Shaving in Camp

[dwarvenchef]

So what do the beardless ones shave with in PC camps? I ask as I'm a straght razor shaver and for me the older the better. But it dawned on me that I have no clue what was used short of the blade itself.

So if anyone knows what kind of brush and lather was used durring the different periods I would be greatful

I'm sure others would like to know as well (at least I hope I'm not the only nut looking into this )

 

[MSW]

while i'm no expert, i'm pretty sure a straight razon would be accurate.

 

[David W.]

Burma Shave? :idunno:

 

[Claude Mathis]

So what do the beardless ones shave with in PC camps?

Depending on your persona (hunter, scout, etc.), several days growth would not be unheard of.

 

[Rod Lassey]

For pre-1860 (fur trade), I carry my razor in a small wooden box with swiveling lid, the kind with the strop glued to the back--the shaving soap is just in a hollowed-out wood block. It goes into a sack with my shaving brush, comb, mirror, toothbrush, and toothpowder.

Now, for post-1860 (Indian Wars military), I've got a bigger box with a folding lid--the kind where the mirror is on the inside of the lid. Soap, brush, comb, etc., is all in the box---except for the strop, which is the kind you hang on the wall to use.

I just use regular shaving soap--although most any soap will do, it's just a little easier on the skin.


Rod

 

[David W.]

For pre-1860 (fur trade), I carry my razor in a small wooden box with swiveling lid, the kind with the strop glued to the back--the shaving soap is just in a hollowed-out wood block. It goes into a sack with my shaving brush, comb, mirror, toothbrush, and toothpowder.

Now, for post-1860 (Indian Wars military), I've got a bigger box with a folding lid--the kind where the mirror is on the inside of the lid. Soap, brush, comb, etc., is all in the box---except for the strop, which is the kind you hang on the wall to use.

I just use regular shaving soap--although most any soap will do, it's just a little easier on the skin.


Rod

Regular soap will dry your skin. Musgo was fairly popular in the late 19th century. I think aloe was used to some extent prior to that. Could be wrong.

 

[dwarvenchef]

1790's era Clark & Hall is my earliest blade, I have a few early 1800's as well. So those that shave in camp, use current made brush, soap, strops and such? Just trying to get a feel for items to look for.

 

[jbtusa]

For the 1840's western trappers, which would be historically correct, a wedge blade, a hollow ground blade, or both?

 

[BillinOregon]

I salute you straight-blade users on two counts: being brave enough to use the dang things, and historically honest enough NOT to insist on being one of the few exceptions of the period to have a mustache or full beard ... (talking pre-1800 here)

 

[Rod Lassey]

Nice razor! The earliest one I've got is around 1830. I know that period shaving soap differed from regular soap--it's listed separately on fur trade lists--but I'm not sure how the formulation differed.

As far as wedge vs. hollowground, it's my understanding that hollowground really started becoming popular by the mid-1800s. Probably safe for Civil War, but I don't know how much earlier.

Rod

 

[Stayangry]

Beards and 'taches in various styles were pretty common in most armies I believe, especially on campaign - check out photos of British soldiers in the Crimean and Zulu wars.

In some armies, it was actually compulsory and,if nature did not oblige, a moustache would be drawn in with makeup or charcoal.

The insistence on soldiers being clean shaven is fairly recent - I suspect it may originate with the introduction of chemical warfare in 1915 as a beard may prevent a respirator from fitting properly.

On a related note, I went for a proper cut throat shave recently at a posh barbershop in St James', London (near the William Evans gunshop).

It gives a great finish but costs an arm and a leg. And possibly a lip if you get fidgety. Being from Stoke, I tend to get a bit nervous when anyone waves a blade near my neck ...

 

[dwarvenchef]

For the 1840's western trappers, which would be historically correct, a wedge blade, a hollow ground blade, or both?

By 1840 the general shape of the razor we are all familier with was pretty much set. The term Hollow ground has alot of styles in it and to a degree both hollow and wedge would be correct.

There is a book out (don't have it yet) on collecting razors that lists dates of the makers, and there where ALOT of them, and style changes over the years. Fun part is trying to find pieces that are still usable but not historically "collectable". This can be seen in the auction prices you can encounter trying to get good ones.

Sence I'm a user I stay away from anything that a collector would be interested as I'll never pay those prices :shocked2: And collecters would also buy a blade thats not useable due to condition. Here is another problem with these older period blades... Many where cast. Not a problem when shaving mind you but once rust and rot take hold, you may never get it out. Plus a rotted blade would never take an edge... Trust me I have tried :surrender:

One cool thing is that there are different "schools" of blades. You had blades from Belgium, England, France, and here in the US (later on). All these blades had very different feels to them. Sharpening was noticably different due to hard or softer steel, straight edge or a smile. Trust me when you fix and restore enough razors you will find an era you really like and try to stick to it. Personally I like early American makers as the steel was very hard and took on a great edge. But I also love shaving with the older 8/8 wedges from around england, they are like using a whisker squeegy But are a nightmare to get to shave ready haha

Ok I think I lost a few people on this post, I see alot of ZZZzzzz out there :yakyak: So I'll sneak off and shave, got some new soaps to try out

 

[BillinOregon]

Chef: Really appreciate your post. Please feel free to write and extended article, with photos, and share it. I'd buy a magazine with your article in it.

 

[dave payne]

I was told by a George Wahington impersonator and historian that GW ordered all troops to be clean shaven.....and no more than 5 days growth on scouts.

 

[dwarvenchef]

Chef: Really appreciate your post. Please feel free to write and extended article, with photos, and share it. I'd buy a magazine with your article in it.

LOL now I have more ideas to fill my shop with I'll see about getting some more info settled in, plus pics of some of my stuff showing what I can.

Funny how on hobby can be worked into another... but most things I'm interested in are "Back in Time" type hobbies

 

[m-g willy]

I also like the shaves I get from the straight razor.
I have a Wade and Butcher that dates back to mid 1800's with a heavy wedge blade.
But I prefer the hollow ground German Bokers and Dubl Ducks and American Torrys.

 

[Rod Lassey]

One of my better blades (though not appropriate for fur trade) is Swedish, from the late 1800s/early 1900s. The blade's discolored, and looks rough, but it shaves closer than anything else I've got. My other razors are either English, or in the case of my 1830s one, French.

One thing about shaving out at a camp or in a barrack, it sure draws a crowd---funny how something that was so commonplace attracts so much attention now.

Rod

 

[LaBonte]

Here is another problem with these older period blades... Many where cast

Actually this is not true - it's a widespread misconception/misinterpretation based on a type of steel called cast steel during the period. When period goods are stamped "cast" steel it denotes a type of steel made using the Huntsman process (first developed by Benjamin Huntsman in 1745), NOT that the part itself was cast to shape. Cast steel was over time used to make many higher end steel products, including: axes, gun barrels, knives, swords, and razors.
Cast (more properly crucible steel) was in fact one of the best steels of the period. It started with blister steel, which was steel made by cooking wrought iron in a high carbon "bath" of charcoal. Blister steel was the base for both cast steel and shear steel.
Cast steel was made by chopping up blister steel bars and re-melting it in a crucible furnace. Once melted the steel was "cast" into ingots which were then rolled, forged, ground, etc. into the final product. By re-melting the blister steel it homogenized and purified it. For more info on cast steel look up Benjamin Huntsman and cementation steel making.
The above steels were all slow to make and took lots of labor (and charcoal). They were phased out over time after the Bessemer process was developed in the 1860's. Blister and shear steels pretty much disappeared from the general market by/during WW I, when so many of the skilled English steel makers and cutlers were killed, but today the crucible steel process or variations there of are still used for certain specialty steels made in smaller quantities.

 

[dwarvenchef]

Thanks for the info But I still need to know why many of the blades of that type where known to "rot" internally while the surface didn't apear damaged. I have seen rot from an obvious external influence, blood on an edge can rot it fast when not cleaned off.

I have one blade that is a total loss due to this rot. No matter how much I remove the steel is still porous underneath.. total loss Oh well at least the scales are still good

 

[mmahlock]

The British Army requirements from at least the 1790s through 1822 required shaving at least twice a week (along with putting on a clean shirt).

On campaign a lot of niceties went by the wayside. Once account I have written by a Rifle Officer commented that they had been actively engaged with the French for so long without a break that everyone including himself had grown a beard and looked like "Jews". An account from Capt. Cavalie Mercer of Horse Artillery in 1815 commented that, "Bull wore beard and moustache; so did Newland; I wore the moustache."

Certain Regiments in the British Army sported mustaches (mostly Hussars and German staffed units like 5/60 and the KGL). Men in the Pioneer Units typically wore full beards.

Since I do a military presentation at Rendezvous I generally use my beard trimmer with the guard off before I leave home. I trim most of my beard leaving the sideburns typical of those illustrated by Smith in this plates from 1812-15. And I don't shave or trim again until I get home.