Tried shaving w/ Case's One Armed Bandit

[BPRoberts]

Someone had to try it, right? I'll start off by saying I'm not particularly experienced with straight razors. I got one as a gift 10 or 15 years ago, used it once, threw it in the drawer, got it back out about a year ago, used it maybe a dozen times,  dropped it, and cracking the blade. I keep saying I'm gonna try to sharpen the crack out, but haven't gotten around to it.

 

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Before:
 

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Whiskers on the blade!:
 

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After:
 

leftafter.jpg (Filesize: 164.73 KB)

It went okay. Definitely not the smoothest shave, but the large handle to blade ratio was actually pretty easy to handle. I think someone with more skills would find it totally useable. Makes me wish even more for a carbon version.

[Farmer X]

You're a braver man than I, apparently! And I'd guess your water heater works better than mine and you're in no particular hurry to shave. (I'll stick with an electric razor until I know I can retire, and therefore have a little more time available to devote to shaving.) And we 100% agree on Case making more widespread use of carbon steel. My reasoning is slightly different: Case polishes their stainless blades to excess.

[BPRoberts]

One of the interesting choices one of the previous owners made is installing a great big whirlpool tub in the main bath. As a result, there's a large, very hot, water heater for that section. It's so hot that my regular cartridge razor got hot enough to burn my face the first couple times I shaved until I realized what was going on. On the plus side, whirlpool tub! On the minus, kind of awkward to climb in and out of the shower. I suppose whining about my giant shower-tub is a real first world problem.

[nate j]

I’m pretty sure the term “one armed bandit” refers to a slot machine rather than a knife.

Nonetheless, I tip my hat to you for shaving with a pocket knife.

[PitCarver]

One arm "bandit" knives came into use after the US Civil War to allow the veterans that had lost arms to be able to open a pocket knife with only one hand.  The area on the front of the blade would catch a pocket or seam to hold the blade.

[LoopCutter]

And,  I do hope you sharpened your Razor before attempting to glide against your facial skin.

My Caribbean Blue Razor required a good deal of effort to get a paper cutting edge and a lot more work before hair cutting results in my forearm.

I also agree, a few Razors offered with CS blade steel should be made.  Specifically the YELLOW Synthetic!

I do find it funny, Case makes this model the vault Pattern for 2024 and Every pocket knife make is producing this pattern.  Just 2 years ago I looked for one to buy for my collection and no new stock was available, and only a few on the auction site.

BP - you are a braver man than me!  Respects.

[BPRoberts]

Thanks, awl. I think we should make a badge for it, and you should give it a try. 

Wasn't too hard to get up to decent sharpness. A few minutes on the Smith rods and a bit more on the strop got it workable, though not "popping" which I've never mastered.

I was eyeing the RR version, but I like the larger size of the Case. I'm sure I'll snap up the Boker razor/driver at some point.