Thread: Straight razor history

In the early days certain locations provided iron ore of exceptional quality and the steel made from it was superior. Back then they didn't know why but later they realized those areas produced ores containing trace amounts of other minerals giving the steel produced from it superior qualities.

When you get home, I would be really happy to see photographs of those early razors. You really know your razors! Do you have any of the turn of the century (18th-19th) guard razors?

This is a great idea. We all are straight razor collectors and we all probably have quite old razors of the 1800s or early.
We could post the pictures of our old razors and this would help to have a basis for a historical timeline of straight razor making.
I have some of them and I will post pictures when I am back home.

Sounds awesome!

Here some pictures and illustration of very early razors.
The 2 illustration below are middle of 18th century french razors, the first one, wood scales and only one pin( from a barbers or wigmaker book). The second razor is quite elaborate.






The next 2 pictures are from a book, showing a 15th century razor from a Dutch Museum.

Very interesting pictures, Martin103!
That makes me wonder in which books did you take them?

That bottom picture kinda makes me wonder. If it appeared on Ebay for auction, would it be listed as "shave ready"?

I am sure. Just a little stropping, good as new.

Originally Posted by razorguy

Very interesting pictures, Martin103!
That makes me wonder in which books did you take them?

I really dont remember, that was a while back, but i think it was a book about that museum, it was posted online.

Lots of very interesting information about Huntsman's life and process found here.