I wanted to find out more about Straight Razors used in fighting or defense.
As the book “Razor” proves, there are many accounts of the razor being utilized in combat?
There are or were very few sources which touch specifically on the subject. Bradley Steiner wrote a book called “Close Shaves” (Published 1989) dedicated solely on the use of the straight razor for fighting. There is also an excellent article written by James Keating on Razor use:
http://www.jamesakeating.com/maajak7a.html
I found Mr. Keating’s article the most informative, and coincidentally his theory on razor use; confirms evidence given at an exhibition held at the Kings Cross Library (Sydney, Australia).
Image R1
At the exhibition, was a photograph of the method the razor gangs used to hold the Straight Razor (See Image R1).
When I first saw this method, I thought it rather a strange and cumbersome way of holding the razor.
Image R2
However, Mr. Keating’s article points out the following (See Image R2 for his preferred grip, notice the similarities
to Image R1.
- Razors are made of very brittle, breakable steel. It is very “glass-like” and breaks like a wine glass if impacted on any hard surface at all.
- Due to the reasons above, the razor fighters have developed specialized grips and methods to use the razor and not have it fracture in the course of said usage.
- Cuts, strokes and attacks are also structured around the grip and the nature of the delicate steel.
- A razor has no locking mechanism. It’s all dexterity and know-how with a razor, screw up and break your weapon, ugh-oh! Allow the razor to accidentally close upon your fingers and again… ugh-oh! So, grip-use-design-purpose must meld together or disaster looms on every turn of events.
- Razors are best suited to snipe, wound, terrorize and disfigure (scar). Not good for heavy cutting, amputations, beheadings or other such fantasy Bowie knife-like applications.
- Today, men do not own, carry or shave with these devices. So, they no longer have that carte blanche ability to be carried. They are an antique device. They would be seen as would any other edged weapon.
Keating goes onto explain the justification of this grip………….he calls it the PINCH GRIP
Notice how the pinch grip is applied. Here is why. The razor having no lock what-so-ever to keep it in the open position must be held in this way to prevent closure. The grip also lends strength to the blade and frame.
A proper pinch-grip eliminates most of the weaknesses of the razors design. The handle is not important, the blade is.Keep it intact and functional. When people show you “alternative grips” for the razor; I do not doubt that a razor could be held in such a way.
What I doubt is that it would serve any functional purpose to hold a straight razor in such a fashion. There is really only one way to grasp the razor when using it as a weapon, and that is the way I am showing you.
So now you know what to do if you are confronted at the Ye Olde Barber Shoppe or whilst shaving at home with your trusty “cut-throat”…….
Ray Floro