Thread: What the Heck is This?? 10/8" enormous razor... Thats right, 10/8"

Just picked this up at an estate sale. The pictures don't do it jusitce, its colossal. The blade is 10/8", or 1-1/4" wide, and 3/8" thick! and whole thing measures 7-1/2" long. Appears fairly old, its got a leather case, and the scale is a solid piece of aluminum, which almost looks handcrafted?, no markings at all. I've never seen anything like it, maybe its for shaving a horse, or clearing saplings?? Anyone have any information about it?

i think i want it!!!!!

something that finally will fit my hand!!!

That's a travel axe!

No kidding! Maybe its for clearing saplings?

It's a wedge razor, and aluminium wasn't produced in bars until the 1850s, or much used commercially until the twentieth century. In the 1880s it cost as much as silver. So I am sure this razor has been rescaled.

It would be extremely clumsy in use as a razor, and one possibility is that it was intended as part of a microtome. This is a device in which a specimen of tissues etc. for microscopic examination is raised very slightly by a screw through a hole in a glass or steel plate, and a thin slice moved by (and on) a very sharp blade.

Originally Posted by Caledonian

It's a wedge razor, and aluminium wasn't produced in bars until the 1850s, or much used commercially until the twentieth century. In the 1880s it cost as much as silver. So I am sure this razor has been rescaled.

It would be extremely clumsy in use as a razor, and one possibility is that it was intended as part of a microtome. This is a device in which a specimen of tissues etc. for microscopic examination is raised very slightly by a screw through a hole in a glass or steel plate, and a thin slice moved by (and on) a very sharp blade.

I just rescaled a microtome blade for someone. It was pretty big, but had an asymmetrical grind. I think that razor is for use by Chinese chefs. For cutting off chunks of pork!

Originally Posted by Caledonian

It's a wedge razor, and aluminium wasn't produced in bars until the 1850s, or much used commercially until the twentieth century. In the 1880s it cost as much as silver. So I am sure this razor has been rescaled.

It would be extremely clumsy in use as a razor, and one possibility is that it was intended as part of a microtome. This is a device in which a specimen of tissues etc. for microscopic examination is raised very slightly by a screw through a hole in a glass or steel plate, and a thin slice moved by (and on) a very sharp blade.

That only works if the blade is flat ground on one side, and this one does not appear to be.

There are other razors that large around, though they are not at all common. Perhaps they were not intended for a person to shave himself. Or maybe they were. We'll never know.

Microtomes are ground flat on one side, this one is hollow on both. Plus, all the microtomes I've had have been much smaller than this

Hopefully it's made of good steel as I would love to see that big ole' boy cleaned up. You are a lucky fellow to have found that rascal for the price you did.

I hope you hang on to it as it is NOT too large to shave with...of course we all would like to hear how it hones up and shaves. I have never had a 10/8 in my hands and really haven't seen too many in pics. Thank you for sharing your prize.

Originally Posted by 1800sRazorCollection

Just picked this up at an estate sale. The pictures don't do it jusitce, its colossal. The blade is 10/8", or 1-1/4" wide, and 3/8" thick! and whole thing measures 7-1/2" long. Appears fairly old, its got a leather case, and the scale is a solid piece of aluminum, which almost looks handcrafted?, no markings at all. I've never seen anything like it, maybe its for shaving a horse, or clearing saplings?? Anyone have any information about it?

Who's got the biggest?

http://straightrazorpalace.com/show-...k-massive.html