October 2021 30 Day Rule/Focus & Discussion. All are welcome!

SOTD SUNDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 3, 2021

Today I pulled out what I like to call the Edgar Allan Poe Stubtail for my mug shave. It's a Sheffield Ellis & Allan blade that sat unhoned and unscaled for at least 205 years. This lonely big honkin’ piece of steel was imported to the Ellis & Allan Mercantile Firm of Richmond, Va around 1815 by Jonathan Allan, the partner who managed their London branch. The other being Richard Ellis who handled US operations.

In any case the blade ended up at the Sandpoint, Idaho razor beauty spa along with another of similar vintage. The proprietor didn’t remember the particulars, but did transfer ownership to yours truly after honing it and clothing it in bone scales with an amber wedge all of which were affixed with period brass pins, along with beehive caps and washers.

It is an unusually sized stubtail at 8/8. This was the largest straight razor in my collection until the arrival of the Gipson Katsumi smiling blade at 14/13. Despite its girth, Glen Mercurio put an amazing edge on it that’s a joy to shave with. Although cleaning up my neck did require some additional buffing beyond the usual three passes along with some final flatblading, a technique I learned from BarberDave of the Shaving Cadre Forum to achieve my desired smoothness.

After yesterday’s shave with my Gem MMOC, I decided to give it another go. The MMOC was one of the first TTO designed safety razors. It is well-balanced enough that this old geezer with his arthritic joints is able to wield it comfortably and achieve an amazing level of smoothness, and everything worked just as well this morning. This efficient little razor sheared away my noggin stubble and left your happy narrator porcelain smooth from the shoulders up.

RAZOR: Ellis & Allan Stubtail 8/8 (Mug), Gem MMOC (Dome)
BLADE: Pella PTFE Gem
PREP: Cold water rinse followed by a scrub with Argan Oil
BRUSH: JT Sapele Resin Handled Omega Pro48 Boar Knot
SOAP: Fine Snake Bite
POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with brush squeezings followed by a rinse with Humphreys Lilac WH. Finished with Fine Snake Bite AS Splash.

 

Another stunning straight, Jeff. Always a pleasure to hear cool razor stories too! Glad to see the MMOC having another outing!

 

Great shave, Chris! I don’t know if you remember, but I hosted a zoom call you were on and demoed a straight shave! I think all straight shavers skin stretch when shaving with a safety razor. It definitely improves those safety razor shaves! Enjoy your Sunday.

 

Thanks, James! I keep forgetting how good so many of the safety razors I’ve kept over the years are. The MMOC is truly an awesome shaver!

 

I'd argue that it's part of the top three skills... The shaving trifecta: angle, pressure and skin stretching. In no particular order of importance.

 

James, angle and pressure are particularly key in straight shaving. Wrong angle or too much pressure (i.e. lightness of touch) and it’s definite red fluid time with a straight razor. And don’t forget focus. Without focus one shouldn’t straight shave or shave with a highly efficient safety razor like a MMOC, a Barbasol FH, R41, or any such safety razor.

 

....no, the Knicks aren't a part of Halloween. As for focus, I'd say they are the result of what happens if I don't meet up to the focus. As I said, they don't show up with EVERY shave(and for that I am pleased), but they do occur more often than I would like.

 

SRS # 571

Rating: 5 / 5

Razor: Frederick Reynolds 5/8”
Brush: Purple Haze Badger
Lather: Stirling Bergamot Lavender
Aftershave: Chatillon Lux Pure Lavender Toner
Additional Care:
Stirling Alum Block
Nivea Cool Balm
Thayer’s Witch Hazel - Original

Absolutely fantastic! This statement would apply to both the weather and the shave. We have a gorgeous Fall morning with warm temperatures and a blue sky with minimal cloud representation. Perfect day to just kick back and relax.

To assist in the relaxation, I opted for a soap and splash with the soothing effect of lavender. The Stirling B-L easy provide a slick luxurious lather. The CL PL toner finish off the shave with a wonderful face feel and an awesome scent. An easy three pass did the trick. Additional range of motion of the right shoulder has aided in the assistance of ski stretching for even better results.

Hope you all have a great day gentlemen.

 

Mercy that's a gorgeous brush!

 

Fine shave this morning. 0:40 to load the Simpsons onto the Stoylin brush. A much better "paint job" in preparation for the shave. As I worked through the first pass, I almost decided to leave it at the one, but then went for the second. Somewhere along the shave(I forget which pass)3 more "polkadots" showed up. Polkadots are better than Knicks(though not by much), and I wiped 'em off with the aftershave/cold water rinse combination. Yardley is an A.S. of which I haven't used much since it was PIFed to me, but I'll get cracking on it. It's a nice fragrance. I finished with Pierre Cardin "male parfum". Most Excellent.

 

In the States, the Snmirn is just under $10. Getting great shaves with that razor is remarkable. Although someday it may fall apart, you are not out of a lot money. Glad you found your daily driver, Barry!

 

Hi James. The Mühle R102 is the same as the R41, but with a different handle. The R 101 has a black handle. There's an R103, R104... You can Google the info and see the different handles.

 

Wonderful shave, Jeff! The EAP straight razor is beautifully restored and the history behind it makes it a great piece. Enjoy the day!

 

Marvelous, pic, shave and post, Joe! Glad that you are healing very well. I would normally go out, but my temp is 100.3 F. It was over 102 the last few days. I guess I had a very mild flu. I will stay home today. I will not be working out until Wed. Why put all that stress on myself while my body is fighting this thing. Enjoy the day!

 

The Snmirn does a good job..As you stated Although someday it may fall apart, i'm not out of a lot money..It'll make a great travel razor too.

 

That was a retro shave because polkadots were the fashion in the 50's and early 60's. Have a fun day, Paul.

 

Thank's Jeff. I intend to add my humble OC safety razors in the next few weeks. Enjoy the remainder of your Sunday, and have a safe coming week. Yours-Barry.

 

Thank You...Ingram's is wonderful stuff.

 

Fabulous shave, Joe! Sounds like you’re well on the way to recovery!

 

Great shave, Paul!