Shaving With a 1912 the Traditional Way

[Deelyte]

I had another great shave this morning using a traditional/original design this morning with my EVER-READY 1924/SHOVELHEAD. The blade I used was a GEM DOUBLE LIFE BLADE with no notches. I stropped the blade with my EVER-READY stropper ten laps on my canvas strop then twenty on leather. As usual the blade was very keen and comfortable.

I would like to know if any others besides Billy and myself are using their razors in this manner. I would love to hear about your experience.

SMOOTH SHAVES FELLOWS

 

[santamariasteve]

Deelyte, you soaked the blades in alcohol for 5 hours???

 

[Deelyte]

Deelyte, you soaked the blades in alcohol for 5 hours???

Santamariasteve, yes I did SWMBO called me out to do something and five hours later I returned to finish what I was doing and I go overboard sometimes

 

[Deelyte]

I'm at it again doing a EVER-READY 1912 shave on the 12th of March. I had a wonderful shave this morning using a traditional setup the razor with a Vintage GEM DOUBLE LIFE BLADE.

 

[Klopstick]

I've been using the heavy, embossed spine GEM blades, stropped on CBN and rouge with the Ever-ready stropping flipper-dinger tool, and they work very well. Made new strops out of thin pigskin and it's perfect for the job. About the thickness of shirt cardboard and very smooth on one side. I'd been using simialr, but a bit wider for my wedge blade setup.

What's the difference, if any between the un-notched blades and the notched ones? Thicker?

 

[Deelyte]

I've been using the heavy, embossed spine GEM blades, stropped on CBN and rouge with the Ever-ready stropping flipper-dinger tool, and they work very well. Made new strops out of thin pigskin and it's perfect for the job. About the thickness of shirt cardboard and very smooth on one side. I'd been using simialr, but a bit wider for my wedge blade setup.

What's the difference, if any between the un-notched blades and the notched ones? Thicker?

KLOPSTICK, I have both types of blades and I pulled them out to see if I noticed a difference other than the notches. Yes the blade without notches is thicker and the spine is thicker as well.

 

[Klopstick]

Yes the blade without notches is thicker and the spine is thicker as well.

Thought that might be the case with a name like "Double Life". I'll have to dig through my collection to see if I have one. Seems like I recall one around here someplace!

 

[Deelyte]

I thought I would bump this thread again. Anybody since March using their razors this way?

 

[Jhona1971]

First WTG Whisker Knock Down with an Original Cru Stropping Blade..

Original Cru Blade & Stropping Handle..

Todays Shave Set Up..

I just had the most Wonderful Shave of my Life with My Ever Ready 1912 with an Original Cru Steel Stropping Blade Today..A Dolphin Smooth All Over BBS Result was achieved as Easy as Wiping My Darn Nose with Tissue Paper..

I spent my time last evening Stropping 3 of these NOS Cru Steel blades..I Stropped them for around 80 laps a Side..Although NOS these Cru blades deteriorate with time..These blades are around 100 Yrs' Old..You can also bring them back with some Chromium Oxide & a piece of flat balsa wood which is cheap as chips..I have heard many a Folks saying that they have tried these blades & they Tug & are not usable..Well..Thats because they are not shave ready & No other Reason..These Cru Steel Blades are far more sharp than a Current Gem Blade when correctly sharpened & far smoother by a Long Shot..

These Cru Steel Stropping Blades are worth a 100 Current Gem Blades..One of these with Daily Stropping should last 3 to 6 months & after that can be brought back by a little honing with some Chromium Oxide..By the Way..A Monkey can Do this..You Don't need to be a an Expert..I sure Aint..Its So Darned Easy..All that is required is the Patience..Thats it in a Nut Shell..

As you can see in the First Pic the 1912 Cru Blade Combo Knocked Down Two Days of Whiskers in one ATG Pass..I achieved an almost all over BBS Result on my 2nd ATG Pass & my 3rd Pass was more of a Touch Up Job..These Blades are just so Darn Comfortable & Smooth as Icing on a Cake..A Current Gem Blade Just isn't Fit to Lick their Boots..I hear folks talkin about Traditional Wet Shaving this & That & Knocking Modern Cartridge Systems as if its not Real Wet Shaving..If we follow that line of thought through to its Logical Conclusion then Everybody that is Shaving with a 1912 with a Current Gem Blade is about the same thing as shaving with a Cartridge head on a DE Handle..

I don't follow that line of thought I have to say..I have went on about this many times..A Current Gem Blade is not Harsh..Its the Current Gem Blade & Older 1912 Comb geometry that is All Wrong..These Older SE s were designed to take these Older Stropping Blades with a Thicker Spine..The blade is far more Rigid as Well and of course hasn't a Mult Faceted Factory Made Cutting Edge..You can Replicate the correct angle with Shimming..


This works well..But if you want the Best from your 1912 then the Original Cru Blade is the Way to Go with the Traditional Stropping Methods..This is not a YMMV thing..This is the Traditional Way..The 1912 is One Almighty Shaver when its used the Traditional Way as it was Intended..You are only Sniffing the Full Potential with a 1912 using a Current Gem Blade..It only requires 30 Laps a Side on a Strop after your shave & its ready to Go..As I mentioned above a Monkey can Do this..Its So Easy to getting into shaving with a 1912 the Traditional Way..

Billy

Where can you get these blades? And good do you personally hone them?

 

[HoosierTrooper]

Where can you get these blades? And good do you personally hone them?

He hasn’t been back since 2016, kind of doubt that he’s going to answer you.

 

[Jhona1971]

He hasn’t been back since 2016, kind of doubt that he’s going to answer you.

 

[Alum Ladd]

It helps to hover over the user avatar before responding to posts.

They can give a host of information, including when joined, when last seen (important), how many messages posted and age, which can give you a guideline as to recommending expensive gear (i.e a professional Gent on a good pension aged maybe 60+ or a 21 year old who may have at this point a low disposable income) User names can give clues as to current or former professions.

It's the subtle things that help your posts in terms of relevance.

Post sensitively and intelligently, based on the info you can glean.

Just some friendly tips which have helped me navigate B&B and give more targeted and astute info in posts.

 

[RocketMan]

He hasn’t been back since 2016, kind of doubt that he’s going to answer you.

But some of us are just slower than others. Hey Tom! Hope you are well!

 

[HoosierTrooper]

But some of us are just slower than others. Hey Tom! Hope you are well!

I’m doing well thanks! It’s great to see you RocketDude, a real blast from the past! For the newer guys Rocketman is an encyclopedia of razor knowledge.

 

[RocketMan]

Yes, its great to see you out and about as well! That Encyclopedia thing, when is the last time anyone has bought an old encyclopedia?? I know I shouldn’t interrupt a thread just to say hello - but it is just too late now. I hope you are well Tom. I still use that Wester razor you hooked me up with. It is always a go to for se shaves. Front seat in the rotation too! Take care. I read that you are retired - enjoy!

 

[HoosierTrooper]

Yes, its great to see you out and about as well! That Encyclopedia thing, when is the last time anyone has bought an old encyclopedia?? I know I shouldn’t interrupt a thread just to say hello - but it is just too late now. I hope you are well Tom. I still use that Wester razor you hooked me up with. It is always a go to for se shaves. Front seat in the rotation too! Take care. I read that you are retired - enjoy!

Maybe I should have said you are a Google of razor knowledge! I’m glad to hear you still use the Wester, at the time I got that I was infatuated with the 1912 and 1914 models and it just didn’t work for me. As far as interrupting the thread it was long dead before it was drug out of mothballs.