A Cut-Throat Razor
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (339930)
Rockingham, Australia
October 12, 2017 4:12am CST
While cleaning out my mother’s house, I came across two of these, almost identical, items. Have you seen one before?
It is a cut-throat razor which folds away to fit in its own little case. Men would lather up with a bristle shaving brush (I understand badger hair brushes were best) then shave with the razor.
Later safety razors came on the market and eventually electric razors made most others obsolete. I have a ‘shaving mug’ which belongs to the same era as the cut-throat so I’ll put that up one day. It’s pretty interesting too.
22 people like this
26 responses
@RichardMeister (5328)
• Otis Orchards, Washington
12 Oct 17
I've seen these before. Barbers used to use them to shave their customers. I don't know, but they may still use them but I don't think too many men goes to a barber to get shaved anymore. Back in the 80s I had a beard and the barber I went to begged me to let him shave my beard off. I wanted to keep my beard so I wouldn't let him. I've been using an electric razor for many years now.
4 people like this
@RichardMeister (5328)
• Otis Orchards, Washington
13 Oct 17
@JudyEv I think that was the case. I thought about letting him shave it off when it came time but then I thought why should I pay for it when I can do it myself.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (339930)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Oct 17
@RichardMeister Taking off a beard might have been quite a bit more expensive than a simple shave and/or haircut.
2 people like this
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
12 Oct 17
There could be some value to the vintage items. I would not want one of those anywhere near my throat.
4 people like this
@toniganzon (72281)
• Philippines
12 Oct 17
That's something worth keeping. I have seen that from barbers before. But I've never seen my dad use that at all.
3 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29820)
• Momence, Illinois
13 Oct 17
My grandfather had some of these. They are pretty cool.
3 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
12 Oct 17
I've actually been shaved with one of these a couple times. It was a treat.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (339930)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Oct 17
My father often cut himself when he was shaving - even with a safety razor.
@RasmaSandra (79843)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
12 Oct 17
I don't know where it is at the moment but yes, I have one that is bendable with a green handle. I used to be my dads before regular razors came around.
3 people like this
@andriaperry (116936)
• Anniston, Alabama
12 Oct 17
Never sen one up close and personal. Only in the Western Movies. You have a nice collection of obsolete items, you could open up a museum, charge people at the door to look at them.
3 people like this
@Mike197602 (15505)
• United Kingdom
12 Oct 17
They still use them in a barbers just down the road from me.
When I used to get my hair cut (I do it myself now) when I was younger they'd use one then too.
I think they're making a comeback and some are very very expensive.
3 people like this
@ilocosboy (45156)
• Philippines
12 Oct 17
Yes, men use this for shaving, long time ago. Time has change now. But I don't know why it's called cut-throat
3 people like this
