... Dax got me thinking this morning... I needed a shave... a real shave.. being a redhead, I can get by with shaving every other day... my daily stubble can be felt, but not seen unless I go for more than two days... it is a blessing and a curse... a blessing in that I don't have to shave that often... and a curse in that if I ever wanted to grow a mustache, it'd take me 3 years of cultivation it before it'd be visible... dammit.... on the other hand, I had a roommate once who had to shave twice a day to keep the NCOs from writing him up.. he would have a complete, full beard at the end of a weekend of camping... compared to him, I feel perfectly blessed..
... Mr. Montana is right about another thing, too... if you have never had yourself shaved by a barber with a straight razor, you are missing out... I was shaved every day when I was in Dhaka by a little, gnarled-up, 100 year old man... he would wrap my face in a hot towel... lather up the soap.. and work that razor like a madman... never once cut me... afterwards, he'd comb my hair, douse me with a sweet smelling antiseptic, and send me on my way... fresh as a daisy... all for fifteen cents...
... I've never enjoyed using an electric razor though.. I always preferred a blade... it just seems cleaner... for the past few years, I have been a Mach III guy... I like'em... those puppies cut through my fair-haired whiskers like nobody's business... good stuff... and I prefer shaving gel to foam too, while we're at it...
... anyway, two weeks ago, I was gifted an antique razor.. gold plated... complete with the original box, spare blades, and leather sharpening strop.. it's a beaut... I was tempted to break it out, and give it a go this morning after reading Dax's post... but, upon further reflection, I lost my nerve... I'll leave the 1917 technology in the box, and stick to my Mach III... there is something deeply psychological about that little "moisture strip" on my Gillette... it just oozes "I will not cut you, friend"... this little darling does NOT give off the same vibe.. at all..
... the photos really don't do it justice.. this baby is a work of art...
.. the Valet AutoStrop Razor.. Made in the U.S.A..
Looking for a straight
razor shave? Nashville
Knife Shop has a wide variety of straight
razors and safety razors to choose from.
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Holy Cow! I remember those things! We found a bunch of never used blades still in the box when we cleaned out my grandparent's house.
Bullshitted by Maeve on February 4, 2005 06:02 PMWithout a little patience and practice you'll look like a splattergore victim if you use that. It is called a "safety" razor only in that it is safer than shaving with a blender motor. Beautiful, though. I used to shave my legs with a 1962 Gillette of similar design, only it was only made of soulless stainless steel.
Bullshitted by Velociman on February 4, 2005 06:27 PMJust damn nice, when I had plenty of money, a barber shaved me with a staight razor everyday, if was wonderful, now that I don't give a shit anymore, I shave about twice a week with a safety razor, who cares, Cat.
Bullshitted by Catfish on February 4, 2005 07:08 PMSHAVE with it and I'll be impressed. But I still say you're a pussy until you try a straight razor by yourself.
Do it and tell me THAT story, bad-ass.
Bullshitted by Acidman on February 4, 2005 08:59 PMI have a better idea. Shave Acidman with it, Eric. I'll hold him down. He'll probably want it over with quick, so don't be too precise. Time is of the essence.
Bullshitted by Velociman on February 4, 2005 09:32 PMPretty slick little unit, it is, I'm impressed. If you ever decide to try it, you simply must put aside the gel and break out the old mug and brush, though
http://www.mainegoodies.com/nonfood/shavingsoap/
Regarding the thin beard: When I first tried to grow one I was 17 and working construction, and an old black guy counseled me that the way to get it to thicken was to take a stiff brush and brush my face vigorously against the grain throughout the day to irritate the whiskers. In retrospect, I think it was the equivalent of sending me off to find a 'sky hook', and I think he got a good chuckle out of it, because of course I was brushing my face raw for several months before I gave up.
Bullshitted by John Climacus on February 4, 2005 10:39 PMIt's thin because you didn't apply enough fertilizer on it when you were younger.
Bullshitted by Dash on February 5, 2005 12:01 AMWow..thats a pretty nice peice of equipment! :)
Bullshitted by Sheilah on February 5, 2005 01:09 AMwhat a gorgeous antique this is, yet these types of technologies really do improve with time. I would keep it in a safe place and away from your face unless you've a stypic stick at the ready.
Bullshitted by justrose on February 5, 2005 09:02 AMYou ain't coming nowhere near my balls with that Torquemada instrument, no matter WHO tries to hold me down. I carry a pistol everywhere I go. I'll shoot somebody if you go for my nuts.
But I might let you try it on my face. I ain't all that pretty to begin with, so I don't have a lot to lose.
Bullshitted by Acidman on February 5, 2005 10:58 AM... I'll bring it to Jekyll.. if the offer still stands, I'll shave you with it, Acidman.. but I ain't gonna paint your toenails..
Bullshitted by Eric on February 5, 2005 02:46 PMI'm gonna second John C's comment. Yes, I have a beard, but I keep my neck shaved (with a Mach 3 - best thing that ever happened to shaving). About a year ago I started using a soap/mug/brush combo. There's a certain elegant aesthetic pleasantness to the process that squirting gunk out of a can can't compare to.
Bullshitted by Harvey on February 5, 2005 07:27 PM