|
Shaving
Mar 28, 2023 5:35:21 GMT -7
via mobile
Post by hawkeyes on Mar 28, 2023 5:35:21 GMT -7
As expected! Not a bad war wound!
|
|
|
Post by paranger on Apr 10, 2023 11:55:54 GMT -7
Here ya go BH...
|
|
RyanAK
City-dweller
Once scalped…
Posts: 973
|
Post by RyanAK on Apr 10, 2023 12:09:58 GMT -7
Spectacular. Truly.
A shave kit should likely be in any PC sack if going out for an extended jaunt. Even if you don’t shave in the field, might be worth adding to gear.
|
|
|
Post by hawkeyes on Apr 10, 2023 16:00:29 GMT -7
A straight razor is something I haven't made. I'm rather reluctant as that edge is so meticulously keen, thin and sharp that I'm not comfortable being a test subject! Getting a vintage blade in good shape isn't hard and one can add fresh scales to suit.
Para, I gotta ask did you nail the edge geometry? It's indeed a fine looking shaving device for sure, kudos!
|
|
|
Shaving
Apr 10, 2023 16:05:51 GMT -7
via mobile
Post by paranger on Apr 10, 2023 16:05:51 GMT -7
A straight razor is something I haven't made. I'm rather reluctant as that edge is so meticulously keen, thin and sharp that I'm not comfortable being a test subject! Getting a vintage blade in good shape isn't hard and one can add fresh scales to suit. Para, I gotta ask did you nail the edge geometry? It's indeed a fine looking shaving device for sure, kudos! Well, it's tough to say if I nailed the edge geometry yet. It's certainly the most acute grind I have done to date. A bit of work on a ceramic rod has it pretty sharp. Going to try stopping it next.
|
|
|
Post by paranger on Apr 10, 2023 16:18:08 GMT -7
Just stropped it: shaves my arm hair, anyway...
|
|
|
Shaving
Apr 10, 2023 18:39:33 GMT -7
Post by Black Hand on Apr 10, 2023 18:39:33 GMT -7
Here ya go BH... Very nice!
|
|
|
Post by spence on Apr 10, 2023 19:51:44 GMT -7
The South-Carolina GAZETTE October 23, 1755 JUST IMPORTED by BREMAR & NEYLE, in the Charming-Martha, Chrisman, from London, ...best and common razors, hones and strops, razors, &C in cases compleat, boxes of soap and brushes for shaving,
The South Carolina Gazette July 23, 1772 CHARLES-TOWN [SUPPLEMENT TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA GAZETTE] A VERY NEAT Fowling-Piece; a Gun with a Bayonet; a Pair of Silver-mounted Holster Pistols, with Brass Barrels; a pair of Pocket Ditto, and a Blunderbuss; a small Box with a complete Set of Shaving-Furniture, proper for Traveling;
The South-Carolina GAZETTE January 24, 1761 Just Imported,…. CARBINES with bayonets, belts, buckles, and moulds; fowling pieces, brass barreled pistols, cartouch-boxes, shot-pouches, and powder flasks; lacquered and silvered hangers and cutteaus;… shaving boxes with soap and brushes; powder boxes;
The Pennsylvania Gazette January 5, 1774 NICHOLAS BROOKS, The second door above the Coffee house, in Market street, has just imported, from London and elsewhere, a curious Collection of various GOODS, --- among which are,….. shaving boxes, with scented soap, razor cases of a new construction; and shaving powder;
Spence
|
|
|
Post by spence on Apr 11, 2023 7:37:52 GMT -7
The Pennsylvania Gazette April 14, 1773 Lately imported from LONDON, BRISTOL, and HOLLAND, … dandriff and common fine tooth ivory combs; melted steel razors; a great variety of white wax beads; fine cotton cards; large and middling size Dutch straw knives; Scotch leather inkpots; genuine amber beads,
The Pennsylvania Gazette June 4, 1767 Imported, and to be sold reasonably for cash, by JOHN DRINKER,… razors, scissars, cutteau and pistol end knives, Barlow common and best melted steel penknives, sham buck, bone and stag handle table knives and forks,
Spence
|
|
|
Post by Black Hand on Apr 11, 2023 8:05:14 GMT -7
Spectacular. Truly. A shave kit should likely be in any PC sack if going out for an extended jaunt. Even if you don’t shave in the field, might be worth adding to gear. I agree - making a razor box soon...
|
|
|
Post by spence on Apr 14, 2023 21:46:44 GMT -7
A shave kit should likely be in any PC sack if going out for an extended jaunt. Journal of John Joseph Henry on the 1775 march to Quebec with Benedict Arnold: 326 "Our wan and haggard faces, and meagre bodies, and the monstrous beards of my companions, who had neglected to carry a razor with them, seemed to strike a deep sorrow into the hearts of the pioneers." Spence
|
|
RyanAK
City-dweller
Once scalped…
Posts: 973
|
Shaving
Apr 15, 2023 7:38:11 GMT -7
Post by RyanAK on Apr 15, 2023 7:38:11 GMT -7
Wow! Great quote. Looks like certain campaigns warrant a shaggy beard.
|
|
|
Post by spence on Apr 16, 2023 7:02:36 GMT -7
“Human felicity is produced not so much by great pieces of good fortune, that seldom happen, as by little advantages that occur every day. Thus, if you teach a poor young man to shave himself, and keep his razor in order, you may contribute more to the happiness of his life than in giving him a thousand guineas. The money may be soon spent, the regret only remaining of having foolishly consumed it; but in the other case, he escapes the frequent vexation of waiting for barbers, and of their sometimes dirty fingers, offensive breaths, and dull razors; he shaves when most convenient to him, and enjoys daily the pleasure of its being done with a good instrument.” Benjamin Franklin, in his auto-biography.
Spence
|
|
|
Post by Black Hand on Apr 16, 2023 10:16:02 GMT -7
An excellent quote!
|
|
|
Post by spence on Apr 17, 2023 8:07:05 GMT -7
So, John Joseph Henry's "monstrous beards of my companions" or Ben Franklins "enjoys daily the pleasure"...which was it? Few topics have consumed as much ink as the appropriateness of beards on re-enactors. Pardon me for the excessive length...here's a post I collected in 1998 from the old RevWar list which seems a reasonable conclusion. **** Dear Liste, Some of the following is excerpted from an unpublished manuscript, part of which covers beards, which I now share with you. Some of this is opinion, hopefully based on the logical interpretation of the facts that accompany it.
The two most important things to remember about beards are that they take no effort to grow and some effort to remove. These facts have never escaped the thoughts of men, who in fashion waves throughout the centuries have put beards in and out of style. For the majority of the 17th century they were in, and by the beginning of the 18th, they were out, but not everyone is a slave to fashion.
Period descriptions include men of nearly every nationality and station in life wearing beards. For some it was a matter of faith. Jewish men during the 18th century generally did not shave, likewise many Christian sects shunned the razor, as in this example: "ANNAPOLIS, July 12. "...a Man...having just stept out of his House...a Flash of Lightning kill'd him on the Spot...There was no Mark to be discovered about his Body, only that his Beard was a little singed; for he had a long Beard, being one of the Sect call'd Dunkers, who never shave nor clip their Beards." Pennsylvania Gazette, August 9, 1753.
It would also seem that a great many men may not have shaved daily. The journal of Dr. Alexander Hamilton and other gentlemen often record them being shaved by barbers only every four or five days. Likewise many runaway notices give the color of a beard without giving a real indication that the man actually wore one. This would seem to indicate that enough time went by between shavings as to allow a fair amount of growth, as indicated in this description: *Anne Arundel County, near Elkridge Landing, Maryland... RUN away from the Subscriber, on the first Day of July, an English Convict Servant Man, named James Grovas...his Beard, when at any Length, is remarkably grey. Pennsylvania Gazette, August 16, 1764.
Many runaways, White and Black, did very clearly wear full beards: *RUN away from...Berks county, near Reading, an Irish servant man, named William Moore, about 30 years of age, five feet six inches high, thick and well set, of a dark complexion, pock mark'd, his hair cut off, but commonly keeps his beard pretty long... Pennsylvania Gazette, August 23, 1753. *RUN away...from the Subscriber, living in Leacock, Lancaster County, an Irish Servant Man, named Hugh McLaughlin; he says he is 40 Years of Age, about 5 Feet 6 Inches high, a thick set Fellow, with grey Eyes, of a down look, short shorn grey Hair, and a large grey Beard... Pennsylvania Gazette, February 25, 1762. *BROKE out of...Goal, ...a Dutchman, named Jacob Morhard, about 30 Years of age, about 5 Feet 6 Inches high of a pale Complexion, with short dark coloured Hair, had a very long red Beard... Pennsylvania Gazette, August 9, 1764. *Ran away...a Negro Man, named Benjamin, stamped on both breasts LEFEVERE, aged about 25, 5 Feet 5 Inches high, has a large Beard... Providence Gazette, November 24, 1787
Some even wore what a hundred years later would be called sideburns: *RUN away...a German Servant Man, lately come into this Country, named Thomas Sholl, about 23 or 24 Years old, 5 Feet 9 Inches high, has brown Hair....and a pretty Side Beard at his Cheeks. Pennsylvania Gazette, November 24, 1763.
There were also many common folks of the non-criminal element that wore beards. Dr. Hamilton wrote of his stay at a New Jersey Inn: *When I waked this morning I found two beds in the room besides that in which I lay, in one of which lay two great hulking fellows with long black beards, having their own hair and not so much as half a nightcap betwixt them both. I took them for weavers, not only from their greasy appearance, but because I observed a weaver's loom at each side of the room.”
Robert Eastburn, who was taken prisoner while on a campaign against Canadian Indians in 1756, refused to dance and sing with his Native captor, incurring his wrath. Some of the Indian women took pity on him, and: "...prevailed with the Indian to excuse me from dancing; but he insisted that I must be shaved, and then he would let me alone (I had at that Time a long Beard, which the Indians hate) with this Motion I readily complied, and then the Indian seemed content."
The Reverend David McClure, while traveling in Western Pennsylvania, spent a restless night during August of 1772 at the log house of man named Tegart. McClure related of his reluctant host: "The Dutchman, with a beard an inch in length, sat on a block in the corner of the chimney place smoaking his pipe..."
Bearded individuals likely never made up more than a small percentage of the Colonial American population, however, the frequency by which they were mentioned in period accounts certainly shows they were not unknown, and far from nonexistent...
As to percentages, Harold Gill did percentages of beard references from the Va. Gazette and came up with roughly 3-4% of white runaways described with facial hair. What this means is that yes, likely too many civilian reenactors wear them, ("full" beards) and I believe Jay and others are correct that for most military impressions they are totally inappropriate, but for civilians, this 3% is a far cry from the other end who claim they were not worn at all.
Based on diary entries, (Gill also did several of these) like Hamilton's, it is clear that even upper crust likely had the scruffy look on a more regular basis, but like the how short is short discussion, how long do your whiskers have to be before what you have is a beard rather than scruff?
The other observation I would like to offer on beards is this, I think stated but not expanded on above... Men described with them fit no particular ethnic or national category. That is, you are just as likely to find Germans, Irish, Scot, etc. etc. described with actual beards as any other. It does not appear in any way to be an ethnic marker...
I will not put on my flame proof suit, I think the facts are flame retardant...(by the way, I do not wear a "full beard" and I personally strongly discourage everyone from them, but "scruff" is more than acceptable...)
Tom Nero **** Spence
|
|