I was at the barber museum in Canal Fulton, Ohio and saw a 1920s straight razor with a custom bone handle that was sharpened on a leather strop for 30 years.

It made me think about how much care went into a single tool back then, so what's the one piece of gear you own that you've put the most time into maintaining?

3 comments

3 Comments

daniel59322d ago

@morgan_ramirez you nailed it with that skillet. I've got an old Mora knife my uncle gave me, the carbon steel one with the orange handle. I've sharpened that thing probably a hundred times over the past decade, dropped it once and had to grind the tip back, and I still oil the blade after every use. It's not about making it look pretty, it's about keeping it working right for the next time you need it. And yeah, you gotta let that patina build up and not stress about every little scratch.

morgan_ramirez1mo ago

That line about sharpening on a leather strop for 30 years hits hard. It shows a real relationship with an object. My most maintained thing is a cast iron skillet my grandpa gave me. I've spent more time cleaning, seasoning, and cooking with it than I care to admit. We've just lost that patience for letting things wear in and get better with age, everything is disposable now.

lindamartin1mo ago

You say "we've just lost that patience" like it's some big tragedy, but come on. People are still out here restoring old cars and fixing up vintage furniture, it's not like everyone just tosses everything. My dad has the same drill he bought in 1987 and still uses it every weekend, and I know plenty of folks who take care of their tools. Maybe it's just that not everyone wants to spend hours on a skillet, and that's fine too. Not everything has to be some deep statement about modern life.