So many Single Edge razors this month (
SE-ptember... I get it.). Regrettably, I find myself without the use of traditional SE razor—although I think if I dug deep enough I'd be able to locate a 1912 GEM somewheres in the storage archives.

That being said, I
could argue that every straight razor I use qualifies as
the 'single-edged' razor in its original form...but I won't.
I am awaiting the arrival of a spectacularly-scary straight razor (courtesy of fellow TSD enabler,
entropy49—Mike) that sort of
raises the bar on how intimidating a straight razor can be.
The razor is a
Masto Livi custom. 8/8' (1.0" wide blade), Spanish point, half hollow, Olivewood scales.
As Mike describes, using this razor is
"...Like shaving with a meat cleaver. An HHT-5+ meat cleaver!"
Here is the Italian Behemoth next to a Wonderedge razor of standard proportions...
![[IMG]](proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi434.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq61%2Fentropy1049DR650%2FMobile%2520Uploads%2F2BE49716-4664-40EE-A49D-D382E3628B2D.jpg&hash=54662e3afd182e83b20d998b880fbe7e)
So what does
HHT mean? It stands for
'hanging hair test'—a non-standard method of determining edge sharpness by how effortlessly a blade's edge cut through a hand-held
single hair placed against the edge. A scale of 0-5 is often used,with five being the sharpest.
Heres how one shaving site described the variances in the
Hanging Hair Test:
- HHT-0 - shave: The hair can be shaved immediately at the holding point. This is strictly speaking not a true HHT, but it does tell us that the edge is capable of shaving.
- HHT-1 - violin : The hair doesn't cut, but it "plays violin" with the edge. This is due to the shingles catching the edge, but it's not sharp enough to penetrate. On a full hollow razor, a faint ringing sound can be heard. On all razors it can be felt with the fingertips that hold the hair.
- HHT-2 - split: When it is dragged across the edge, the edge catches the hair and splits it lengthwise.
- HHT-3 - catch&pop: When it is dragged across the edge a bit, the edge catches the hair and pops it. The severed part will jump away.
- HHT-4 - pop: The hair is popped immediately when it touches the edge. It still jumps away.
- HHT-5 - silent slicer: The hair falls silently as soon as it touches the edge.
I'm not a big proponent on the reliability of the HHT as far as one achieving comfortable shave resulting from a higher number. I've had razors that easily hit the HHT 4 mark that were uncomfortable shavers. I've had HHT 2 & 3s razors that were dreamy smooth.
Well ,with all this blather being said,
I know this incoming custom razor shall be extremely sharp and large.
I'll have it for seven consecutive days of shaving. Using it will require some serious FOCUS on my part. Not
30 days of focus....simply seven.
Hopefully I'll live to tell.

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