Thread: Straight razor history

Actually, the folding razor as we know it is the one I'm saying predates 1650. It's what Samuel van Hoogstraten painted, it's what the Pilgrim's carried to Plymouth, and I've seen several examples in batches of early 18th century auctions.

How did it differ from 1550 to 1650 to 1750? The examples are few and far between, and while it's very tempting to come up with an overview, I don't think there's enough evidence to do that. I'm away from my main computer (where I've stored pictures) and all but my digital library or I'd dig up some to show other than the painting.

My currently unsupported guess is that the folding razor probably was derived from the folding bistoury. There didn't used to be any kind of clear dividing line between surgeons and barbers, but until I can dig through my books on the history of medical instruments, that's just a guess.

Another thing that it's useful to be careful of is the idea that there was a clear progression of forms. I know Henry Lummus says razors before 1800 had tiny or non-existent tails, but I've found too many razors that break his rules of thumb. Remember, the cutlers were always trying the occasional odd, new thing as well as making traditional razors.

These razors (after 1814):


were made more recently than these (around 1810):


And of course, the French and the English did the tails on their razors very differently.