Thread: Blade Length

While your college may say that a 3 1/2 inches blade is O.K., I would keep your straight razors out of sight. heirkb, a member here got a not so nice visit from campus police.

Yeah I plan on getting a lock-box/safe to keep it in when not in use.

Wow, that is strict. I don"t even think a Boker "BABY" would work if you measure from tip to where it enters the scales. Good luck, wildhog

Talk to your res, they can assist you in figuring out what needs to be done. They are usually the ones who will be enforcing the rules anyway.
In my experience the dorms will allow for one or two straights, but no collections. Their basis is that it is not a knife, but a shaving tool.
Of course, don't be flashing it to everyone around.
If they cause you trouble just tell them that you have sensitive skin and this is the best way you have found to shave.
If all else fails there is still the DE.

I would say write to whoever is at the top of the heap for decisions on student residence policy. If it reaches someone who isn't afraid of the others, he is less likely to copy the traditional British civil service policy of always refusing, on the basis that you get into less trouble for not allowing something than for allowing it.

I wouldn't risk hiding the razor, unless you can keep your belongings, and shave, in perfect privacy. We are in the realms of politics here, and a feature of politics, anywhere you go, is that a minority always exists who will denounce political unsoundness. I can't help reflecting how the honour code of West Point and other US institutions prohibits not only cheating or obtaining some advantage by deception, but tolerating those who do. In the British equivalent, Sandhurst, cheating was considered acceptable by those anxious to avoid failure, but mean and contemptible if it were to improve a likely passing grade. At least that is how it was in the old days, although we may have changed all that.

As to resorting to a DE razor, I would suggest never shaving at all until graduation day, showing them the first in your series of photographs, and politely inquiring whether they consider you should feel obliged to withold them from the local press, when your direct obligation to safeguard the best interests of the institution comes to an end. Of course newspapers sometimes photograph people for themselves, who don't even want them to.

Well I finally got to talking with the student residence people and they said the razor should be fine. Which is great because now I can learn to use a straight edge.

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

Since you will grasp the razor at the tang, doesn't that make the shoulder the hilt? The cutting edge of just about every production straight razor is less than 3.5" so you should be fine

That is exactly what I was thinking. The scales are NOT the handle, they are more of a scabard, only used for storage. The razor is grasped by the tang, making THAT the handle.

Shavette? the blades are small...

Or Japanese straight?

Originally Posted by LockOn

Hello, I have been looking into straight razors but unfortunately I am also in college. The razor I was looking into was the dovo evony spike point. College rules where I go say the blade has to be less than 3 1/2in so from tip of the blade to the hilt/handle. So if anyone has that razor or a comparable one could they post the length of it. Thank you.

The stabilizer is the equivalent of the bolster or hilt.
I looked at a handful of my larger blades and they
came in under 3".

The blades in my Feather Artist Club came in at about 2".

A lock box is a good idea not because the blade is
dangerous but because a good edge has value
and an idiot could dull, damage or fracture it.
A desiccant inside any closed container is a good idea.

I can think of fifty things just as dangerous as
a razor. The policy has roots in some well considered
regulations but anyone smart enough to earn a degree
is smart enough to re-purpose necessary and common
stuff to bad ends.

Ah, now you have brought logic to the issue... But what does that have to do with anything? It is good to know that the problem seems to be resolved in this particular case, though.