Thread: How long have you been shaving with a straight?

I started in April of this year, so about 8 months and already have amassed 50 straight razors (including a feather), 3 DE razors, 10 brushes (with 2 SRP group buy more on the way), 4 scuttles, 4 strops, 4 stones, and over 20 soaps and creams, bottles of glycerine and lanolin, etc.

The honing and restore disorders are just beginning with my kitchen having been converted into a makeshift shop; dremels, sandpaper everywhere, magnifying glasses...

I've been absent from Straight Razor Place for some time as I've been busy, and some of you may remember in the old days some of my posts.

That being said I started shaving with a straight razor on October 12th, 1965. My mom knowing of my interest in straight razor shaving and barber shops took me into Corrado Cutlery in Chicago's Loop. My father said I would cut my ears off ad once I had ot get up at 7am for work I would stop using straight razors. The joke was on him as I went to work on the railroad and had to get up at 3.45am to work morning rush hour jobs.

February of this year. I had an old Henckels (1930s or 40's?) that sat in a drawer with my pocket knife collection. I came here to find a value. With no interest in selling i found it a shame to let such a nice piece just sit. Sooo, not being able to bear someone else honing for me bought a couple of hones, a brush, bowl and soap and with what I read here off I went.

I differ in that I have only bought one other razor and that was last week. It needs some restoring. I have however made one and have 2 more started. My RAD trends towards the tools needed to maintain and now to build razors.

I enjoy the process, I enjoy not tossing out another piece of plastic crap every week and I enjoy the quality. I confess that when the talk turns to shaving, I love watching mouths drop when I say I shave with a straight. A WHAT they say, what is a straight razor? You know, like you see in all the old cowboy movies. Puzzled looks, your kidding right? LOL I like it.

Jeff

What puzzles me is how the talk turns to shaving in the first place. It just isn't a huge topic of conversation here in Australia I guess...


Mick

Well, no. But once on a while. I have also driven it that way and making a couple razors at work also brought up the conversation.

First tried cut throat razor April this year
An ebay cheapie that pulled like a B*%ch
Found SRP when I started a Google search
Bought a sight unseen setup from Larry
Started learning the basics of the art
Been shaving daily now for almost 3 months
It's been a great ride so far
Roll on next year

Originally Posted by MickR

What puzzles me is how the talk turns to shaving in the first place. It just isn't a huge topic of conversation here in Australia I guess...


Mick

Actually, when I DO happen to get a little cut, or nick, I suspect I may just get a chance to mention it, as in "Cut yourself shaving?" "Yeah, well... I shave with a straight razor you know" (striking a nonchalant, cool pose, staring into the far distance like I'm looking out for injuns). "Oh, a straight razor!?" "Yeah.." (thinking to myself, "Yeah, I'm cool, I know it..., yeah, you worship me now, don't you?...)

Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider

Actually, when I DO happen to get a little cut, or nick, I suspect I may just get a chance to mention it, as in "Cut yourself shaving?" "Yeah, well... I shave with a straight razor you know" (striking a nonchalant, cool pose, staring into the far distance like I'm looking out for injuns). "Oh, a straight razor!?" "Yeah.." (thinking to myself, "Yeah, I'm cool, I know it..., yeah, you worship me now, don't you?...)

I would have thought the bit of conversation following that statement would be along the lines of, "What the hell is a straight razor?! You mean some razors may be homosexual?!"


Mick

Originally Posted by MickR

I would have thought the bit of conversation following that statement would be along the lines of, "What the hell is a straight razor?! You mean some razors may be homosexual?!"


Mick

(not that there's anything wrong with that), yes, of course, I realise that 'Cut throat razor' may be more the term to use, but English is a fluid language. Even my 85 year old German father (who was born in a German Village in Yugoslavia to German and French parents) didn't quite understand the term 'straight razor', but I hold that 'cut throat' has rather negative connotations. I wonder where the term 'straight razor' actually came from? I guess initially they were simply called razors. I've also heard the term 'open razor' which I feel maybe is a better term (to distinguish from a DE, where the blade is not 'open').

Anyway, main point is it's cool and I like it... :-)

I started shaving with a straight two weeks ago. Right away from the start it made me feel good. I have certainly entered a new world.