Thread: Straights or shapers?

I have had these razors for a little while now and always wondered, are they straights or hair shapers? I always thought maybe they were straights with sissy bars or something! Any info on them would be much appreciated. Thanks -BRETT

Well you almost had it right, but if you tried one you wouldn't think there was much sissy about it except it wouldn't cut really deep.

They are Durham Duplex RAZORS but I am sure they would make great hair shapers. They were one of the first attemps at making a straight into a safety razor and they usually came in a set with an additional bar/spine that you put on in place of the toothed guard so that you could strop the blades one side at a time and they were replaceable double edged blades. You could shave with the stropping bar in place instead of the toothed guard if you wanted to. Just not as "safe"!!

They did make a T handle model that accomodated the same blade.

The blades are no longer available at least for shaving. Carpet cutting blades are available at Lowe's and others and are the same size and shape, but they are not shave ready and are really difficult to hone up but it is worth a try if you want to. I have tried a couple of original new blades, but in truth, they were not very good.

I do remember my barber using a straight razor held on a comb to use as a shaper and my uncle thought that was the best cut he could get.

Will N.

Razors with a toothed/comb attachment were the original safety razors. They go back as far as the 1850s when C. Stewart & Co. produced the Plantagenet Guard Razor that was safe enough to used by the blind, invalid, nervous and paralyzed . . . without fear.


In the early 1900s there were many manufacturers, including Weck, Durham, Litt, Curley, Landers Frary & Clark, etc., making guarded safety razors. Also available were adjustable comb guards, like the Shavezy, that could be slid over the blade and tightened by screws. These preceded Gillette and were around for many years. Weck was still producing their safety razors well into the 1960s. Although this design was eventually used by beauticians, hairdressers and dog groomers, it was originally designed, sold and used as a shaving razor.

As for being used by sissies, I would like to have been able to introduce you to my ex-marine uncle who was a life-long Weck user. He would have quickly disavowed you of that notion.

Regards - Weck

I think they just rebranded those into hair shapers.

Hey thanks a lot! I thought they were kinda neat so I picked em up!

Haha well listen, I in no way meant to offend your uncle or anyone else when I made that comment. But you mentioned weck razors as well, and I actually have a few of them. Do you collect those? Or are you interested in the ones I got? I can send you pics if u want? Thanks for all your detailed info its much appreciated!

Originally Posted by Walt

Razors with a toothed/comb attachment were the original safety razors. They go back as far as the 1850s when C. Stewart & Co. produced the Plantagenet Guard Razor that was safe enough to used by the blind, invalid, nervous and paralyzed . . . without fear.


In the early 1900s there were many manufacturers, including Weck, Durham, Litt, Curley, Landers Frary & Clark, etc., making guarded safety razors. Also available were adjustable comb guards, like the Shavezy, that could be slid over the blade and tightened by screws. These preceded Gillette and were around for many years. Weck was still producing their safety razors well into the 1960s. Although this design was eventually used by beauticians, hairdressers and dog groomers, it was originally designed, sold and used as a shaving razor.

As for being used by sissies, I would like to have been able to introduce you to my ex-marine uncle who was a life-long Weck user. He would have quickly disavowed you of that notion.

Regards - Weck

Blind SR shaving....I think that's what I do...other than when I'm paralyzed with fear....like under my nose.

Originally Posted by barberbrett

Do you collect those? Or are you interested in the ones I got? I can send you pics if u want? Thanks for all your detailed info its much appreciated!

No, thanks. At the time I have an adequate supply of Wecks.

Regards - Walt