Erbe Razor 2542 4/8" Olivewood

Exquisite masterpieces of Solingen craftsmanship. Stainless steel knife with a blade width of 4/8" and a precious wood handle. Handle material: genuine olive wood.

Shaving with a straight razor

Moisten the beard area with warm water. The more thoroughly you lather it with a brush, the easier and gentler it will be to cut the hair. Use a highly moisturizing shaving cream or soap, as this will allow the blade to glide more easily over the skin.

Start with the smooth areas of the face. Carefully open the razor and hold it with your thumb and three fingers so that the open bowl is facing away from your face.

To begin with, only shave the sideburns and the rest as usual. On the following days, shave larger areas of your face to develop a feel for shaving safely with a razor.      

The skin on your face, which has been prepared with shaving cream, must be tightened. (To prevent injury to scars or blemishes, it is advisable to remove the shaving soap from these areas.)

Tighten the shaving area with the fingers of your free hand and move the razor at an angle of 30°, first with the grain of the beard, then carefully against the grain on the next pass.

Protection against injuries

Only use knives that are in perfect condition. Never move the blade horizontally, as this could cause deep and dangerous cuts. If the knife is held too flat, it will tear the stubble; if it is held too steeply, it will cut the skin.

If the knife falls or the blade jams when folding into the shell, it must not be used any further and must be resharpened by a specialist. Simply sharpening it on a leather strap is not sufficient.

Never touch the blade with your fingers during cleaning to avoid cuts and to prevent damaging the cutting edge of the knife.

Care of the razor

After shaving, clean the knife thoroughly with clear water and dab it dry carefully. (Never rub the blade dry with a cloth, as this will destroy the fine burr.) Carefully grease the blade with a little oil if you are not going to use the knife for a long time. Store it in a dry and well-ventilated place.

Sharpening the blade

We recommend hanging straps made of fine cowhide leather. The sharpening strap must be well tensioned, as a slack strap will cause the blade to become rounded. The leather side can be rubbed with a thin layer of leather grease and worked in with the palm of the hand. This protects against drying out, keeps it supple, and also extends its service life.

The leather (sharpening) is done at a flat angle with the back facing away from the body in the direction of pull. When changing, the knife should be turned over the back and then pulled back towards the body, i.e. always against the cutting edge! A change of direction over the cutting edge will cause it to become rounded (convex) and lose its cutting ability. Regrinding by a specialist will then be necessary.

Each razor is unique as it reflects the natural color and tone variations present in each horn/handle material.

The color may differ from the product shown.