Thread: NEW RALF AUST ARRIVED!

Our very own bluesman7 makes his razors with a longer spine. And it has a reason. I think he told me it helped in getting the blade.out of the scales as his sit deep in the scales. I might be wrong but it was something like that.
Everyone needs a razor made by Vic.

I would also argue the point (no pun intended) that the barber notch has no function. You said it's function a sentence or two later. Round points keep.you from cutting the $£!¥ out of yourself like a square point will. The problem you identified but the answer you missed. The barber notch (which by the way is not the name given it by manufacturers) is a way of having a round point but still being able to get into tight spots.

Originally Posted by PaulFLUS

I would also argue the point (no pun intended) that the barber notch has no function. You said it's function a sentence or two later. Round points keep.you from cutting the $£!¥ out of yourself like a square point will. The problem you identified but the answer you missed. The barber notch (which by the way is not the name given it by manufacturers) is a way of having a round point but still being able to get into tight spots.

I’m not sure what you said.

Or maybe, I’m not understanding you.

From what I was told, the “barbers notch” was (supposedly) for the barbers of old to place their fingers into the notch (at the toe end of the blade) to get a better purchase on the blade while shaving the customers face.

But if I understood you correctly, are you saying that the barbers notch is to help you get into tighter places (like the nostrils), so the round point of the blade can reach those hard to get places?

In other words, because there is steel missing from the front edge of the blade (where the barbers notch is cut out), that you can push that forward edge deeper into places, so the round point can also go into those hard to get places?

Not sure if I’m wording it correctly.

Ir even if I understood what you are trying to say.

Confirmation, or even a clearer response, would be welcome.

Hmmm...interesting.

Just did some research, and I see that not everyone a”accepts” the term “Barbers Notch”.

Some call it a “Hollow Point” and other terms.

There are good points given that they are placed there to help maneuver around the sides of the nostrils, for mustache work.

Interesting.

I never knew that.

Guess I learned something new.

But since I naturally prefer square points, I guess I would not need one.

And if you have a narrow razor, I guess you would not need one either.

I’ll throw it out there and guess they are predominantly placed on wider blades, which makes sense to me...now.

Learn something every day. ��

It looks great and like it will shave well but I wouldn't dismiss T. I totally.

They have a steel which arguably is better than most German steels in my opinion and are capable of producing spectacular edges.
Honing them rite can be akward which also puts people off.

The trick is to ask the seller to inspect the razor for issues before purchasing..

I have a 6/8 TI le Dandy which I really like. It has a round point and takes a very good edge that seems to retain its sharpness quite a long time. I hone it with a coticule followed by a Vermio and that combination produces a very comfortable shave with this razor.

There is debate about the original intention of the barber notch. Some have said that it's to help to pull the blade out of the scales, some have said that it's to shave around the septum of the nose. Some have also said that it was strictly cosmetic. It's hard to say for certain as you hear so many different things. The nitty-gritty of it is though that, if honed correctly, the edge can go around the corner slightly which helps in tight areas. Whether that was the intention or not I can't say and I don't really think that there's a definitive answer that I've heard. The thing about a square point, especially a Spanish point or Irish point, is that the end of the toe comes to a hard 90° or even 60° which can be like a dagger tip to your face. What the barber notch does, or can do is make a rounded point that is very narrow while still having a wider blade. That helps to get in tight spots with a point more like a butter knife than a steak knife if that makes any sense.
Edit: I just had this happen the other day. I have a dubl duck satinedge, beautiful razor with a brilliant edge that shaves fabulously but that point was so sharp that I got myself in three places without even realizing it. I wound up muting the tip a little so that it's not so hazardous to shave with.

And then you have this.

*sigh*

Ha ha ha.

Originally Posted by RaymondMillbrae

And then you have this.

*sigh*

Ha ha ha.

A barber's Not.

Originally Posted by planeden

A barber's Not.

...That was a good one.