Thread: 3000 old Bronze Age razors

I've been recently to Bologna, Italy, and visiting the local Archaeological Museum have stumbled upon fascinating exposition of Etruscan artifacts from the culture that used to occupy the region some 3000 years ago. Among the exhibits there were several straight razors of that epoch. Interestingly, being made of bronze and not iron, they all are better preserved than most razors from 2000 years later on.

Some more:

Are those bits for horses displayed with them?

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

Are those bits for horses displayed with them?

Bob

Yes indeed.

Cool. Thanks for sharing

It may be a result of the decay with their age, but they look more appropriate for lopping off digits or limbs, than whiskers. Their size is quite intimidating, but I imagine few of the men being shaved did so themselves.

I concur. But it's not only the size - this crescent shape of them would be incredibly awkward to use. I'd cut both my face and my hand with this type of straight (actually, not straight at all )

FWW Bronze, in certain mixes of tin and copper plus other metal in small amounts, was hardened to a very hard and sharp edge by hammering to all but the final bezel which was honed.

Richard