Thread: Something original, I hope

I hope I am asking something original and thought provoking here. Why does the streight razor have the image of being a very dangerous razor? What has contributed to this image of the streight razor?

Maybe because you put a very sharp metal object against your neck . Besides shaving I try to avoid that.
(sorry could not resist)

Guus

It is spelled "straight razor" not "streight razor".

I am sorry for the misspelling.

Originally Posted by jbcohen

I am sorry for the misspelling.

Do not be. Some folks just have nothing better to do than complain about the downfall of the English language.

Most of the negative and dangerous image of straight razors is a result of advertising propaganda from safety razor companies. Certianly there has been some criminal usage of razor, mainly by those London hooligans (supporters of Chelsea ) but their role as weapons in mainly a dream of film makers and advertising men. Remember, these were used for hundreds of years in the basic form you see today, so it stands to reason that they could not have been all that bad.

Don't you mean advertising from cartridge razor makers: Proctor and Gamble's Gillette unit and/or Phizer Pharmaecutical's unit Shick. To the best of my knowlege safety razor makers do not advertise, I have never seen an add from the likes of Merkur, Sputnik, Sharp, Dinosaur or Feather.

I can certainly understand what you are talking about, the streight was the dominant razor for thousands of years until the safety and cartridge razors came along. Wether these two are better is debatable. Myself, I use a safety and I will be the first to admit there is nothing safe about it. Cartridge razors simply could not get the job done in a cost effective manner.

The advertising i was thinking about was back before 1971, when the cartridge razors came about. Trust me everybody advertised. If memory serves, Gillette gave away thousands of razors to service men in WWI... when a clean shave could actually save your life (provide a better seal on gas masks) which hooked lots of people on the safety razor.
Double edge razor are ok but still not as pleasurable as shaving with a straight.

Or as close as a streight. I once talked to a Navy Chief who was ordered to clean up his shaving. He used a Mach 3 at the time and now uses a streight which has gotten him out of any dificulties caused by his shaving. He does not use the double edge, he says, becuase the streight is closer shave.

Like has already been said, mostly the movies, and possibly a few violent crimes that were committed with the razor, along with advertising from the first DE companies (Gillette), and lastly - I imagine - a few deaths resulting from improper use.

I think it has an image of being dangerous because compared to safety razors (there's a reason it's called "safety") and cartridge razors, a straight is dangerous. It's nigh impossible to cut yourself with a Mach3, while it doesn't take much carelessness to do the same with a straight.