Straight Razors

Metalworking is an interesting life. Once the guys got back from setting up for the show, someone came to the back door to ask if the knifemaker's dad would sharpen his straight razors. These are much more challenging to sharpen because the metal is harder and is ground thinner since they are not meant for chopping but for shaving.

Top Left: W. Fletcher, Commercial Road, Landport;  Left: KAMA, 75 Koch and Schafer, Wald-Solingen;  Center: C-Mon Blackie, initials PJM, Peter J. Michels, Inc., Brooklyn, New York, Made in Germany;  Right: Booster, Geo. W. Korn Razor Mfg. Co., Little Valley, N.Y. USA

The KAMA razor has file work along the spline (shown in the photo) which excited the knifemaker's aunts since she had just learned about file work yesterday. It did indeed make a lovely decorative statement the other razors did not have. However, the C-Mon Blackie seems to have initials made in metalwork at the bottom of the handle (PJM) which certainly makes the razor a personal possession. The history of straight razors traces the changes in design and manufacturing techniques over the generations, mirroring masculine preferences over time.

Can these compare to today's disposables? Should they? They certainly last longer than disposables as is evidenced by this collection being sharpened for further use!