying out new ideas of things I saw on videos. Then the 1 penny "new" razor came in from an ebay snafu I bid on...and won for 1 cents, and I dulled it down and now use it in place of the Witte GOLD BUG razor. I completely flattened out the edge of the razor on the stone, so there were no frowns or smiles, and re-honed it first setting an bevel on my belt sander at 1000 grit then with later with the leather 1" x 30" German belt. I used the belt sander as there was significant erosion (pitting) along the razor edge and I needed to get to the point that I could look down that blade length with a 20X Lupe and not see a small piece out of it due to pitting. When I got to that point, I started in on the Norton stones I got from Troggie (BIG THANKS!!!) and worked up from 1000, 4000, 8000 and a Belgian Coticule slurry on my Swaty stone. No nicks along the edge. Stropped on felt canvas about 10 times and about 15 times on the leather and shaved. My face is on that link. 4th time with any straight razor as well.

I am still working on using the left hand, but it was nice to see some techniques of X-Man on how to shave with just one hand. What would someone that had lost a hand do 100 years ago?

**commiecat** · 02-27-2011, 04:21 PM

Originally Posted by Gibbs

I looked at your Gold Bug link. Beautiful restoration. Would you want me to post a picture of mine here?

Don't hesitate to post razor pics -- we all love them.

There are lots of threads about replacing brush knots as well if you ever want to put some new badger/boar bristles in that handle you have.

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