Thread: Straight Razor use as a weapon?

Why would someone choose to use a straight razor instead of another type of blade? Concealment? Talking about the gangs in particular ---I mean you can get a more conventional knife damn sharp and it has more body/weight/stability and a stabbing possibility.



Justin

Originally Posted by jnich67

That said, I have heard a few stories of young people in the NY area carrying DE blades in the mouths and being able manipulate them well enough to slash victims suddenly and unexpectedly. This could be an urban legend. I don't know for sure.

They use them to cut purse straps. Not an urban legend, but don't get punched in the mouth or you'll make another days work for the undertaker.

X

There are also tales of female gang members tying DE blades into their hair so that hair-pulling adversaries learn not to try that again. Not sure if it's fact or myth. I always preferred my women less psychotic. Granted, sometimes only slightly less.

When I first saw straight shaving becoming something of a trend, I wondered how long it might be before they start hitting the headlines for being used to more violent ends. And when I first saw eBay straights climbing to prices they never could have reaped 6 months ago, I though what we need is much-touted news story about some guy killed in the course of a wholly routine straight razor shave. Frighten off the wafflers, y'know

Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT

Why would that set you off? Don't tell me you're thinking of using a straight as a weapon?

I meant "set me off " as confused me on what to think. My bad, manner of speech. I'm taking from all these stories is that straights were historically used because it's all that gangsters could legally carry around even though it was not the most ideal weapon of choice, even though every now and then a straight could give a good nick if the user was skilled or lucky enough. That makes enough sense. Thanks again guys but I'll still believe what old people say about getting "fucked up" if the other guy pulls one out .

Why are we discussing this? Seems adverse to what we get our razors for.

Originally Posted by RichZ

Why are we discussing this? Seems adverse to what we get our razors for.

Are you saying we are wierdo's? And how do you know how many of us go prowling the city streets with our straights eh?

Actually there have been many studies commissioned by various Law Enforcement agencies which have shown time and again that knife attacks are the most dangerious things any police officer can face and most are totally unprepared for it. It may make sense to think you can shield yourself from a knife attack with a coat or something or shoot someone with a knife rite quick but remember that action is always faster than reaction and its like the old pilots saying, "whats an aviators greatest friend, its altitude" and in a fixed blade attack your greatest ally is distance.

A razor edge can be put on all kinds of implements, from actual razors to axes to knives. A straight razor would make a flimsy, awful weapon next to a razor sharp cold steel commando knife. Although I'm sure razors have been used as weapons, given the abundance of better options, I'm not sure it's something to worry about that much.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Actually there have been many studies commissioned by various Law Enforcement agencies which have shown time and again that knife attacks are the most dangerious things any police officer can face and most are totally unprepared for it.

Depends on the area I suppose- LAPD seems totally unprepaired for useing a gun, well, at least hitting what they shoot at for example....

Very true, distance and being prepaired is your best friend in that kind of situation and the biggest asset is being prepaired- knowing how to defend against an attack and knowing an attack is coming. "Street smarts" if you will.

I wonder how long before those cumbersome BP vests patrol officers wear actually do something useful for knives (I know they help but...)

I think the origins of carrying a straight as a weapon was in fact from the times when it was legal to carry as in not considered a weapon, and easy and cheap to obtain. I'm sure many people fell to one too, even if they are less than perfect as a weapon. Anything can be used as a weapon if the person weilding it knows how.

Personally, I'll stick to trying to learn to shave with them.

I'm going to move this to the Off Topic area, as the Newbies Corner has to do more with shaving questions.

One thing you have to remember is the adrenaline response. Fine motor control goes out the window under stress. I've seen some very highly skilled bullseye target shooters go through 4 magazines of ammo in an effort to knock down 8 steel plates simply because of the stress of being in a timed, competitive event.

I've seen at least one person mention distance in regards to weapon of choice.

I'm here to tell you that inside of 21 ft you WILL NOT , I repeat, WILL NOT
be able to draw a holstered firearm and engage a charging opponent.

You can argue with me all you want but LEOs have known it since the 80's.

If you are concealing the weapon you better plan for more like 30 ft or so.
Don't believe me?
Whatever.

21 ft is carrying in a level 1 duty holster, my level 3 adds .5 seconds to that.
My concealed time varies according to what I'm wearing but normally its about 1.5 also.

I study knife fighting and knives are real scary. I would much rather try to disarm a gun wielder than someone armed with a knife.

As for something fast out of the gate... http://www.savsonswordsandknives.com/spenwiwacoit.html