Thread: Straight razor history

Originally Posted by fmlondon

Thank you for that very comprehensive answer. I guess my primary question would be, when was the modern straight razor invented? Was it in the 17th century or the 18th century? From the little I read, Huntsman's steel was the first steel used, but it seems as though I am mistaken. When I said "modern steel," that is what I meant. Was that Dutch razor steel?

Thank you again!

I'm really happy to answer. It's, probably obviously, a question I've asked myself.

When was the recognizably modern razor invented? Before 1650 is the best answer I can give.

Was the Dutch razor made from steel? Almost certainly. Steel is far, far older.

King Porus gave Alexander the great 30 pounds of steel some time before 300 BC. It was produced in India, then. It's been in use since.

We can safely assume that steel wasn't as good, but a clue to understand your question is that the Sheffield guilds specifically had rules in place in the early 1700's that prohibited making items from iron that should be steel (like knives and razors). Steel has been used for a very, very long time.

Originally Posted by fmlondon

Thank you for that very comprehensive answer. I guess my primary question would be, when was the modern straight razor invented?

Personally, i truly believed the modern straight razor is just an evolution of the kamisori wich dates back to the Asuka Era 552-645. Huntsman made a better steel but didnt make any razors or invented it.

So, what I think you are saying is that the straight razor, as we know it, is pre 1650. Then, why have I read that the use of Huntsman's steel allowed for the 'modern' straight razor. Is that just a fabrication?

Huntsman's steel (cast steel) made manufacture of razors, knives and other cutlery more easier.
It became mass production, therefore, it's considered that the history of "modern" razors began from that time.

P.S. And, of course, Benjamin Huntsman never made any razor.

Thanks again. So, when, and by whom, were the first razors made with the Huntsman process introduced?

when

According to "Old Sheffield Razors" by Henry T. Lummus, December, 1922:
"Many eighteenth-century razors are stamped "Cast Steel" or "acier fondu," which dates them later than 1772, as the commercial use of Cast Steel, which gave Sheffield cutlery its supremacy, did not begin until that date".

by whom

It's impossible to say for sure. IMO.

This is very interesting!
Could it be it was Jean-Jacques Perret, as he was experimenting on straight razors and safety razor around that time?
I love straight razor history and this thread is very promising!

Are the razor manufacturers from the 18th century known?

Originally Posted by fmlondon

Are the razor manufacturers from the 18th century known?

Yes, of course. Maybe, not 100%, but most of them.
If you'll carefully read this forum. I'm sure, you'll find all of them.
You can begin from these threads:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...700s-show.html
http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...d-shavers.html

Originally Posted by fmlondon

I guess my primary question would be, when was the modern straight razor invented? Was it in the 17th century or the 18th century

From what little I know I would say a "modern" straight razor began in the early 1800s as the monkey tails were elongated from the stub tails of the late 1700s, early 1800s. The scales began to have the slight curve somewhere around 1820 according to author Robert A Doyle.

Saying that this is the look of the 'modern' straight razor as we know it, beginning to take shape. IIRC Doyle said the Germans perfected hollow grinding somewhere around 1850 ? I don't think I would say the modern straight razor was 'invented', but rather that there was a progression from the early stub tail with no distinct transition from cutting edge to tang, to the gradual form we think of as modern. Must have been quite a few cut thumbs before some imaginative cutler thought of ending the cutting edge with an offset tang.

As far as the metallurgy, that was a progression as well. Interesting stuff. I assume you've seen the 'razor clubs' forum with the 'stub tail shavers' thread ? If not give it a look. Some great examples of earlier blades in there.