Thread: Cut Throat Razor, Really ?!?!

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

I don't think the OED gives two-word terms their own listings. Did you look at the "razor" entry?

That's where I found all of them. No open razor with open either. I know this is a bit nerdy but if anyone's got access to the full version I'd love to know what it's got to say.

Originally Posted by Deerhunter1995

I belive there was a brand of razor called a cut throat, thats were the name came from, but it does bother me that people think they are so deadly, I have tried to prove to people that if a 15 yr old (me) can use one of what lil hair i have and not cut my face to shreds then anyone can use it.

Of course it's deadly, when used with that purpose. The blade itself has an average of 5/8-6/8 height which if used in sliced motion can go VERY deep and cause massive internal damages, such as, hmmmm, cut the throat?

Mind you that I haven't tried anything with a straight razor, but to shave with it.

I don't know about in the States, but here "cut throat" is the name older people would give to our kind of razors - the term has been around for a long time and its origin is no doubt drily jocular. "Straight razor" is a newcomer, and in truth I've come across a fair few blades which didn't have anything straight about them no matter which way you looked! Anyway, I'm happy with whatever people want to call them - usually I just say "razor".

I personally dont like it. But i believe it is a British term for straight razors. I believe some of it came from the sweeny todd movie and has kinda gone way up from there. I am sure it was a slang before then but now we have a movie to suport that term.

Ha, I think its just a silly term made up by scaredycats! What they don't understand, too bad for them. What they are scared of, let them. I thought straights were 'dangerous' prior to taking on the challenge of them. So far, I still have yet to cut my throat with them! lol

Originally Posted by ace

The term "cutthroat razor" earns me a little respect from the better half.

Don't give her any ideas!

--Shoki

"Cutthroat" simply means "Knife that folds into it's self".
Tad overused huh?

The term cut throat doesn't bother me nearly as much as the "Str8" that I see now and again.

I am baffled by people interested in returning to a classic form of shaving and then need to degrade it with that internet 'l33t' speak.

Ok, here is my take. I did a search on Ancestry.com. Not for a person but went to the blank for Key Word Search. If you do not have an account you can do this at a library that has a genealogy dept. Anyway, if you search "Cut Throat Razor" and click the "exact" box to the right of Key Word you will bring up numerous references of a person commiting suicide by cutting their throats( remember just use those three words). These accounts go back to as early as 1732 in my short search. Thus, my contention, is that is how the usage came about.
I also did a search in the same way with " Straight Razor" and was surprised at the number of razor pictures( including a rusting John Barber circa 1815) that belonged to someone's kin.
my 2cents worth

I never gave it much thought, if I was to name it, "cut finger tip", would fit more.

Although the average Joe/Jane I suspects thinks of cut throat.

After telling very much a girly girl I straight razor shave, she was wide eyed. I didn't think anything of it when she asked if I shaved my neck with it too. When answered "yes", she shuddered as much as would expect if we were to talk of popping a dislocated shoulder.