Cut-throat razors, also popularly known as straight or open razors are traditional fold-able razors with one single blade held in place by a pivot. There is a slot in the handle of the razor to safely tuck in the blade after its use. Although, they have been replaced by electric razors and safety razors now, the straight razors are still a rage among men who prefer this method of manual shaving.
North America, Europe and Asia, particularly Japan have manufacturers who still produce cut-throat razors. Using straight razors require considerable expertise to hone and strop. You need to be careful while using straight razors as one wrong stroke can result in several cuts while shaving, hence, the name cut-throat!
Let's go back in time, and take a look at the history of the cut throat razor and what has changed since the time they were invented.
Back in the day, in the 1500 and 1600's, these cut-throat razors were very simple without any manufacturers' names or any sort of branding. In fact, they almost resembled small hatchets and were possibly made by local blacksmiths. The straight razors made during that period were the precursor of the straight razors we see today.
In 1680, a manufacturer in Sheffield, England became the first one to list the narrow-bladed, folding cut-throat razors. Both the handle and the blade were wedge-shaped, with the blade being narrower at the pivot than the hinge. Materials used to make the handles were wood, horn, ivory, bone and tortoiseshell.
The manufacturing process of these blades evolved considerably by 1740, when Benjamin Hunstman created cut-throat razors with decorated handles. The hollow-ground blades were produced from cast steel making use of a process he himself had invented. The French and the European manufacturers adopted this same process much later. Some of the razors that were produced until 1830 had the words 'cast steel' or 'warranted' on them to show that they were made using the material that was invented by Benjamin Hunstman.
The Sheffield silver steel or the Sheffield steel is still used by the French manufacturer, Thiers Issard. It's a steel that is highly polished and is well-known for its deep, glossy finish. Although, the cut-throat razors from those days look a bit crude as compared to the razors today, they were certainly an innovative product in their time.
Post 1800, although minor, there were noticeable changes in the way the cut-throat razor looked. The overall size of the blades were smaller and the handles were slightly curved as opposed to the totally straight ones. Decorated handles were made of pressed horn.
Between 1820 and 1830, the discovery of silver steel by Michael Faraday changed the way the metal looked. About 0.02% of silver was added to the 99.98% of steel used in manufacturing the blade. Around this time, in 1825, hollow grinding was introduced as well. The razors manufactured by the English during this period had a sign of the monarch.
The cut-throat razors saw further improvements in the blade and the metal that was held while shaving or 'tang' between 1830 and 1840. The tang got an identity and a shape of its own. The blades were etched and notched, with cast steel being replaced by silver steel. The blades and horn handles were inscribed with slogans, like 'The Celebrated Razor' and 'Old English' on the blades.
A lot has changed since the cut-throat razors first came into existence, but the machoism associated with shaving using a cut-throat razor still remains intact.
Written by Rob Yates, of www.malevintagegrooming.com stockists of traditional shaving and male grooming products.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_A_Yates
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