Fur Trade/Indian Wars Hygiene: Shaving

An interesting aspect of the lives of those in the Fur Trade or Indian Wars is that of hygiene. Bathing and cleanliness has changed quite a bit from then to now.  In an attempt to experience life more like these people I decided it was time to take on one of these hygiene procedures: shaving.

Today we are most accustomed to electric razors (show up in the 1930s) and cartridge razors (1970s). Prior to that, “safety razors”  didn’t really start having a decent showing  until 1875 and the first patent with the term “safety razor” was applied for in 1880. We do see (and they are still around in many barber shops today) straight razors with disposable blades. These, like their predecessor, still needed to be honed and stropped. Disposable blades don’t show up until King G. Gillette introduces them in 1901. His safety razor success was probably largely due to the fact that he got a contract to supply the American troops with his razors during World War I.

So that leaves us with the straight razor. The idea of suddenly shaving your face and neck with a chunk of razor sharp steel can be a rather daunting one. Let’s be honest, you do have a cause for concern. If all you are used to is a flex head cartridge razor, or even more different yet, an electric, you are going to need to learn some techniques specific to this new (old) device.

It doesn’t have to be so daunting. Here’s what I did, that was recommended to me. Make the switch from your electric or cartridge razor to a double edge safety razor before even picking up a straight razor. With a double edge razor you’ll learn to let the weight of the razor do the work. You’re going to learn not to push. This is also the time to learn how to use a shaving brush and shaving soap or cream. Yeah, you could keep using that pressurized stuff in a can, but why do that if your intent is to understand and experience what these people of the past did? Some good places to learn more about shaving with a safety razor and using shaving brushes with shaving soap is www.shaving101.com. Also, I highly recommend watching the shaving videos by geofatboy on youtube.( http://geofatboy.blogspot.com/ , http://www.youtube.com/user/geofatboy )  

After you’ve gotten used to using a double edge safety razor (I’d recommend at least 6 months of shaving, but that’s just me) then start thinking about a straight razor. A razor with a 5/8ths blade with a rounded end is a good choice to start learning with.  Watch, watch, watch the videos that geofatboy has. When you take your straight razor on it’s maiden shaving voyage….take….your…time. Let the razor do the work. If you force it, the razor will bite back.

I was recently able to track down an appropriate razor to use for my personas at Fort Union and for the AMM. It’s a wedge type straight razor made by Joseph Elliot. Here are a few links on being able to figure out the dates of different straight razors that you might get yourself. http://www.uniclectica.com/misc/manuf.html , http://strazors.com/uploads/images/articles/Identification.pdf

“Man Leif, this sure sounds like an investment.” The truth of the matter is…it is. You don’t have to go this route if you don’t want to. Please do understand that there is a drastic difference between shaving with a cartridge razor and a straight razor. There’s a definite learning curve. What I have posted here for you is the shaving path I went down, and it worked well for me. “But I don’t think I should have to learn how to do this.” You know what? That’s fine. There are many wonderful and challenging aspects to living history. There’s tailoring, leatherworking, blacksmithing, gardening, carpentry, music…the list goes on and on. So go ahead and pick something new to learn about the people you depict. Straight razor shaving is merely one on the list. - Leif

2013 Living History Weekend

The following is transcribed from my field journal. There are typos and misspellings and editings as there would be for transcriptions of other period journals. This entree is from the 2013 Living History Weekend at Fort Union Trading Post during Labor Day weekend. During this weekend volunteers and staff portray the lives of people at the fort as well as are a part of what is called the Last Bell Tours, in which and actual event that took place at Fort Union is acted out over six or so progressive stations for the evening visitors.

" 8/30/1851 - 9/2/1851 (8/30/2013-9/2/2013)

     We arrived Friday evening & set up camp to the north of the N/E bastion about a hundred and fifty yards, about thirty yards N of the teepees. I built no fire as my wife Kim, son Garrick and I ate with the other engages who were trickling in. I was excited to see a suttler in the fort who I’d done business with before and the rest of the “Libby” or “Montana Boys” who were able to make it. Garrick fared well Friday night while he was awake, though he did toss & turn throughout the night. He would end up sleeping between Kim & I & we would end up cold. Before I went to bed for the evening I spent some time talking to friends.
Saturday I enjoyed the best oatmeal I’ve ever had. As I understand it was baked oatmeal. This is the day I commissioned Mr. Morain to make me 1 pair fall front trousers of brown cotton duck, 1 cotton blue check shirt, 1 gray vest with rollover collar and 2 different shaving boxes. Mr. Morain’s wife made my current vest. It is of superior quality. 

I spent time in the blacksmith shop working on nail hooks for our tent. I had about twenty visitors stop by & ask questions about the fort & the blacksmith shop. I made one hook for a pair of boys and their grandmother to watch the whole process of making one. Rod Lassey gave a talk on “Women in the Fur Trade”. They really played a bigger roll than what we think. After his talk I finished up in the blacksmith shop & had lunch. Garrick was having a heck of a time after lunch so I took him back to the tent for a nap. I slept as well. We woke up a couple hours later.

I spent some time watching some of the other folks interact with the visitors & asked some questions as well. Mark Morain had a St. Louis pouch & he let me look at it & take some photos. This will be very beneficial for when I build my own.

Later that afternoon Badger (Chris Floyd), Rod Lassey and I got together…

Rod & Badger then looked through my AMM documentation binder & were satisfied with I’d had so far.

[Saturday night was Last Bell tours & was about Choteau selling the fort]

Saturday evening after Garrick had gone down for the night, I spent several hours with the “Montana Boys”, Delvo, Lisa, Mike and Rod. I enjoyed my pipe and the conversation as we enjoyed some liquid refreshment. Kim, Garrick & I slept much much better Saturday night.

Sunday morning & part of the afternoon was spent in the blacksmith shop working on a sheath for the butchers [knives] sold at FT. UNION. It is the simple type seen in many of A.J. MILLER’S paintings. I used copper rivets instead of single piece brass tacks. I had assumed that I was going to be able to find a pair of side cutters & a ball peen hammer in the blacksmith tools. I was wrong & had to get creative with the wrong hammer that was available. Albert loaned me the use of his awl, it’s different from a trade awl. I like the design & hope to make my own. The Montana Boys cautioned me against the use of Neatsfoot Oil Compound. Stay away from the compound. Just use pure Neatsfoot Oil. Albert leant me Mink Oil to finish the sheath. I was not as happy with the way the rivets turned out. I’ll need to be sure to bring all my tools next time.

Sunday evening after Garrick went down was spent [around Keeta’s fire outside the fort’s walls and] around Dave and Arleen Finders campfire. Kim Koenig & Mark Morain [and Albert] sang us some songs. “The Darby Ram” & “It’s all for me Grog” were two of them. We all had a fun time around the fire singing…

Monday morning we had breakfast & packed up gear but opened up both ends of the tent & pulled the ground cloth out to air out. We then helped pack up the kitchen & tables & benches. After we packed the tent & groundcloth we said our good byes to our friends, wishing them well, looking forward to seeing them again. Some we only see once or twice a year. I look forward to being able to all be together again at Fort Union.
-- Leif"