Old Fashioned Safety Razors?

I still stick to a cut throat straight razor here, but it is one you have to be paying attention to what you are doing or else...

Once you get used to the prep and having a properly stropped and honed blade there is no better, smoother or closer shave.
 
bigwheelzip said:
Hubby still uses the same handle he got as a teen, from his older brother who was annoyed at him for using his. He uses any blade brand at the supermarket, and never uses cream, just wet shaves after a shower.

I posted this recently, a WWI US Army shaving kit that was issued to my husbands maternal grandfather. Razor, blades holder (still one unused blade inside), polished metal "mirror" to see yourself.

WWI-Shaving-Kit.jpg


Husband's uncle (the son of the soldier issued the WWI shaving kit) shaving out of his helmet, in the jeeps side-view mirror. We think it's in Korea, about 1960.

shaving.jpg
Click to expand...



I had a shaving kit like that. Bought it in a garage sale. It is currently on display at the WW1 Liberty Memorial Museum in Kansas City. It's part of the Dough Boys Backpack. Still had 2 blades and 2 thumbtacks used to hold the mirror up in the trenches.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
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Everyone's mileage varies, of course, but a couple years ago my wife bought me a Harry's Razor, and I'll never look back. It feels like scraping my face (around the edges, anyway) with a smooth piece of cardboard.

I certainly understand using something considered out-dated because it works (I DO shoot a revolver!), but when it comes to a razor, I'll go with new-fangled.
 
My "daily driver" Gillette Super Speed is as old as I am, with a date code of 2nd Qtr. 1956. I have been using it for almost 30 years now.

Ditch the aerosol shave cream, that stuff is noxious. Get a good badger hair brush and make your own lather. I am partial to Col. Conk's Bay Rum shave soap. Neat thing about it is that it melts after 10-15 seconds in the microwave, so that it is easier to handle in my shaving mug as well as the travel container that I pack in my Dopp kit.
 
bigwheelzip said:
Hubby still uses the same handle he got as a teen, from his older brother who was annoyed at him for using his. He uses any blade brand at the supermarket, and never uses cream, just wet shaves after a shower.

I posted this recently, a WWI US Army shaving kit that was issued to my husbands maternal grandfather. Razor, blades holder (still one unused blade inside), polished metal "mirror" to see yourself.

WWI-Shaving-Kit.jpg


Husband's uncle (the son of the soldier issued the WWI shaving kit) shaving out of his helmet, in the jeeps side-view mirror. We think it's in Korea, about 1960.

shaving.jpg
Click to expand...

Thank you for posting this. It is the exact razor that I have from my grandfather. I've had it for over 40 years. It is one of my prized possessions. I was figuring it was close to 100 years old but never new it was army issued. I just have the razor not the rest of the kit.
 
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I used a Gillette safety razor for years, from when I was a teen to about age 33. The main problem I had with mine (using Gillette blue blades) was that each edge would shave comfortably for just one shave. I used a dab of nail polish on one side so that I could distinguish one side from the other reliably, then each blade could be used for two shaves.

I started using Trac-II disposable cartridge razors then, and have continued using them since - updating to the Trac-II Plus with the "comfort strip" when they became available. I still use the same original handle. The cartridge blades seem to be usable for about 2 weeks each - I change blades at the 1st and 15th of each month.

I think more than two blades per cartridge is simply a gimmick, and have stuck with the original.

My dad purchased disposable twin-blade razors for whatever reason - perhaps they were actually more economical. Before that, he used a safety razor, but he did not use shaving soap in a pressure can - he always used a shaving brush and some cake hand soap in the bottom of a cup for both old and new-style razors.

John
 
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I tried everything from electric to safety razors. I have gone back to the Walmart one like the first post. They give a better shave and are inexpensive.
 
I started shaving in basic training the razor that I was forced to buy when I was in Air Force Basic training. double edge. when I got out of basic training I went back to using the mug and brush. I lost all my shaving kit in Viet Nam. When I got back to the state it was back to the double edge razor and mug and brush.

I few years ago my wife bought me some shaving soap from Oglala Bay Rum company, The soap is all natural with oils of gloves, cinnamon Bay leaf oil orange peel oil and other stuff. Give a nice lather and smells good, the aftershave is also nice. About a year ago my brother gave me a bottle of Olivine beard and shave prep oil. I use that before I apply the shave soap smooth shave no nicks

I have found that the length of the razor handle effects the smoothness to the shave. I get a good shave with a shorter handle .

If you are going to shave you should enjoy the process.
 
Old TexMex said:
[Just in case it isn't obvious. The new blade pack should have a place to put the old blades to safely dispose of them. Loose blades can be a hazard.]
.....................................................................


I know...this is weird, but here's the medicine chest in my 1937 model house. Note the slot to the right? That's for dumping used blades. When I remodeled there were hundreds of old blades between the studs piled up on the floor plate. (inside the wall)
Click to expand...

Not weird, really. I've lived in apartments for thirty-six years, and all the medicine cabinets have had the drop slot in the medicine cabinet.

I can't use a blade razor anymore because I'm on a couple of blood thinners. Been using a an electric, but I miss the blades.
 
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Was not getting good shaves with the disposable blades so I switched and am glad I did.

I use a Merkur safety razor and Feather blades. I use a badger brush and a variety of soaps. Finish with cold water, followed by Witch Hazel, and favorite after shave. Love trying different AS. Got everything from old school Pinaud to Santa Maria Novella (picked up In Florence). Favorite is Truefitt & Hill 1805. Oh and my wife likes it to.

If you're interested in going the safety razor route check out West Coast Shaving for product. And as someone else recommended Badger and Blade forum for advice.

Get yourself a variety pack so you can try different blades. You will find a preference. My buddy didn't like the Feathers, I do, so I traded a stack of other brands for the Feathers. I've never gotten a smoother shave. The other brands are good, but I prefer the Feathers.
 
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A little better than sixty-five years ago as I was watching my great uncle shave, I asked, "Uncle Tony, why do you use that barber kind of razor instead of a Gillette like Dad uses?

He responded, "Shaving with a straight razor is a useful skill for a man to have. When you are old enough, I'll teach you. Besides, someday, when you are married you will understand."

About 10 years later, Uncle Tony was good to his word and he set me up with a razor and taught me to use it. It was cool and awed my friends. But after a couple of years, I wound up in the Army and life in the barracks meant a return to safety razors.

Not many years after, I got married and was living off-post. One morning, running late, I picked up the dull, soggy, matted, leg hair clogged mess that was my razor, and my great uncle's words came back to me. "Yes, I was married and finally understood."

That evening the 4/8 Henckels he gave me when I turned 16 came out of the closet, the strop went into the bathroom. So except for hanging onto a good DE Gillette for those times I had to live in the billets, and these days for traveling on the airlines. I have been gratefully using my meager collection of razors for over half a century now and have passed on Uncle Tony's wisdom to my sons and nephews.
 
2 Straights

Outstanding Topic and really Awesome Replies.

It seems when ever the Topic of Razors comes up, both
Double Edge and the Straight Razors come up. They go
Hand in Hand.

Many Years ago I acquired 2 Straight Razors from our
Norwegian Farm House. Recovered from inside a dark
drawer I'm sure. This was before the '41 Gillette above.

They resided in a Box of Collectables for years. Someone
from work said he collected Old Straight Razers, so I got
them out of the Box, and put mine on Display. I've looked
at these for probably ten years.

Once again I'm not sure which Great Grandfather or Uncle
owned them, but they are Safe now.

The one has Blade Acid Engraved and the other has Roll
Stamp on the stem part near the Handle. I think their Neat.
 

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