Blade shapes

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Jan 27, 2006
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Does the different Blade tip designs have any purpose other than esthetics? I inherited three Razors, each with a different blade grind and shape. One is rounded, one is square, and one has what I was told was a "dreadnaught" shape, kind of an inward curve.
 
The main things is the rounded ones are much easier to use (many people nick themselves frequently with the square type), but the square type allows more precision (just like a straight razor does in the first place). Squares are primarily if you have the sort of mustache/beard style that might require you to shave a single hair at a time (and you can shave it much closer than with electric trimmers, obviously). A lot of people will also tell you that's the only time to break out the square one, unless you want to look like you lost a fight with a wet cat.

Other shapes, I don't know.
 
It sounds like the other one you're talking about has a barber's notch. I guess it helps barbers shave customers.
 
Does the different Blade tip designs have any purpose other than esthetics? I inherited three Razors, each with a different blade grind and shape. One is rounded, one is square, and one has what I was told was a "dreadnaught" shape, kind of an inward curve.

You know we want pictures ;)
 
Sorry, no pictures as of yet. I live on the road, and when vacation comes and I go "home"" I will send pictures, as surely there will be more questions to ask about them. All I really know now is they belonged to my Grandfather and Great Grandfather. That would mean they were made before 1950 at the latest, and at least one would be pre 1940. When I was given them I didn't even write down manufacturers or details. They looked in good condition or better, one in a box, nothing really outstanding except one had what to me was an unusual grind. That will be photographed for you all, because to me it looks like a fuller groove, but nearly from the spine to the edge. All that can wait though, wish I took pictures then.
 
I forgot to mention, those square ones can nick up your strop, too, if you aren't careful! Just another thing to keep in mind if you plan on using them. They're really mainly useful for maintaining an Errol Flynn type mustache or something.

And I'd bet one or more are even older than the 40's, considering how long straight razors can last. I have what I believe is the only razor ever owned my double-paternal great grandfather (or whatever a father's father's father is called). It was bought when he first started growing facial hair, so that would be sometime around the late 1910's or early 1920's, I think. Probably cost less than $5. He could've easily bought other razors, but it was the only one anyone ever found, and he wasn't the type of man to buy something new, when the old one is still fine. And it does still shave (despite some well-meaning heir, I have no clue who, taking steel wool to the thing at some point! I hope that wasn't my grandma. It did take quite a bit of work to recondition, but fortunately I was able to salvage the edge), and I do use it from time to time.

Looking forward to when you can get pics. I don't think I've ever seen an outward-curved point. And all 3 razors should be deeply hollow-ground, so if the hollow grind of one sticks out, that should be very interesting to see, too.
 
I did look up the name of the point, and it is called a dreadnaught, Hopefully nobody was confused by my description. There is no noticable rust on the blades as recalled, And one of the handles was yellow, possibly of resin or plastic, and one was black, I was thinking horn, but was pretty sure it was not bakelight. The third I do not rightly recall, only looking at them for a few minutes. I looked up a list of manufacturers, but nothing was triggered by that search.

I am hoping They are usable, but am going to see about practicing with a new straight razor. I will probably post elsewhere for that info though.
 
Ryan M, Roughly, the cross section of one of the razors has a relativly thick spine, and then the cutting edge is beveled and goes right into the hollow grind. I am not sure when I will get to them though, probably in the spring, I am negotiating for vacation now. These razors are probably not unusual or rare, my Grandfather was a bus door maker and my Great Grandfather a coal miner. They both seldom if ever traveled out of the midwest, living mostly in Indiana and Michigan.
 
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