Barber Shop Supplies Old Razors and Strops

I found this old Razors and Strops Display Case at the Huntsville Antique Show, then I had the fun of filling it up with such items. There are small razors called Corn Razors, for cutting off corns, nasty I know. Then there are the larger razors for everything else. The razor cuts are a big hit right now in hairstyles and seem to be sticking around for a while. It is a fun and easy to build collection.

A straight razor is a razor with a blade that can fold into its handle. They are also called open razors and cut-throat razors.

Although straight razors were once the principal method of manual shaving, they have been largely overshadowed by the safety razor, incorporating a disposable blade. Electric razors of various types have also been an available alternative especially since the 1950s. Despite that, straight razors still hold a market share, and forums and outlets provide products, directions, and advice to straight razor users. Straight razor manufacturers still exist in Europe, Asia (especially Japan), and the United States. Antique straight razors are also actively traded.

Straight razors require considerable skill to hone and strop, and require more care during shaving. These methods were once a major portion of the curriculum in barber colleges.