Thread: My Razor is SHARP

So we all use straight razors and since we do we all know our razors are proper sharp right? Well, how do you know this? Are you really sure? What makes you think your instrument is as it should be?

I know for a fact that my razors aren't as sharp as they could be. All that matters to me, though,is that they are sharp enough for me to use them comfotably without any pain or irritation.

I voted "hope" mainly because i knew they were sharp when i got them. I have since stropped them. And i hope my technique is up to it

My razors are sharp. A little birdie told me they were.

My razor is sharp, and I have a nice slice in my ear lobe to prove it.

Pretty sure they are, at least the ones I use regularly (except the one I used today, it could a good touch up)

-dan-

Mine are sharp cause I get a damn fine shave.

Perspective, my friend.


Hope we don't start comparing swords, now, too.

I put down that I'm pretty sure it is. I did this because I'm not 100% sure that the sun will rise tomorrow and I have not spent every second of every day with my razors so something could have happened. If you were asking how confident I was in my honing ability I would say that I was at 75% until the Yakima meet, then I spent some time with Glen where he confirmed my edges and we both honed nearly identical razors on similar japanese stones where when I shaved with both they felt almost the same. What I can say is that I won't produce perfect edges everytime I hone a razor, but I know enough to know that the edge isn't perfect and I may need to walk away to hone for another day. I am not saying I'm as good as Glen, but rather I can produce an edge like his, just not as consistently. I would say that now my honing confidence is closer to 95%.
So I guess my method was to compare my edges to a person who is considered a staple in the industry. I also will occasionally hit the classifieds to purchase a razor from Sham, just to get another perspective and to humble myself a little.

To paraphrase Little Willie John's "All Around The World" ..... if my razor ain't sharp, grits ain't groceries, eggs ain't poultry and Mona Lisa was a man.

While I am very confident in my ability to put a great edge on a razor, I fully acknowledge that I always have more I can learn and something I can improve. But they're sharp, alright.