SE expert an SMF treasure

Let's talk about single and double edged razors and the blades that they use.
brothers
Posts: 21507
Joined: Sun Sep 14, 2008 7:18 am
Location: Oklahoma City USA

SE expert an SMF treasure

Post by brothers »

About a decade ago one of SMF's finest - D.Irving79 - posted a link to his YouTube channel. Dave Irving is no longer with us, but it seems he left behind some invaluable expertise along with his outstanding personality on video. Dave and Pauldog and many others have posted some meaningful exchanges of information in the SMF archives from ten years ago - more or less - primarily focused on Single Edge blades and razors. I am attaching a link for the YouTube channel. Dave's old shaving forum (The Original Safety) is no longer available.

https://www.youtube.com/user/GemCutlery
Gary

SOTD 99%: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, soaps & creams, synthetic / badger brushes, Colonial General razor, Kai & Schick blades, straight razors any time, Superior 70 aftershave splash + menthol + 444
ShadowsDad
Posts: 3121
Joined: Thu Sep 29, 2011 1:13 am
Location: Central Maine

Re: SE expert an SMF treasure

Post by ShadowsDad »

I think it's called the The Original Safety Too (aka TOST) now and under new management, and the old forums posts are still available.
Brian

Maker of Kramperts Finest Bay Rum and Frostbite
Or find it here: Italian Barber, West Coast Shaving, Barclay Crocker, The Old Town Shaving Company at Stats, Maggard Razors; Leavitt & Peirce, Harvard Square
brothers
Posts: 21507
Joined: Sun Sep 14, 2008 7:18 am
Location: Oklahoma City USA

Re: SE expert an SMF treasure

Post by brothers »

I knew TOST exists, but wasn't aware that it contains Dave's original stuff. That's great! A few years ago I bought an old gold plated English SE razor called "The Yankee". I was browsing around one day and it turned out that TOST contains a thread and some pictures of what was to become my own specific Yankee and a posted conversation between a former owner and another guy about the razor.
Gary

SOTD 99%: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, soaps & creams, synthetic / badger brushes, Colonial General razor, Kai & Schick blades, straight razors any time, Superior 70 aftershave splash + menthol + 444
CMur12
Posts: 7457
Joined: Mon Dec 18, 2006 8:41 pm
Location: Moses Lake, Washington, USA

Re: SE expert an SMF treasure

Post by CMur12 »

I remember Dave and his forum. I recall PMing him some suggestions on his use of Early Modern English and getting a good-natured response from him. :D

- Murray
User avatar
Pauldog
Never Shave a Husky
Posts: 6313
Joined: Fri Jul 29, 2005 6:39 pm

Re: SE expert an SMF treasure

Post by Pauldog »

Nobody thought back then that there would be a new single edge razor made, let alone several.

Gary, your mention of Dave is ambiguous - is he still alive?

(By the way, another one of my favorites, Themba, has been gone a long time, but I assume he's all right, just not posting anything.)
User avatar
fallingwickets
Clive the Thumb
Posts: 8813
Joined: Mon Nov 06, 2006 11:59 am

Re: SE expert an SMF treasure

Post by fallingwickets »

an inquiry a few years ago makes me believe that he was ill and passed away. A good dude, to me anyway

clive
de gustibus non est disputandum
Gene
Posts: 1507
Joined: Fri Mar 14, 2008 11:58 am
Location: Buda, TX

Re: SE expert an SMF treasure

Post by Gene »

fallingwickets wrote: Mon Sep 10, 2018 4:07 am an inquiry a few years ago makes me believe that he was ill and passed away. A good dude, to me anyway

clive
That is unfortunate. I watched one or two of his videos a long time ago - they were good. Plus, he really loved his Gem razors! I wonder what he would have thought of the modern day General, or as mentioned earlier, any of the other SE's out today?
Gene

"It could probably be shown by facts and figures that there is no distinctly American criminal class except Congress."
Mark Twain

"People shouldn't be afraid of their government. Governments should be afraid of their people."
Alan Moore
User avatar
Z-2
Posts: 38
Joined: Sun Jul 14, 2013 10:11 am
Location: Bulgaria

Re: SE expert an SMF treasure

Post by Z-2 »

Dave inspired me to try SE razor, and now they are part of my shaving routine. I use GEM 1912 and MMOC very often :wink:
Lolita Haze: Do you always have to shave twice a day?
Humbert Humbert: Yes, of course, because all the best people shave twice a day (from the film Lolita (1962))
User avatar
Pauldog
Never Shave a Husky
Posts: 6313
Joined: Fri Jul 29, 2005 6:39 pm

Re: SE expert an SMF treasure

Post by Pauldog »

Besides Dave and Themba, we're also missing Phin, an injector razor specialist. All of them shared my love for the thicker blades, so I miss their shared interest in using alternatives to DE blades. My other minority interest is in slant razors, and I don't know if there's anyone here who specializes in them.
brothers
Posts: 21507
Joined: Sun Sep 14, 2008 7:18 am
Location: Oklahoma City USA

Re: SE expert an SMF treasure

Post by brothers »

Paul, which slants are you currently using in your rotation? Have you had an opportunity to check out the currently available slant head that is sold by Italian Barber? I think he calls it 37 German because it is a clone of the old original 1937 German Bakelite slant razor.
Gary

SOTD 99%: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, soaps & creams, synthetic / badger brushes, Colonial General razor, Kai & Schick blades, straight razors any time, Superior 70 aftershave splash + menthol + 444
User avatar
Pauldog
Never Shave a Husky
Posts: 6313
Joined: Fri Jul 29, 2005 6:39 pm

Re: SE expert an SMF treasure

Post by Pauldog »

I bought a bunch of heads from Razorock/Italian Barber, including the 37 slant. I've only used it once so far.

Lately, for slants I've mainly been using and liking the Maggard and the Phoenix Alpha Ecliptic. The Phoenix open comb slant has been a little too aggressive so far with the blades I've tried (such as the Personna med preps), so I'm going to try other blades with it, like the Derby and old Wilkinsons.

After a while I'll try the German 37 and the Merkur slants some more.
DIRVING79
Posts: 36
Joined: Tue Sep 08, 2020 12:19 pm

Re: SE expert an SMF treasure

Post by DIRVING79 »

fallingwickets wrote: Mon Sep 10, 2018 4:07 am an inquiry a few years ago makes me believe that he was ill and passed away. A good dude, to me anyway

clive
I have to laugh at whoever said that...haha. I’m still alive...I think. Had a divorce. Had to get my house in order. Just kinda got sucked into the daily grind after that. Everyone’s words in this post have really put a smile on my face, thank you. Aside from working a lot I’m very much back.
•• •• •• ••
David
DIRVING79
Posts: 36
Joined: Tue Sep 08, 2020 12:19 pm

Re: SE expert an SMF treasure

Post by DIRVING79 »

ShadowsDad wrote: Sun Sep 09, 2018 1:05 pm I think it's called the The Original Safety Too (aka TOST) now and under new management, and the old forums posts are still available.
Fuzzy took over the site completely after I went on hiatus :)
•• •• •• ••
David
User avatar
fallingwickets
Clive the Thumb
Posts: 8813
Joined: Mon Nov 06, 2006 11:59 am

Re: SE expert an SMF treasure

Post by fallingwickets »

YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

welcome back...you have been missed. FU, ex's :D :D :D :D :D

clive
de gustibus non est disputandum
DIRVING79
Posts: 36
Joined: Tue Sep 08, 2020 12:19 pm

Re: SE expert an SMF treasure

Post by DIRVING79 »

fallingwickets wrote: Wed Sep 09, 2020 7:31 am YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

welcome back...you have been missed. FU, ex's :D :D :D :D :D

clive
You are too kind my friend. I have missed all of you; very happy to be back :D

Yeah remind me to not get divorced again. What a mess :lol:
•• •• •• ••
David
brothers
Posts: 21507
Joined: Sun Sep 14, 2008 7:18 am
Location: Oklahoma City USA

Re: SE expert an SMF treasure

Post by brothers »

fallingwickets wrote: Mon Sep 10, 2018 4:07 am an inquiry a few years ago makes me believe that he was ill and passed away. A good dude, to me anyway

clive
Yes, a good guy. David, maybe you can start a thread on SMF to resurrect the heart and soul of "The Original Safety"! It might be a way to start back where you left off when the old TOS was taken down. Just a thought, might not be practical or possible.
Gary

SOTD 99%: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, soaps & creams, synthetic / badger brushes, Colonial General razor, Kai & Schick blades, straight razors any time, Superior 70 aftershave splash + menthol + 444
DIRVING79
Posts: 36
Joined: Tue Sep 08, 2020 12:19 pm

Re: SE expert an SMF treasure

Post by DIRVING79 »

brothers wrote: Fri Sep 11, 2020 7:28 pm
fallingwickets wrote: Mon Sep 10, 2018 4:07 am an inquiry a few years ago makes me believe that he was ill and passed away. A good dude, to me anyway

clive
Yes, a good guy. David, maybe you can start a thread on SMF to resurrect the heart and soul of "The Original Safety"! It might be a way to start back where you left off when the old TOS was taken down. Just a thought, might not be practical or possible.
Why thank you, much appreciated.

As it stands Calvin kinda took things over upon my hiatus so that’s his baby now.

I will definitely be blogging at some point soon. And if I can motivate actually printing the book I wrote 10 years ago.... hahaha
•• •• •• ••
David
brothers
Posts: 21507
Joined: Sun Sep 14, 2008 7:18 am
Location: Oklahoma City USA

Re: SE expert an SMF treasure

Post by brothers »

DIRVING79 wrote: Fri Sep 11, 2020 9:18 pm . . . . that’s his baby now.

I will definitely be blogging at some point soon. And if I can motivate actually printing the book I wrote 10 years ago.... hahaha
What I had in mind was calling it anything SE related that the enthusiasts can habitually use within SMF to discuss and show off their razors, etc., thus the heart and soul that you represent when it comes to the old or not so old SE razors. Not anything to compete with or infringe upon his baby!
Gary

SOTD 99%: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, soaps & creams, synthetic / badger brushes, Colonial General razor, Kai & Schick blades, straight razors any time, Superior 70 aftershave splash + menthol + 444
DIRVING79
Posts: 36
Joined: Tue Sep 08, 2020 12:19 pm

Re: SE expert an SMF treasure

Post by DIRVING79 »

brothers wrote: Sun Sep 13, 2020 4:46 pm
DIRVING79 wrote: Fri Sep 11, 2020 9:18 pm . . . . that’s his baby now.

I will definitely be blogging at some point soon. And if I can motivate actually printing the book I wrote 10 years ago.... hahaha
What I had in mind was calling it anything SE related that the enthusiasts can habitually use within SMF to discuss and show off their razors, etc., thus the heart and soul that you represent when it comes to the old or not so old SE razors. Not anything to compete with or infringe upon his baby!
I like this idea a lot =D>
•• •• •• ••
David
Manasse73

Re: SE expert an SMF treasure

Post by Manasse73 »

DIRVING79 wrote: Sun Sep 13, 2020 5:26 pm
brothers wrote: Sun Sep 13, 2020 4:46 pm
DIRVING79 wrote: Fri Sep 11, 2020 9:18 pm . . . . that’s his baby now.

I will definitely be blogging at some point soon. And if I can motivate actually printing the book I wrote 10 years ago.... hahaha
What I had in mind was calling it anything SE related that the [embedded link removed] can habitually use within SMF to discuss and show off their razors, etc., thus the heart and soul that you represent when it comes to the old or not so old SE razors. Not anything to compete with or infringe upon his baby!
I like this idea a lot =D>
Hi, what is an SE expert?
Post Reply