Thread: Straight Razor Pocket Knife

Last week I found a "Master's USA" straight razor at the knife shop. I remember it being on the RSO list but when I took it out of the display I had to buy it. It locks into place and is actually a very nice pocket knife... that looks like a straight razor! For $10 it is pretty nifty. I actually have had a lot of success bringing it back to a good edge with the same fixed strop I bought from Bark River to sharpen my convex edge knife. I wouldn't put it near my face, but for a pocket knife made in China, it puts a pretty nice edge back on it. I can shave my leg with it after a quick strop with the green and white compound. (Bark River uses a different color coding than usual. Essentially 6000 and 10,000 grit.) Never seen anything like this before so if anyone likes a novelty pocket knife, I'd give it a thumbs up.

Those are a variation/bastardization of a style of knife that became popular after the civil war. The knives were known as "one arm" pocket knives. Reason for them was because so many men lost arms in that mess.

They had a blade similar to a razor blade and deep hollow point (barber's notch) in order that they could be opened one handed by hooking the notch on the cuff of your pocket since you only had one arm.

Here's a modern made one that is fairly close to the original patern.
Bear & Son Cutlery Genuine India Stag Bone One-Arm Bandit Barlow