Shave of the Day Feb. 28, 2011

Razor: 7/8 Joseph Elliot
Lather: Mitchell's Wool Fat + CO Bigelow cream
Brush: Badger & Blade Essential
Aftershave: The Real Shaving Co. Balm
Cologne: Old spice Classic

Weekend riding!

What a great weekend! Was able to go riding both yesterday and today! Yesterday did 18 miles at Guntersville Dam with my fellow riders Steven, Coy and Daniel.. Today was a solo 22 mile ride at Cathedral Caverns road. OMG that wind was terrible today!!!

Here's a video from yesterday!

Shave of the Day Feb. 27, 2011

Razor: Klas Tornblom Frameback
Lather: Mitchell's Wool Fat & Irisch Moos
Brush: "Clint" Super Badger
Aftershave: Booster Jickey
Cologne: Royall Vetiver

Shave of the Day Feb. 26, 2011

Razor: 7/8 Joseph Smith & Sons
Lather: Godrej Lime Fresh + Mitchell's Wool Fat
Brush: Shavemac 177
Aftershave: RazoRock / Thayers / Pinaud Citrus Musk
Cologne: Pinaud Citrus Musk

Shave of the Day Feb. 25, 2011

Razor: 6/8 Wacker
Lather: Mitchell's Wool Fat
Brush: Penworks 22mm Finest
Aftershave: Boosters Polar Ice
Cologne: Tommy Bahama St. Barts

Fantastic shave today!!

Shave of the Day Feb. 23, 2011

Razor: 15/16 Henckels Friodur
Soap: Mitchell's Wool Fat
Brush: Kent H8
Aftershave: Proraso
Cologne: Old Spice Classic


Great shave today! Still in the process of working my way through various products that are almost gone. I have perhaps ten or so shaves left with the Mitchell's soap and it will be history. It's one of the best soaps available and I will eventually replace it. Luckily they sell refill pucks that can simply be places into the ceramic bowl which is very cost effective.

Shave of the Day Feb. 21, 2011

Razor: 5/8 Panamex Blue Bell
Cream: Al's Calypso
Brush: Shavemac 436
Aftershave: Hawleywood's No.9
Cologne: Tommy Bahama

Shave of the Day Feb. 20, 2011

Razor: 5/8 Fox Cutlery
Cream: The Real Shaving Co. Moisturizing
Brush: Penworks Finest
Aftershave: St. Charles Shave Bay Rum Balm

Shave of the Day Feb. 18, 2011

Razor: 6/8 C.V. Heljestrand
Cream: C.O. Bigelow
Brush: Badger & Blade Essential
Aftershave / Cologne: Brut

The "Essential" brush was a special order organized by the owner and moderators of the Badger & Blade website; an online discussion forum I'm a member of that focuses on traditional wetshaving along with men's fashion, food & drink, etc.

The new bowl from The Mud Place is working like a champ!! I've had several inquiries about them and they can be purchased here:

The Mud Place on Etsy

The Mud Place website

Shave of the Day Feb. 17, 2011

Razor: 13/16 L.W. Bradley
Soap: Van der Hagen Deluxe
Brush: Crabtree & Evelyn Pure Badger
Aftershave: Beemer's Bay Rum Splash
Cologne: C.O. Bigelow Bay Rum

New offerings from Van der Hagen!

As I've made known in the past, I'm a big fan of the Van der Hagen deluxe soap. At only about a buck-fifty for a puck of soap, you'll get some of the best shaves you've ever experienced. I learned today that VDH will be introducing some new items into their shaving line up. Beginning in March The Van der Hagen Men's Luxury Line will be available. This line (as of right now) will consist of two more soaps and a badger hair brush.

The soaps include scented and unscented pucks made with shea, mango and cocoa butter. According to the description, both soaps will retail for a little over three bucks and will be hypo-allergenic, contain 10% glycerin, will be vegetable based and not tested on animals.

The shave brush will retail for about $20 and appears to be "pure badger" grade and is nicely monogrammed.



I hope they will offer a package deal as they do with their existing soaps and brush. This would be a fantastic entry-level setup for the novice wetshaver.

Shave of the Day Feb. 16, 2011

Razor: 5/8 Fox Cutlery
Brush: Vulfix 2234
Cream: The Real Shaving Co. Moisturizing
Aftershave: Floïd Vigoroso


First time using the Real Shaving Co. cream and I was very impressed! Top shelf product at a very reasonable price!

Shave of the Day Feb. 15, 2011

Razor: 11/16 Klas Tornblom
Soap: Calani Classic Havana
Brush: Vie-Long 13061
Aftershave: Nivea Sensitive
Cologne: Creed Windsor


Another great shave today with the little KT frameback! First time using the Calani Classic Havana soap and it smells wonderful! Overall, a great way to start the day!

Shave of the Day Feb. 14, 2011

Razor: 6/8 Le Grelot
Cream: Taylor of Old Bond St. Rose
Brush: Shavemac 177
Aftershave: Trumpers Coral Skin Food


Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Shave of the Day Feb. 13, 2011

Razor: 7/8 Joseph Elliot
Cream: Speick
Brush: Kent H8
Aftershave: The Real Shaving Company Balm

Shave of the Day Feb. 12, 2011

Razor: 5/8 Garland Cutlery Co. Improved Eagle
Cream: C.O. Bigelow
Brush: "Clint" Super Badger
Aftershave: Beemer's Bay Rum AS
Cologne: Tommy Bahama St. Barts

Concocted my own bay rum aftershave splash. Started with equal parts double distilled bay rum (85% alcohol) and Dickinson's Witch Hazel then added several drops of glycerin, add food coloring and shake well. Worked pretty good!!

Just got the bowl pictured in today. It's great and works wonderfully for lathering creams. Will try it with soaps too!

New razors on the way!

Got a few new ones (well, new to me) en route...


15/16 Friederich Herber hollow ground square point made in Germany around 1895 judging from the "spade" and "crossed keys" markings on the tang. I believe the scales are the original bone scales but I could be mistaken. Some patina and light rusting on the blade but I'm hopeful that it will buff out and clean up nicely!


Second is a 5/8 Robert Klass "Kissign Crane" razor (circa 1925 appox.) whose scales look to have have been replaced at some point with those from a FW Engels razor. I typically would have passed this razor by but it looked to be in very good condition and the price was right.


Lastly is a Robeson SureEdge that appears to be either a 4/8 or 9/16. I could be mistaken. The razor appears to be in very good shape, possibly new old stock because the original label is still on the scales..



There appears to be very little hone wear evident that I can see, just some tarnish that hopefully will buff out to a mirror finish. I believe, judging from the size of the blade and bolsters on the ends of the scales, that this razor is a model 14K400. The blade bears the engraving "The razor that fits your face" and was originally marketed to men with "medium beards and very tender skin" as seen here:


Eager to get them all in!

Shave of the Day Feb. 11, 2011

Razor: 7/8 Joseph Smith & Sons
Soap: Creed Green Irish Tweed
Brush: Penworks Finest
Aftershave: Proraso
Cologne: Creed Green Irish Tweed



A very good shave this morning. The J. Smith blade is a fantastic shaver. I don't use it very often however because the home made replacement scales make it difficult to strop and a little unwieldy. I really love these big, old razors though and I plan to send it to a restorer in Tennessee to get some new clothes. I'm thinking some multi-colored (blond & black) horn scales would look very nice as well as fitting seeing as it dates back probably to the mid to late 1800's.

Proraso is a well respected brand out of Italy and (as I understand it) is used in most barber shops there. The aftershave splash has a very nice herbaceous, Juniper-like scent and a very nice menthol kick guaranteed to wake you up in the morning!

Shave of the Day Feb. 10, 2011

Razor: Merkur 34C
Soap: St. Charles Shave Smoke & Beads
Brush: Shavemac 177
Aftershave: Aqua Velva Musk

Decided to shake things up a bit today. Had already had my straight ready for today's shave but after I got out of the shower and lathered up I glanced at my old Merkur sitting to the side and thought to myself; "Haven't used it in a while.. Why not?". So I grabbed it, popped a fresh blade in and had a fantastic shave! Had forgotten how much more quickly the shaves go with a safety razor compared to a straight. May put it back in my regular rotation!

Shave of the Day Feb. 9, 2011

Razor: 5/8 Boker
Cream: Truefitt & Hill Almond
Brush: Vulfix 2234
Aftershave: The Real Shaving Co. Aftershave Balm


The Vulfix was the first badger brush I bought after I began traditional wet shaving and it's still one of my favorites. It's a very floppy brush but is fantastic with creams!

Shave of the Day Feb. 8, 2011

Razor: 5/8 F.H. Loeffler Co. DEMON
Soap: Speick
Brush: Badger & Blade Essential
Aftershave: Boosters Polar Ice
Cologne: Mama Bear's Spellbound Woods

Shave of the Day Feb. 7, 2011

Razor: 6/8 Wacker
Cream: Al's "Goodfellas" Bomb
Brush: Kent H8
Aftershave: Brut
Cologne: Penhaligon's English Fern

Shave of the Day Feb. 6, 2011

Razor: 6/8 Dovo Renaissance
Soap: SCS Moss Lime
Brush: Shavemac 436
Aftershave: Thayers / Boosters Mosswood

Shave of the Day Feb. 5, 2011

Razor: L.W. Bradley
Soap: Van der "Spice"
Brush: Kent
Aftershave: Boosters Island Bay Rum
Cologne: Tommy Bahama


Here's a neat trick, take you Van der Hagen soap and put it in the microwave in 10 second intervals until it's melted down. Then you can add some of your favorite cologne or fragrance oil and give it your favorite scent! I used "Old Spice" fragrance oil with this one.

Shave of the Day Feb. 4, 2011

Razor: 5/8 Fox Cutlery
Cream: C.O. Bigelow
Brush: Vie-Long 13061
Aftershave: Barbasol Brisk
Cologne: Polo Modern Reserve

Shave of the Day Feb. 3, 2011

Razor: 6/8 Thiers-Issard Le Grelot
Soap/Cream: Mitchell's Wool Fat + Godrej Lime Fresh
Brush: Penworks 20mm Finest
Aftershave: RazoRock Alum / Thayers Witch Hazel
Cologne: Pinaud Citrus Musk

Fantastic shave today!! This is a great soap/cream combination that I'll have to remember when the weather gets warmer. The Godrej cream is very fresh-smelling and fragrant. Both the soap and the cream contain lanolin which helps moisturize the skin and leaves it feeling very soft. Better yet, the cream is VERY cheap at about $2.99 a tube.

Shave of the Day Feb. 2, 2011

Razor: 6/8 Joh. Engstrom Frameback
Soap: Art of Shaving Lemon
Brush: Kent H8
Aftershave: Saint Charles Shave Bay Rum Balm
Cologne: Havana by Aramis


Still working my way through products that are getting on the low side. That's one of the great things about shaving this way; yeah, the soaps and creams can be a little more expensive than what you're used to paying, but they last a very long time!

"Frameback" razors developed as a way to get a thinner blade for easier honing. Before then all razors had a thick, wedge profile. Frameback razors eventually led to grinding methods which resulted in "hollow grinds" - the fine, sometimes paper-thin razor profile commonly seen in straight razors from the late 19th / early 20th century up to today.

Shave of the Day Feb. 1, 2011

Razor: 5/8 Panamex Blue Bell No.99
Soap: Saint Charles Shave Bay Rum
Brush: Kent H8
Aftershave: RazoRock Alum / Thayers / Hawleywood's No.9
Cologne: Ogallala Double Strength Bay Rum

Shave of the Day Jan. 31, 2011

Razor: 5/8 George Wostenholm & Sons "Celebrated IXL Best Concave Razor"
Cream: C.O. Bigelow
Brush: Vulfix 2234
Aftershave: Real Shaving Co. Moisturizing Balm
Cologne: Aramis - Tuscany per Uomo


Have a fantastic Monday everyone!

Shave of the Day Jan. 30, 2011

Razor: 11/16 Klas Tornblom
Soap: Van der Hagen
Brush: Ωmega 31064
Aftershave: Old Spice
Cologne: Old Spice

Biking at Cathedral Caverns Road, Grant by thornmoon at Garmin Connect - Details

Felt good to be able to get out and ride for a while today. Had a pretty strong head wind that slowed me down on one leg of the lap but still, it was so nice to get off the trainer and do some REAL riding again!!

Biking at Cathedral Caverns Road, Grant by thornmoon at Garmin Connect - Details

Shave of the Day Jan. 29, 2011

Razor: 11/16 Klas Tornblom
Soap: St. Charles Shave Bay Rum
Brush: Badger & Blade Essential
Aftershave: Pinaud Lime Sec + Superior 70 Bay Rum


Fantastic shave today! Temps have risen and given us a small taste of Spring! Bay rum and lime reminds me of summer so I went with it today!

Shave of the Day Jan. 28, 2011

Razor: 15/16 Henckels Friodur
Soap/Cream: Ogallala Bay Rum & Sweet Orange + Speick
Brush: Shavemac 177
Aftershave: Pinaud Citrus Musk


Great shave today!!! The Ogallala soap smells great and performed nicely with the Speick cream.

Shave of the Day Jan. 27, 2011

Razor: 6/8 Dovo Special
Soap/Cream: Mitchell's Wool Fat + C.O. Bigelow
Brush: "Clint" Super Badger
Aftershave: Clubman Classic Vanilla

Shave of the Day Jan. 26, 2011

Razor: 6/8 Wacker
Soap: Van der Hagen Deluxe
Brush: Vie-Long 13061
Aftershave: RazoRock Alum / Thayers / Masters Bay Rum

Shave of the Day Jan. 25, 2011

Razor: 7/8 Henckels Friodur
Soap: Speick
Brush: Crabtree & Evelyn Pure Badger
Aftershave: Clubman
Cologne: Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche

Shave of the Day Jan. 24, 2011

Razor: 5/8 E. Berninghaus
Soap: Ogallala Bay Rum and Sweet Orange
Brush: Penworks 22mm Finest
Aftershave: Booster Aquarius
Cologne: YSL M7 Fresh

Shave of the Day Jan. 23, 2011

Razor: 5/8 D.C.&H. Co. "Clean Cut"
Soap: Art of Shaving Lemon
Brush: Vie-Long 13061
Aftershave: Masters Bay Rum
Cologne: C.O. Bigelow Bay Rum


Not the greatest shave today. Lot of pulling with the Clean Cut. Gonna have to take it to the hones again and give it some more attention.

Have a great day everyone!

Shave of the Day Jan. 22, 2011

Razor: 5/8 Panamex Blue Bell No.99
Cream: Taylor of Old Bond Street Lemon & Lime
Brush: Vie-Long 13061 Horse Hair
Aftershave: RazoRock Alum / Aqua Velva Classic Ice Blue
Cologne: Polo Modern Reserve


Last of the Lemon & Lime cream! Taylor of Old Bond street makes some of the best shaving creams available and at around $14 for a large 5oz. tub, they're quite a bargain as one tub would last for a very long time!

Shave of the Day Jan. 21, 2011 - Warm weather dreams..

Razor: 5/8 F.H. Loeffler Co. DEMON
Cream: The Bomb Calypso
Brush: Crabtree & Evelyn Best Badger
Aftershave: Booster Island Bay Rum
Cologne: Tommy Bahama St. Barts

Another dusting of snow last night! I'm SICK of it! Bring on Spring ASAP!

Once again Al's shaving cream delivers! This has become some of my favorite and I'm primarily a soap guy! The smell is a wonderful bay rum that evokes thoughts of sandy white beaches, the salty ocean air and the sound of waves crashing on the shore! I had a chance to go to Nassau when I was in the Navy and I would love to be there right now!

Have a great day everyone!

Shave of the Day Jan. 20, 2011

Razor: 5/8 Fox Cutlery
Soap: Van der Hagen Deluxe
Brush: "Clint" Super Badger
Aftershave: Trumpers Coral Skin Food
Cologne: Polo Modern Reserve

Shave of the Day Jan. 19, 2011

Razor: 6/8 Dovo Special
Cream: C.O. Bigelow
Brush: Vulfix 2234
Aftershave: RazoRock Alum / Thayers / Proraso
Cologne: Creed Royal English Leather

Shave of the Day Jan. 18, 2011

Razor: 6/8 Dovo Renaissance
Soap: Speick
Brush: B&B Essential
Aftershave: Nivea Replenishing Balm
Cologne: Dior Homme

Shave of the Day Jan. 17, 2011

Razor: 7/8 Joseph Elliot "Fine India Steel"
Soap / Cream: Art of Shaving Lemon / Speick
Brush: Badger & Blade Essential
Aftershave: RazoRock Alum / Thayers Witch Hazel / Booster Polar Ice
Cologne: Rive Gauche Pour Homme