Topic: Any use (used) a straight edge razor?

[lordmoonpie]

Has anyone ever used a straight edge or cut-throat razor for shaving before? If so, what was it like to learn and what was the "finish" like 

I've been toying with the idea of getting one to learn for some time so thought I'd cast it out there and see what the general opinion is of a straight edge vs. a safety razor...

[HavocTurbo]

I use one.... not too hard to learn how to use.

Just make sure you keep it sharp and the finish is impeccible. Now I have very curly facial hair and I sometimes get ingrown hairs. Depending on the severity it will hack them right off.

Doesn't hurt, just bleeds a little.

Takes a while to get used to the angle you need for smooth cutting... but with hot foam it works like a charm.

[bucky katt]

until breaking my neck Simon, I used one that once belonged to my mothers father that came here from sicily with it in 1906. the nerve damage in my neck makes me shake too much to safely use thething anymore but i still keep it clean, and sharp and rust free. i use an old girth strap from a western saddle for the strop, it seems to be just the right consitency. i use the gillete machIII now.

[HavocTurbo]

i use an old girth strap from a western saddle for the strop, it seems to be just the right consitency.

Holy crap me too!!!! Except mine's from a logging harness.

[bucky katt]

old, well used saddle leather has been stretched and bent and well oiled/salted into what must be a perfect leather for keeping that straight razor nice and sharp. once per season (every 3 months) i wipe it down really well with murphys oil soap (cheaper and doesnt dry leather out like some saddle soap) and it stays nice and limber.

[lordmoonpie]

Thanks Guys - I think the hardest part is convincing the wife, she has visions of me or our daughter turning into some crazed Friday 13th night killer with one in the house. Of course she doesn't mind the 12" boning knife or the chinese cleaver in the kitchen.....women! 

[demon78]

What the start of the razor gang's again?
Bill the demon.

[sangyo soichiro]

Simon, your manliness factor will skyrocket if you start using a straight razor!  

 

[BobbyR]

I had an Uncle who was a Barber and he taught me how to use one. He told me you had to start young when the hair was softer to get the knack of it. It was OK when I did it, when he did it it was glass smooth. I gave up using it and you lose the knack. I tried it a couple of years ago and it was rough getting the angle. I use some 5 bladed razor today. The Barbers now use sttraight razors with replaceable blades, even the old goombas.

[Rocking-M]

we'll I did but when I started shaving my head about 15 years ago. I decided it would be hard to do the back of my
head with a straight razor. 

HV, what your using is a Belly Band. It's only a girth strap if from a saddle. 
When you've harnessed or saddled as many times as I have you learn these things. 

[HavocTurbo]

Old logging harnesses (pre-1900) used the girth straps from saddles as well as a modified girth strap across the front chest of the horse to help facilitate pulling. When woven fabric technology and the use of poly materials advanced they switched out the pad covered leather to a nice cushy padded textile strap(s). Around the mid 1800's the most widely recognizeable harness set-up was brought into use. The "collar and pommel" style is still in use to this day. For some reason (i blame cars) no more advancements in design were made since. Of course there's been some makers who decided to replace every piece of leather with seatbelt material..... that was fun. 

Not to push you away or anything, but I've grown up around horses my whole life, and continue to help run a ranch with my parents to this day.



EDIT:
But I went back and read my post and I can see where I sounded like a total raving lunatic. 

[Rocking-M]

no taken back at all HV. When you've walked 10,000 miles behind a team as I have you know horses too.

Here's the thing though, once you take it off the saddle and put it on the belly of the harness it's a belly band. 
At least that's what the Almish harness builders call it round here.
I'd don't use that modern stuff either.

BTW, I build my own saddles.

Here is me with my team. Old Tuck died last spring and I wrote an article printed in Draft Horse Journals work horse issue.

[bucky katt]

no taken back at all HV. When you've walked 10,000 miles behind a team as I have you know horses too.

Here's the thing though, once you take it off the saddle and put it on the belly of the harness it's a belly band. 
At least that's what the Almish harness builders call it round here.
I'd don't use that modern stuff either.

BTW, I build my own saddles.

Here is me with my team. Old Tuck died last spring and I wrote an article printed in Draft Horse Journals work horse issue.

i still canot get over how much they look like my tennessee walker/andalusian cross Onyx did. he was a great horse too.

[Rocking-M]

here's one of my saddles. And you fellows are right as rain, a sweat stained old oiled piece of saddle/harness leather
is hard to better for strop use.

[sangyo soichiro]

I would have never guessed in a million years that a question about razors would lead to a discussion about horses. 

 

[Rocking-M]

I would have never guessed in a million years that a question about razors would lead to a discussion about horses. 

 

  that's what happens when you been bounced on your head a few times like I have. 

[wannabridin]

i've always wanted to learn how to use a straight razor, but iw ouldn't even begin to know where to start!!  anyone know any good sources for a total n00b to start learning?  i'm gunna go ask one of the barbers around town that does straight razor shaves what he thinks too, but what do y'all think?

[Rocking-M]

i've always wanted to learn how to use a straight razor, but iw ouldn't even begin to know where to start!!  anyone know any good sources for a total n00b to start learning?  i'm gunna go ask one of the barbers around town that does straight razor shaves what he thinks too, but what do y'all think?

that's where to learn for sure. That's who showed me how and I only cut myself 342 times. 

[bucky katt]

I would have never guessed in a million years that a question about razors would lead to a discussion about horses. 

 

at one time ANY topic could be brought around to be about horses with me. last time i was around em though i got a little more than bounced on my head 

[Rocking-M]

I would have never guessed in a million years that a question about razors would lead to a discussion about horses. 

 

at one time ANY topic could be brought around to be about horses with me. last time i was around em though i got a little more than bounced on my head 

Bucky, I've a friend who was a 3 day eventer, the same can be said for her. Horse back riding accounts for a higher number
of bad accidents in the States than motorcycles. 

[the technological J]

i had never had a straight razor shave so it was christmas eve a few years ago and i decided to go in for a shave at the local barber shop... i had him give me a shave it took him almost an hour and was of the top three most painful experiences of my life... and after it was all said and done the kicker was i had to go home and get what he missed..... i had razor burn for a week.... the new razors are popular for a reason they work way way better

[lordmoonpie]

In the UK, there are three times as many deaths due to horseriding as there are attributable to bike riding and we've got the TT races too!

Dangerous things them horses.... 

[bucky katt]

as much as i love horses, theyre just big leather bags full of stupid especially the step-daughters arab mare, never seen a dumber creature in my life.

[Don R]

The only thing about horses I know is there are more of them here in Illinois than in Texas.

[HavocTurbo]

The two halves of horses' brains don't communicate with each other. So if a horse sees one thing in it's left eye.... and is fine...

It will see the same thing in it's right eye and freak out.


We used to have Belgians, and when I was 12 our pregnant mare got freaked and kicked me full force in the chest. I woke up in the hospital 3 days later.

She kicked me so hard my cartilage split around my sternum and between each rib. I had to wear a rib corset for 8 months. You could see the nails in the horseshoe in my bruises on my chest.

We now have Haflingers. Much smaller.