ANATOMY OF A STRAIGHT RAZOR

If wet shaving was a kingdom, the straight razor would definitely be the king. Used for the first time several centuries ago, straight shaving has come back to fashion in the past several years after it was featured in the James Bond movie “Skyfall” in 2012 and more and more people have been appreciating the advantages of shaving with a straight razor and the number of wet shaving enthusiast is ever growing around the globe.
A straight razor (also know as cut-throat razor) is relatively easy to hold and use, it just needs a bit of practice. Most users however, despite of using this type of razor for years they have little knowledge of the anatomy of the actual product.

Anatomy of a Straight razor: its parts

The main components of a straight razor are the handle and the blade; however, latter includes many sub-components and it is important to understand the function of each:

• Point
• Toe
• Face
• Edge
• Heel
• Spine
• Shoulder
• Tang
• Jimps
• Tail
• Blade
• Handle
• Pivot pins
• Scale

Point

This is the tip at end of the razor and can be square, round of oblique. The size can also vary. It is used primarily to maintain the focus while shaving and for precise shaving in small areas and difficult spots.

Toe

The endpoint of the cutting edge at the front of the blade is called “Toe”. It is a very useful part of the razor. It can be in an arc or angle like shape. It is used for determination that the blade has been perfectly adjusted and there is no bends or dents in the razor that might reduce its efficiency.

Face

It is the flat portion of the razor and when you are using the razor it is parallel to your facial skin. In some instances, a logo is applied to the face of the razor.

Edge

It is the sharp end of the straight razor. The blade is placed within the edges. They will keep it in a proper direction to assure that you can confidently do your task.

Heel

It is the part of the razor where the edge ends. There is no specified function associated to the heel. However, in some shapes, it is the point from where the blade cannot get out of the razor and that is why if it often used for protection in case the edges are loosened.

Spine

It is the back of the blade that is located on the opposite side of the edge. It is used for properly holding the razor while shaving. It helps adjusting the angle properly, so any mistakes can be avoided.

Shoulder

It is the point of the cut-throat razor where the blade will meet the tang. It can be regarded as the joint of the razor and it has to assure that the shoulder is perfectly stable otherwise you cannot create the proper shave because the blade will not stay in its place.

Tang

It is the long neck like structure of the razor that will help you hold it in your hand. If you are not comfortable with the spine you can place your fingers on the tang. The biggest advantage of this position is that you will not have to worry about cutting your fingers.

Jimps

It is the part of the razor where you can keep your thumb and fingers while you are shaving. It is another portion that will allow you to have a complete grip on the tool so that you will not lose control and everything will be done perfectly.

Tail

It is the ending of the straight razor where you can place your finger if you want. It will help you adjust your angle and keep the blade in the right place so you can avoid cuts. Only a minority of wet shavers know how to use the tail of the razor properly.

Blade

We all know that it is one of the most important portions of the cut-throat razor without which the entire tool is useless. The blade is adjusted within the edges of the razor and it is used to give you the perfect shave. You have to assure that the blade is sharp and there are no bumps.

Pivot pins

It is the part of the razor where the upper part is connected with the handle of the razor. The pivot pins will allow the edge to rotate and move freely so you can adjust the blade on the face in any direction and angle.

Scale

Scales are the mterials of the straight razor handle. This is the part of the straight razor that is used to actually grip the razor.
The handle can be made of plastic, wood or more stylish materials such as buffalo horn or camel bone. You will see that it is boat in shape and there is a hollow space to hold the edge and blade. It is important to protect the blade from any damage.