Thread: Hoining straight razor.

i have couple times bought razor from bay and get wondered . I am sure most of you get questions when you get your new razor who used , what he did, he profession etc,etc. This is second time for at least 5 year period i have amazed to see Some people really new what are they doing. This razor is well used and when i got it i just check the edge. I couldn't believe what i was seen . I think owner of this blade should be great honer. It has been honed in perfect smile face and equal amount steel removed from the heel and tip of the blade.
This made me think a little and this comes out from my mind.
Most people can hone and get great edge.
Question is how much metal will someone remove to get that edge.
Less you remove metal- more life to the blade.
I really think old times we had more great honers then today.
The reason is straight razor was around in every corner and they were using ,practicing more then we do. (although we do have more synthetic hones to day and may get better edge then they do)
This is just thoughts and let 's see what do you guys think.
this is the picture of the blade. one day i will buy better camera.

I've gotten a couple of old ones that were like that. One was an FWE that belonged to an old NY barber and his son was selling the old man's stuff on ebay after the senior had passed away. I got the razor and a dished coticule from him. The razor as super sharp.

Another was a cased pair of Helje framebacks that a friend picked up in an antique store. One of the two was unused and still is. The other was shave ready and I've gotten a few shaves out of it and have yet to have to touch it up.

I'm a sucker for a pretty smile.

I observe the honing on every razor I purchase. While a majority of my blades come from local 'shops' I do have a bunch of EBay specials in the herd, but where they where purchased from is not important. I observe each and every razor's bevel and style of honing and in most cases I try to duplicate their bevel. As you mentioned, there were many great honing people back then and I am sure a lot of the tricks of the trade have been lost. Bu coping their honing style and shaving with the blade I can experience the shave as close to the last person as possible. One of the more interesting or the interesting blades is the Gaines razor I have. Here is a link to it: http://www.straightrazorplace.com/fo...ory-again.html

It took a few strokes to get used to the blade style but in the end I liked it a lot.

I think, as Lynn mentioned in a previous thread, the internet helped spread the learnings and equipment used for honing and shaving giving us a better understanding of honing and the availability of the numerous tools. There were great honmiester in the days gone by but their ability to share their skills were limited by the means of travel and communication.

Hi Bud,
I believe the question you are asking is, With all of the people that have the ability to get a good edge, how much metal are they sacrificing to get one? If that is the question,here is my answer.
If they are learning on their own and starting out, way too much. I say this not from arrogance but in learning that took me many years to accomplish. Lack of experience no matter what method you adopt always involves a sequence. Intervals require the sharpener, to understand what has happened at each step and that reqires feel. Professional Honers make money by knowing exactly when to stop at each step so they don't waste time or money or steel. Amatuers can learn this too, but until they develope a feel for what happens at each step, they are going to waste lots of metal.