Thread: Is This a Straight Razor or Not?

Originally Posted by GlennConti

Yes. I think I got a fair price. Just hoping it is a shaving razor like the seller said it was. I am not a doctor so medical instruments hold less appeal for me. I think the blade length is consistent with a straight (more or less 3") and the handle - two full fingers a thumb and a third finger on the tip of the handle. I just am not a straight user so I don't know if the handle is big enough.

Hi Glen,

I can't pretend to know a whole lot on the subject of Roman razors but... I'm a well trained professional archaeologist and I can say that one of the issues we have in establishing whether something like this artifact was used purposefully for anything (let alone shaving) is difficult. Most artifacts you find are multipurpose unless they are ritualized. Just because something is sharp doesnt mean it only had a specific use. The blade looks ceremonial. I see, but can't quite tell, the figure on the handle of the blade. This blade very well may be ritualistic, but could also have been used to blood let as has been suggested, or to shave the head of a priest on feast days; crack pecans from their shells; pried oysters onto plates; used to castrate eunuchs or to cut blocks of tuscan cheese for all we know or all of the above. The key, IMHO is to figure out who is stylized on the handle of that blade before assuming it belonged on one's cheek. You haven't put that on your cheek have you? Like I mentioned its earlier purpose may have been more... voice altering so to speak

I think you will need a very good Roman antiquities expert or archaeologist with a specialization in Roman period artifacts to be certain. Would love to know what you have found out.