Is there record or evidence that this was the case, or has the grip evolved with the razor? When I use these I naturally put my thumb on the side of the tang rather than underneath. Neil / Martin? Do you know how these were typically held?
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Interesting point (no pun), I never thought about holding the blade without my thumb on the underside of the tang. In his book, Collecting Straight Razors, Robert A. Doyle places the transition of a distinct tang to the early 1800s. It is my supposition that cut fingers/thumbs were the motivation for that innovation. :)
That's been kind of common wisdom, but blades in that style had been like that since at least the 1600s. I would think that 100+ years of that experience would lead to a quick change in design. The most compelling evidence I've seen comes from a few pictures, like this:
Attachment 142647
credit: Shaving Collectibles
You can see how his fingers wrap around the side of the tang, which is what I tend to do naturally with these, as the surface area on the top and bottom is just not really enough to hold. His thumb looks like it goes to the other side.
Not as clear, but it looks like the same kind of hold here, inverted:
Attachment 142648
credit: Clothing and Fashion
And probably the least reliable, but you can see the same kind of finger-side grip here:
Attachment 142649
credit: Wikimedia Upload
So you're saying Sweeny Todd used that grip ...... :rofl2:
Actually yes! And even before that! In 1727 from this thread: http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...-hollowed.html.
Clearly describe that the thumb was underneth close to the cutting edge.
Yeah, I would say a pinch grip and locking your wrist at an angle is the only way to make that work. The tang to edge transition managed to slightly nip me but not through the skin while i was working on it.