straight razor shaving

[Artificer]

My Grandpa, a WWI Veteran, shaved with a straight razor for all his 96 years. I still have his strop, though it is no longer serviceable.

I am truly enjoying this thread, though the idea of using a straight razor is too much for me. I have dozens of "purple hearts" from using the old two edge "safety" razors on Active Duty, so I shaved with a modern razor out of the historic area when I did living history or reenactments. :haha:

Gus

 

[Wes/Tex]

Anyone can do it...just go slow till you get teh feel of it.

 

[Flintlock]

This talk of straight razors gave me a fantastic idea for rendezvous competition. Say each team has maybe six members, you shoot, race down the line and get a shave from a team mate who runs back shoots the gong and receives a shave from the next team mate and so on till everyone on the team has had a shave with the straight razor and the gong has been hit the appropriate number of times. What could possibly go wrong here. Shaving against the clock.

 

[Cruzatte]

Well that won't be the fastest of timed events! :haha:

 

[Kansas Jake]

Well, on my team, I would want 5 professional barbers skilled in straight razor shaving whether they were good shooters or not. I would be the last in the relay. :grin:

 

[csitas]

I really like "Stophel" here. At least he's honest.

 

[Billnpatti]

I never had the guts to try using a straight razor. I was afraid of opening up a jugular vein in the process. Long, long ago when I was doing Civil War reenacting, I used to take my safety razor, pan of hot water, towel and can of modern shave cream inside my tent and close the flaps until I was done. Then, I would apply more lather to my face and go outside where I could be seen and use a straight razor with a blade that was not quite as sharp as a butter knife to scrape off the lather from my already shaved face. It looked good and no one was injured in the creation of this scene. Was it truly authentic? Hell no but I lived to fight another day.....and that's what counted in my books. :hmm:

 

[Wes/Tex]

Was it truly authentic? Hell no but I lived to fight another day.....and that's what counted in my books. :hmm:

:wink: :haha:
It's not really as dangerous as it appears though. Just remember to have a good wet lather and pull the skin tight so it doesn't roll up ahead of the blade edge...that's how you get cut. It'll take 15 minutes the first couple times because of natural caution but with practice and confidence it'll go much quicker. Just pay attention. You can't carry on two conversations and play checkers at the same time! :thumbsup:

 

[MIOutdoorsman]

Guess I'll chime in here and admit that I've been strait-razor shaving for over a year now. Prior to that I started with Double Edge (DE) razors too. With proper technique and high quality soaps, I find both techniques superior to modern disposable razors, with much less razor rash or ingrown hairs. I have very thick facial hair and used to get ingrown hairs often. Since moving to straight razors I rarely have any issues. Plus... it's just cool as heck to revive these ancient relics!

 

[Rick Boylan]

:hatsoff:

 

[JOHN F]

it is very relaxing and I have no wife or kid although my kitties and dog occasionally visit me during a shave. patience,good lather and good stropping seem to be the best. it is amazing how close it can get..

 

[JOHN F]

the bladesmith that makes them is scott Summerville or summerlotte? he sells them 50 to 60 $ cheaper then townsend. I had it in about 3 days.. hope this helps,,

 

[Coot]

Scott Summerville "Knifemaker to the Illinois Country". I generally see him at Martin's Station. His blades are hard to resist.

 

[jrmflintlock]

Still have not heard if the razor Townsend sells is a good one to spend $$$ on. I know Straight Razor Design has good ones but they don't make a HC one. I cannot afford multiple $100 razors. So I'm still trying to do research. If Townsend's are no good I'll get a more modern one but I would rather spend my $$$ on a HC one.

I can't find Scott Sommerville on line. Does anyone have his contact info??

Thanks for the help!!

 

[zimmerstutzen]

I tried using a straight razor once. No stitches required, but I looked like I lost a fight with a stray cat.

 

[Cruzatte]

This discussion inspired me to get out my old Wade & Butcher (a rather unfortunate name for a famous English cutlery firm) last Saturday night. Yessir, best shave I've had in weeks.

 

[Coot]

Still have not heard if the razor Townsend sells is a good one to spend $$$ on. I know Straight Razor Design has good ones but they don't make a HC one. I cannot afford multiple $100 razors. So I'm still trying to do research. If Townsend's are no good I'll get a more modern one but I would rather spend my $$$ on a HC one.

I can't find Scott Sommerville on line. Does anyone have his contact info??

Thanks for the help!!

Scott Summerville 8655 Garrett Rd., Alma, IL 62807
[email protected]

 

[MSW]

Mr. Sommerville's work looks very nice. I have been using a Hart Steel straight for about the last three years (maybe 2 1/2?) and couldn't be happier ... mine was a bit pricier than your budget. to see what's available, look at "sraightrazors" dot "com" and put "hart razor" into their internal search engine ... you're in the $160 range, more or less. the 'pro sharpening' in an excellent investment - also, get the nicest strop you can afford ... makes a huge difference.

welcome to the (only) slightly eccentric works of straight razor shavers ... you can tell a fellow straight user if you know how to look ... we're the ones who are just a little bit more 'cool' than the poor fellows who have been brainwashed into using cheap pot metal and disposable plastic.

 

[jrmflintlock]

Thanks Guys!!

 

[Rick Boylan]

:hatsoff: