An Intriguing 1800's Surgical SR.

I've come across an interesting surgical straight razor online, but it is the only example I can find. It is incredibly frustrating, lol.

So it is a Wocher, and as far as I can tell, all markings are on the metal scales, not the razor. When I try searching, either here or the interwebz as a whole, the only results returned are for medical instrument catalogs. So I know, vaguely, why this razor exists: as part of a suite of instruments doctors could buy. I just don't know who/where?

Anyway. There is an interesting feature that caught my eye. It looks like some sort of locking mechanism, but can't be sure without having it in my hands.

The feature of interest...
Attachment 222406

What do you guys think? Any ideas or further information about it?

Thanks in advance for your thoughtful responses!

No extra information, but I agree it looks like some sort of lock. Interesting find!

Do you have a picture of the whole blade?

Did you try looking up museums that specialize in medical and surgical equipment? If I remember correctly there is a shop in NYC that was featured in a short TV run that had all sorts of medical curiosities. They seemed quite knowledgeable.

If I had spotted that on eBay I would have snapped it up immediately, just for the curiosity factor.

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Originally Posted by Ernie1980

No extra information, but I agree it looks like some sort of lock. Interesting find!

Do you have a picture of the whole blade?

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Like this?...
Attachment 222407
and...
Attachment 222408
or this?...
Attachment 222409

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Razorfeld
Did you try looking up museums that specialize in medical and surgical equipment? If I remember correctly there is a shop in NYC that was featured in a short TV run that had all sorts of medical curiosities. They seemed quite knowledgeable.

If I had spotted that on eBay I would have snapped it up immediately, just for the curiosity factor

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Starting price on it is $25. Of which, my budget doesn't currently have room for, especially if it reaches much higher than the starting price. And then there is getting SWMBO to be okay with the purchase. Personally, I'm not sure I can even justify the price to myself for an unknown razor, age and condition aside. 'Tis a bit of a pickle for me lol.

I can only surmise that it is a locking mechanism to keep the scales from moving. There is probably a hole (maybe two holes) in the tang to lock the blade open or closed. You may notice that the slide is a ramp which will lever the smaller pin up when pushed forward.

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Originally Posted by Wirm

I can only surmise that it is a locking mechanism to keep the scales from moving. There is probably a hole (maybe two holes) in the tang to lock the blade open or closed. You may notice that the slide is a ramp which will lever the smaller pin up when pushed forward.

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I forgot, I had a second theory as to the function of this design feature. Considering that it is a surgical SR, it might also be possible that the slide is designed to allow the razor to be easily disassembled for cleaning, like "field stripping" a gun. Just a thought :shrug:.

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Originally Posted by Crawler

I forgot, I had a second theory as to the function of this design feature. Considering that it is a surgical SR, it might also be possible that the slide is designed to allow the razor to be easily disassembled for cleaning, like "field stripping" a gun. Just a thought :shrug:.

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Exactly my thoughts Crawler.

I just looked on Ebay, there are many Wertz Military razors out of Bulgaria, German made but not the same takedown/locking devices on them. there were internal slide locks like a switchblade. Also No Wocher's

May be the camera angle, but it looks like a microtome to me. The grinds appear different on either side.

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Originally Posted by Wullie

May be the camera angle, but it looks like a microtome to me. The grinds appear different on either side.

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Hmmm... you may be correct. It is, after all a surgical SR. I think I noticed that, but also didn't notice it, before.

Attachment 222505

And for the record, I had to get some help from Wikipedia to know what a microtome was. Though I was aware of SR use in scientific sectioning. ...Knowledge is power!!!

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Originally Posted by FAL

Exactly my thoughts Crawler.

I just looked on Ebay, there are many Wertz Military razors out of Bulgaria, German made but not the same takedown/locking devices on them. there were internal slide locks like a switchblade. Also No Wocher's

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Just saw your edit. That's why I turned here for info. My attempts to find other examples of SRs by this maker were all a bust. Didn't see any on the pages from the Wocher catalogs that came up in image searches, either!

It's times like this that I miss sir Neil Miller...

Found a catalog online of all their surgical gizmos, only razor they had was the one pictured below.
Attachment 222507
That said i totally agree with Wullie its a microtome.

So what is the crowd consensus on this oddity? Would it function as a shaver?? And how much of a P.I.T.A. would it be to hone? I'm not too worried about the possibility of contaminants from whatever biomass they sliced with it: Barbercide after some 2k sand paper should be more than enough precaution.

Curiouser and curiouser...

I've used one like that before. I don't remember the name of it.
The pivot pin has a rivet head on one side and a slot cut around it's diameter on the other end. The latch slides up into the shaft slot to lock the pivot pin in place and you can tighten it up enough to hold the blade locked into position.
The reason for the design is easier sterilization and you can change out the blades for different sizes depending on what your needs are. The one I used was in a black felt lined case with 6 different blades, a 1" wide paddle strop, and a small black arkie stone.

Edit:
And yes that is a microtome.

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Originally Posted by criswilson10

I've used one like that before. I don't remember the name of it.
The pivot pin has a rivet head on one side and a slot cut around it's diameter on the other end. The latch slides up into the shaft slot to lock the pivot pin in place and you can tighten it up enough to hold the blade locked into position.
The reason for the design is easier sterilization and you can change out the blades for different sizes depending on what your needs are. The one I used was in a black felt lined case with 6 different blades, a 1" wide paddle strop, and a small black arkie stone.

Edit:
And yes that is a microtome.

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Wow! Sounds like you have quite the unit/kit! Picswould be nice :nj. Or am I correct in assuming that it was a loaner or something like that?

I think these are really neat, from a historical perspective. But I don't like the idea of paying to curate things. Still over two weeks left on this one...

The one I used belong to a professor that needed my steadier hands for a section cut and he let me use his kit because he didn't trust the automatic sectioner.

Ah, so you did not shave with it, right?