Thread: Something original, I hope

You don't have to compare a razor to anything for it to be just plain old wicked. We as modern men are rather spoiled with all of the sharp devices we can buy these days - Sharpening always has been an art, and I do not think that you could go just anywhere to get a knife sharpened, much less a razor and certainly not to shaving sharpness in the good old days. What a razor will do is really pretty amazing, the ease with which it will part flesh, without pain or sound, is almost magical. And very scary, and almost sinister, as most of us can attest to.

Straight razors were (and are) considered dangerous because they are dangerous, this was a general line of thought before even the advent of the safety razor or its advertising, or else the safety razor would not have needed to be invented or thusly named. Even a relatively sharp pocket knife is relatively safe; you can draw a good number of them across your hand and not slice your self to ribbons (I think mostly because of the bevels and the thickness of the blades, perhaps - I would try the thumb pad test with my Coldsteel Peacekeeper with out a thought of really worrying about cutting myself) - but with a *razor*, that same thumb pad test still gives me pause...cause I know it will reach out and bite me if I am not absolutely careful...

At least that is my thought.

K

Originally Posted by Kriton

You don't have to compare a razor to anything for it to be just plain old wicked. We as modern men are rather spoiled with all of the sharp devices we can buy these days - Sharpening always has been an art, and I do not think that you could go just anywhere to get a knife sharpened, much less a razor and certainly not to shaving sharpness in the good old days. What a razor will do is really pretty amazing, the ease with which it will part flesh, without pain or sound, is almost magical. And very scary, and almost sinister, as most of us can attest to......

K

...and I've got the face to prove it!


-whatever

-Scarface

I agree with the last few posts - Straights ARE dangerous. However, like all dangerous things, knowledge, respect, vigilance and discipline mitigate the potential hazards to some degree for those of us who use them.

What I mean is, none of us are likely to completely slit our throats and die using a straight - nicks or smallish cuts, for most of us, are the worst we can expect (and most of the time they happen because we lose concentration or whatever). But give a straight to someone who knows nothing about their use or care and you're asking for some serious trouble (and they generally know it, too). And given that people like us only represent a very small proportion of the population, the general image that straights are dangerous is completely natural.

"People fear what they do not understand".

James.

Reminds me a couple years ago I was having my electric service upgraded and I was watching with the electrician as the guy from the power company grabbed a live 600 amp mains wire wearing only a leather glove. I about fell over, I thought for sure he was a dead man but of course he knew what I didn't that your safe as long as there are no holes or worn areas on the glove. He knew electricity, I didn't. The same with straights, we know them and respect them. If you have any doubts just ask sweeny todd, just kidding but one lateral move with some pressure and you'll slice right through your face or neck. yes they are dangerous but if you respect them and know them its just like electricity. But I still wouldn't grab a mains like that with just a leather glove!

I would debate the fact that a double edge is safe. I have the scars to prove it. I firmly believe that there is not a thing safe about them, one just has to be a bit more creative about cutting yourself.



Also, for those that have a double edge as well, how does the shave from the straight compare to that of a double edge? If I do decide to switch I am going to want return for the effort. I do know that the one thing I am getting for the extra effort with the staight, and that is that one need not buy anything further once you have the hardware. With the double edge that blade is the linchpin in the process, one needs to keep buying the blade. Take my double edge with me on a long vacation and I will need to run around town looking for more blades. That would not happen with a straight. What else can I expect in return for the extra effort?