Thread: Anyone here ever used a razor as a weapon?

Yep I'd back my Puma White Hunter against my Puma 5/8 anyday!

On the other hand...........

A good friend of mine gave me this advice:

'if the guy has a gun, run like hell. If the guy has a knife, run like hell. If it's fists, beat the crap out of him'.

But then he did hold a Shotokan fifth Dan belt and run his own martial arts school......


On the other hand.................

My father was in his youth in the '40's a member of that singular bunch of chaps, the Gordon Highlanders. As most of them were insane Glaswegians (apols to any Glassis out there but these lads were mostly real hard cases from the Gorbals) one of the favourite 'defensive' acts was to insert three or four DE blades inside the front trim of their Glengarries. Then, if it all kicked off, off came the hats and were swung round by the tail ribbons. My Dad said it looked really girly to adversaries - until one hit you in the face!

My grandfather used to say: "For best results, use the right tool for each and every task." I think this summarizes the issue very well. While straight razors are excellent weapons against your stubble, they are lousy at other potential tasks. In fact, I would imagine that if somebody used them as such, the probability that the offender would be harmed before the victim is high. My suggestion is to concentrate on your shaving ;-)

Al raz

Slightly off-topic:
MBC | Reviews


Best regards,
Bart.

Not wanting to encourage anything, but here's something I stumbled across.
From Straight Razor Collector!

The typical straight razor's extreme sharpness, portability, and ease of concealment has led to it being used as an illegal weapon. As a straight razor has a slashing action and not a stabbing one, it is often used to disfigure the victim of the assault. Slitting the victim's face from the corner of the mouth to the ear is called a Chelsea smile, as this was said to be a method of punishment dispensed by criminal gangs in the Chelsea area of London. The prevalence of attacks involving knives in Glasgow (Glasgow's "knife culture"), has also led to the term Glasgow smile being adopted for the same injury. Here, the colloquial name for the weapon is a malky (local rhyming slang, Malky [Malcolm] Fraser = razor), thus by extension any edged weapon so used. Slitting the throat and then pulling the tongue out is called a "Sicilian Necktie" or "Colombian necktie". The "Jester's Smile" is the term used for when a straight razor is used to unhinge the jaw and then the throat is slit. As massive blood loss occurs from such wounds, these injuries can prove fatal. If they do not, a distinctive scar is formed.

Amazon.com: Self-Defense : Tools of Attack - Club, hatchet, blackjack,knife, straight razor: Video

Because the blade is so thin it would be damaged when it hits bone. This means that unless the first stroke kills or incapacitates your attacker the following strokes will just **** him off more. Basicly the same as a throwing knife. Unless it works first time, you have just thrown away your weapon.

Originally Posted by nun2sharp

Ive seen it used, its not impressive. I would rather have an open and flexible hand than to make it damn near useless with a straight. The only thing a straight has as an advantage is myth and the fear around it. It will leave scars, but the blade is too thin to cut deep. You shouldnt even concern yourself with it, one of the worst weapons in the world for face to face.

Hmmm... I read somewhere that in the 19th Century London, a Chelsea smile was made using a straight razor. I don't know if the Chelsea smile was a superficial scar, or it was a cut from the skin throughout the mouth cavity. Any English gentlemen might have some more detailed information on this.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Razors were weapons used by youth gangs in the 1950s and the idea there wasn't to dispatch someone but rather to just slice them up. Used by a skilled knifefighter you can do some real damage but the only really vulnerable area for a razor is the neck. You don't have to cut deep but you have to get close and be very fast.

Right, a slice on one of the carotid arteries might be enough to make the bloodstream to the head be interrupted and ultimately cause death.

two problems with a straight razor in a fight.1.blades to thin.hit it on anything but flesh(buttons,leather jacket,etc),would render it useless.2.handle is not fixed.you can't just fist this baby and attack.you're more likely to cut up your fingers than hurt someone.

Originally Posted by Rajagra

Not wanting to encourage anything, but here's something I stumbled across.
From Straight Razor Collector!

Amazon.com: Self-Defense : Tools of Attack - Club, hatchet, blackjack,knife, straight razor: Video

This title reminds me of when I used to study martial arts. Whenever the teacher was showing a technique involving any kind of weapon, the newbies -without fail, would all start asking, "but what if he has a bat? What if he has a knife? What if he has a crowbar?..." The catch all joke became "What if he has a...meat hook!?" . The point being that it's the principles involved in the technique not the weapon itself....Maybe you had to be there.

Jordan