New str8 today a 5/8" Extra Hollow Ground Imperial in near mint condition for $25. Cleaning this one should be a cinch, some scrubbing bubbles, a little never dull and a final buff with the dremmel and some jewler's rouge and I'm off to the hone. That will be 3 FMC on the tarmac and one code 2 currently inbound and somewhere in USPS Hell. That leaves 3 more spots on my 7 day rotation. The last 3 spots will be filled as follows: Another vintage Boker (hopefully one with the whirlygigs on the spine) and the final 2 spots are reserved for Dubl Ducks.
You get some real nice scores ! I wonder though when you have a full 7 day set if you will start collecting 7 day sets then? That would be a real bad affliction :happy102
My moderate voice (the one I historically disregard every chance I get) says one razor for every day of the week will be more than adequate, especially if I round out the line up with a pair of Ducks and another Boker. However, I had the same sort of boorishly short-sighted thinking when I amassed 8 safety razors (5 Single Edge and 3 Double Edge) and 2 shavettes. You know how it is, you're happy with your rotation and then one day, there it is, a treasure you can't afford to pass up. I guess maybe 10 is a good round number...or no wait...I'll quit when I stop seeing straights I think are really cool...no that won't work either. You know, I could quit any time I want to, I just don't want to yet But seriously this Imperial is in bloody fantastic shape. If I didn't know better I'd say it was N.O.S. Even the box looked new and there was absolutely no rust, patina or even water spots on it anywhere. The pins are good and tight in any position. The scales are in pristine shape and it shows zero hone wear. The edge is even in great shape (it was actually relatively sharp out of the box, like pocket knife sharp). I'm off to the hone now.
Sounds like you got a beauty there GI! Did you find another Boker or are you still looking? If you get a chance put a photo of that bad boy on the forum so we can see. I know what you mean about setting limits; impossible!
Oy the dreaded 7's Now not to scare you, but I did the 7's for awhile, I said "One for each day, yeah that makes sense".... then I hit 8,,,, so of course the only logical Male solution was a 2 week rotation right??? Yeah at 77 razors I finally said "yep that didn't work out so well" happy102
And at some point you entirely give up on the idea of "rotation". That's when you start finding razors in various states of repair and sharpness scattered about the house and immediate environs, begin to lose track of which was bought when and from whom, and begin to give serious consideration to buying a 20 year diary to schedule each razor in for a shave..... James.
Update: My current straight razor stable sits at 5 FMC straight razors: 1. A 5/8" Wade and Butcher Wedge 2. A 6/8" Boker Red Injun #102 (my inaugural straight) 3. A 6/8" Frederick Reynolds Barber Tip (affectionately known as the Chopper) 4. A 6/8" Imperial Extra Hollow Ground 5. A 6/8" Boker Barber Tip All are great shaves but I think I prefer the hollow grounds over the wedge or choppers of the fleet at the moment. Problem is I have only 2 spots left in the line-up and easily a half dozen or so vintage straights available in the local area that I have in the crosshairs and several more on the net. I've pretty much decided that: No need to impose draconian limits on how many straights I allow myself to have. I'm hurting no one and thus far at least my acquisition costs are pretty reasonable Any Boker I stumble on in decent restorable condition will automatically be assimilated to the fleet A couple Ducks are absolutely mandatory A large old Frameback would be a good thing. I have a local source for a Le Coultre with five blades for $55. When I can sneak it in I'm there While it seems I'm partial to the larger hollow grounds, I wouldn't turn down another Fred Reynolds or Wade and Butcher humpback meat cleaver Cursed affliction indeed. I have this recurring dream where that lawyer fella from up in 'Bama decides to grow a beard and PIF me some of his fleet (yeah and a monkey might just fly out of my arse by midnight )
:happy088 GI A large old frameback is indeed a very good thing, and you surely wont go wrong with the LeCoultre; I love mine. Best Regards goshawk
Hate to break it to you, but you have a better chance of a monkey flying out your arse than my wife letting me in the house with a beard.
While I am still waiting for my first straight razor to arrive I can admit I feel a collection coming on. It's never enough to have just one. Right now I just have a few dannyco shavettes but I fin myself just staring at the door when I'm home for my henckles razor to come. Ps I went into a store today and played with a singing razor. Man just running my thumb across it and you could hear that beautiful singing! I had a stiffy right there. Lol kidding I swear!
Couldn't you pitch it as a time honored tradition of some sort, you know barrister southern gentleman requires majestic chin whiskers? Nah, now that I think of it, I don't think I've ever seen a lawyer (southern or otherwise) rocking substantial chin whiskers. In fact, if ever there was a quintessential straight razor guy it was Gregory Peck's character Atticus Finch in "To Kill a Mockingbird". Every time I see that movie I have to laugh at the absolutely enormous spitoon under the Atticus' desk in court. Times have indeed changed, I'm no lawyer but I doubt a modern lawyer could get away with spitting Red Man into any receptical while court is in session and not landing in jail.
I can't imagine having a beard in the AL summer. It's hot enough without facial hair! And yes, I believe spitting tobacco in court might land you in jail. And no, I'm not going to try in case I might end up in jail and have to grow a beard, as some part of your devious plan to secure my straight razors!
Yea I did that and ended up with 20 razors, recently though I whittled them down to about 10. Cheers David
