Anyone shave with their knife?

I don't shave while camping.

If I did, I would bring a razor. The edge shape and profile for shaving is very specific to the task.

Check out the old folding straight razors. That's how they did it in the old days.
 
Col. Cornelius said:
I don't shave while camping.

If I did, I would bring a razor. The edge shape and profile for shaving is very specific to the task.

Check out the old folding straight razors. That's how they did it in the old days.
Click to expand...

wise words, lumberjacks don't use their chain saws to shave do they ???
 
When I was first getting into Scandis, I sharpened a Mora #1 where I was able to do a complete shave with it. Used plenty of shaving soap to get it done. That happened one time and I've never felt like doing it again.
 
I shave with a straight razor on a regular basis, does that count? I have been using a Dover straight razor for about a year now. Never cut myself even once. It is a lot more fun than using a safety razor. It forces you to slow down and really pay attention. Its almost meditative!
 
I tried that one (1) time on a bet when I was a lot younger and more foolish (alcohol was involved). Save yourself a bloody face, and stick to razors: that's what they're for.
 
I've seen Murray Carter do this a few times -- once at the Oregon knife show with a Japanese machete he forged, once with his neck knife, and once with a half of a broken kitchen knife he kept honed just for that purpose.

Pretty good shave all 3 times. There are some fragmentary videos on YouTube of him doing it. I've been tempted to try it, but he has been talking about forging a run of traditional Japanese straight razors. I'll probably wait for that. :o
 
I've done it in a pinch with my Rc-4 but like has been said here it is not the best or most comfortable shave. I dont shave in the bush like a lot have said, why bother.
 
Personally, I don't bother shaving while I'm camping. But if it were a neccesity, I would just carry a replacement blade for any razor. I've brought heads for my Mach3 before. Super lightweight and works a lot better than any knife.
 
The edge you need to maintain for a comfortable face shave is VERY touchy, to where you would not be able to do camp chores without destroying that edge, making it unshavewithitable.... I've had straight razor fans warn me not to even thumb the edge, for fear of its delicacy. Though that might be a bit much.
 
I've heard of people shaving with Douk-Douks, but have never personally done it. If I wanted to shave with a knife, I'd pick up a straight razor. Till then, I'll stick to my DE razors. I feel kind of bad tossing away perfectly good blades simply because they've dulled, but it'll have to do till I can splurge for a straight razor and a decent strop.
 
That sounds about as painful as using my straight razor to cut stuff.

I'd have no qualms using a knife as a razor if I reprofiled it to 10-degrees inclusive and properly honed it. Of course, then I wouldn't use it as a cutting tool.

My goal on long camping trips is to see how ragged I can look by the end. It's kinda fun.
 
I shave with straights most of the time, folks are right, being thin really helps. For me, I need to get a finer finish than the Spyderco UF stone for a comfortable shave. I once accidentally nicked my DOVO on my thumbnail, it took a while to work that one out. I don't think you want your knife to be that delicate.
 
I have to shave regularly because it gets to be very painful to let the hair grow in too much.

And a comfortable edge won't last for any knife tasks. You can't even cut moderate thread with a disposable razor, it puts dents in the edge. I tried to set up a baseline measurement of sharpness, and found that cutting sewing thread one time damaged the edge enough that it took 5-6 times the force on the second cut.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top