Thread: When is a straight razor not?

It just hit me that a smiling razor is not really a straight razor, now is it?

That is an interesting thought. I am curious to see the discussion that follows since i feel a bit to inexperienced to weigh in on this yet.

I like your line of thought here Wade,
I'm I think I'm too fresh here to provide a knowledgeable answer myself,
my thought is the straight is not so much the front view (flat Smiling side) but the fact that the blade is straight & in line with the scales?
because a bent straight is a bad thing where a as anything from smiling to as far as frowning (definitely not preferred) can be OK without scalloping or filleting your face on one side

but they are cut throats & Open razors regardless of profile LOL

Imo, straight refers to the length axis, not the side view of the edge

I think what we of the late 19th and 20th century call straight razors were just called razors until the advent of alternative (modern) designs. None of the old companies called themselves "straight razor" makers. They just called themselves "razor" or "cutlery" makers. I'm thinking it's a modern term to distinguish straights from what came later.

So I suppose.

If would have been straight, if it hadn't been made not straight.

Originally Posted by MisterMoo

I think what we of the late 19th and 20th century call straight razors were just called razors until the advent of alternative (modern) designs. None of the old companies called themselves "straight razor" makers. They just called themselves "razor" makers. I'm thinking it's a modern term to distinguish straights from what came later.

So I suppose.

Exactly. A Kamisori is just a razor, no other terms were ever added or changed.

No different than at one time cars were horseless carriages until there were no more horses used for transportation so the term meant nothing and they just became automobiles. When there was nothing else to shave with it was just a razor.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Exactly. A Kamisori is just a razor, no other terms were ever added or changed.

Yes. To the Japanese even an electric razor is kamisori.
Not 100% sure but I think the small traditional blades we use can be defined more specifically as wakamisori but they are also by defintion kamisori.

IMO a straight razor refers to the absence of extra bits like you'd find on a disposable, or cartridge, or DE, or even a comb. Yes, this is MY modern definition, but it's like "straight" whisky....no frills, just business

oh sure i get it. It was just a random pre-caffeine thought as i was looking at some razors...I was specifically looking for curves and these had none. Which led me to the OP.

Just yesterday i proclaimed that i was looking for "razors" and the old fella thought I meant "safety" razors. hah.

No one called a flint or caplock ignition firearm a "muzzle loader" BITD either. It was a rifle or a musket or a shotgun. They didn't call it "black" powder either. They called it "gun" powder.

But curvy blades...mmm hmm, gotta like some curves.