Thread: Medical Str8's and metal handles.

I've noticed that a lot of vintage / surplus / military / medical razors have metal handles.

I'm looking to confirm a theory. Metal handles are probably the easiest to sterilize? Don't warp in hot water, don't melt in an autoclave, and don't dry out and crack when dowsed with alcohol. So, are these the reasons, or am I over thinking this?



as a sidebar: Have these been kicked around this community?

http://www.deutscheoptik.com/catalog...roducts_id=105

Thanks in advance for any answers / opinions

Lunumbra

Yes.
Do a forum search fpr wapienica. These are very cheap razors with excellent blades, but with heavy steel scales.

That's always been my assumption.

Originally Posted by Bruno

Yes.
Do a forum search fpr wapienica. These are very cheap razors with excellent blades, but with heavy steel scales.

Wapi's are one of the razors I'm talking about. I have searched for wapienica, I maybe new to str8's, but I'm not new to B.B's. I was looking for the specifics of what exactly Wapi's ARE, in terms of hollow, size, etc. But didn't find much on the reasons for metal scales. The problem is that you end up with a LONG list of results, and I haven't gotten through them all. Heck, I even ordered one of Mike Ratliff's prehoned ones.

Lunumbra

Yes it seems to make sense for sterilization. the wapi may be a good str8 i have 1 but i would not recomend it for a noob without first replacing the scales.I am a noob to str8 and the weight of scales make it so much more difficult for me to use .classicshaving,com has inexpensive $10,00 replacement scales i think this would make for a much better shaving experience for a noob.

Originally Posted by Lunumbra

....

as a sidebar: Have these been kicked around this community?

http://www.deutscheoptik.com/catalog...roducts_id=105

Thanks in advance for any answers / opinions

Lunumbra

Yes,
although it's been quite some time ago, perhaps its in the archives(?). I had bought one before joining SRP, perhaps 1998-ish from that site. The razors are not Wapis but they are for the same purpose (I've been told the writing on the box for the Wapienica straights translates roughly to "surgical razor"). Hence the similar construction. When they were in San Diego I actually was able to go look at their entire stock (at the time). All were in good condition, made in France. Some stainless, pretty much luck of the draw. Didn't look for any TI's. Didn't know to back then. There wasn't a straightrazorplace for people like me to learn. Dubl Duck wonderedges could be had for under 30 bucks....
My first one I used as a scraper after (with no instruction or reference to the contrary) I sharpened it like a pocket knife and was shocked at how bad the "shave" was. I have another on order it should be here in a couple days, going to give it another go.
Unfortunately, I cannot get one and say "ahh yes, these are all great razors". I can only say the ones I saw were in good shape, all were made in France, by various manufacturers. That being the key.

John P.

Originally Posted by Lunumbra

I've noticed that a lot of vintage / surplus / military / medical razors have metal handles.

I'm looking to confirm a theory. Metal handles are probably the easiest to sterilize? Don't warp in hot water, don't melt in an autoclave, and don't dry out and crack when dowsed with alcohol. So, are these the reasons, or am I over thinking this?

Those are exactly the reasons- but remember, these are surgical razors where those qualities are a necessity.
The same construction was employed by the US military in the Barber brigade wit the Weck Sextoblades they employed- all metal.

Originally Posted by Lunumbra

I've noticed that a lot of vintage / surplus / military / medical razors have metal handles.

I'm looking to confirm a theory. Metal handles are probably the easiest to sterilize? Don't warp in hot water, don't melt in an autoclave, and don't dry out and crack when dowsed with alcohol. So, are these the reasons, or am I over thinking this?



as a sidebar: Have these been kicked around this community?

http://www.deutscheoptik.com/catalog...roducts_id=105

Thanks in advance for any answers / opinions

Lunumbra

I used a US Army Weck stainless surgical prep razor during the Vietnam era. It was all stainless steel and used sterile disposable blades. It was not autoclaved, since the preps were done prior to surgery. The razor was chemically disinfected between cases and a new blade was used each time. I think that the stainless steel handle was to prevent cracks or surface uneveness from harboring bacteria and interfering with disinfection or sterilization. I have a WW2 German military surgical prep razor, an all stainless near wedge, which is an excellent shaver. The only marking is a sword superimposed on a shield, on the handle. I would love to know who the actual manufacturer was. Any information on it would be appreciated. Thanks, David.