Thread: I keep seeing these.....what are they ?

It is probably me been dumb but i keep seeing things like this Vintage Durham Duplex Straight/Safety Razor *Free USA* | eBay

Some are listed as straight razors. What are they exactly, are they just a straight with a guard attached ? how are they used ? does that guard come off so you can use it as a regular straight razor ?

When i first saw them i thought they were for trimming head hair but i dont think that is the case.

Junk AFAIC. I don't think they are straight razors in the sense we use them. They are indeed for trimming hair. Years ago on ebay, before they utilized thumbnails, many ignorant sellers would describe their listing as "Ivory handled straight razor." and I'd click on the link to find one of those damned things. That is why I hate them.

When I used to cut hair (amateur - in school and the army) I used a comb and a version of the Duplex a lot. In a skilled hand, especially where electricity isn't convenient, they're great for quick thinning and styling of hair. But, as mentioned, they are not straight- or shaving razors. I have seen them used by a lot of barbers in Italy.

I have a Durham Duplex that was my fathers. It is what led me to getting a str8.

It's a shavette with replaceable blades.
There is also a metal comb that can be attached over the blade to do hair thinning on your neck, sideburns, beard, or mustache. I guess you could use it on your head as well for a buzz cut.

It does a very good job on neck lines and it shaves pretty much like every other shavette.

They are more for beauticians.... a skilled barber can cut hair without a comb attachment....I thin hair with a shavette on a lot of customers, bout the only time i use a shavette, less tug.

On coarse hair thinning shears arent a good option as they are skip tooth scissors essentially and short coarse hair sticks up so you end up with hairs poking up everywhere. When thinning with a razor it actually cuts the hair at an angle and thins the hair...easier to demonstrate than explain.

Bart, the brush dog, likes em! Trims him up nice!

Man didnt reallize you had so much grey hair Tom

Well. I am mostly blonde, Like Bart!

What kinda of dog Tom?
I have a similar looking mutt. Yorkshire, Poodle and maltese? I think they call them Morkies.... NANO nano (sorry made me think of the Mork and Mindy show)

Prolly about right! Vet sez a terrier mix. Yeah, terrible! Good little dawg!