Chatsworth razor - how do you hold it?

[Tim B]

My favourite razor - using it for the 30 Day Rule - is my EJ Chatsworth chrome . Its balance is just right for my hand.

I hold the razor between thumb and forefinger at the point of balance and use my little finger and the one adjacent, one in front, one behind, to guide it/maintain angle round my face. This later is hardly used at all because the razor follows the contours, pivotting at the point of balance - I guess I use them more for stability.

For my education - what is 'barley' about these razors? English Shaving sheds no light.

It's the pattern on the handle. It looks like tiny seeds. The Chatsworth Barley, and the Bulbous Barley were on the English Shaving site until last year. My guess is that they now use the barley pattern more for the DE89 barley razor because that is more popular.