Slim folding knife, straight razor?

R

repro

Joined
Jun 20, 2007
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I was looking at some straight razors on ebay and thought the low profile and lightweight would make for great pocket carry, and theyre cool looking, but seem kind of delicate. Are there any good knives made similar to a straight razor? Should I just get the real thing?
 
repro said:
I was looking at some straight razors on ebay and thought the low profile and lightweight would make for great pocket carry, and theyre cool looking, but seem kind of delicate. Are there any good knives made similar to a straight razor? Should I just get the real thing?
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So you want a knife that has a thin blade and hollow ground. Because thats what a razor is.


Straight razors are none locking. If they dont lock in the close position, they would be dangerous in the pocket.

Straight razors dont have a point. This will limit their use for utility.


They wont be much use for deep slicing. because they are hollow.
 
I wouldn't go for a straight razor, frankly they're something that needs to be stropped on a leather strop, every time you -shave- with them. That's because the edge on them is so fine, that you'll have a burr simply from shaving. I suppose even a dull straight razor might still be sharper than some knives out there, but frankly I think you'd find it frustrating at best to use. As myplea said, they don't have a point, and due to the hollow grind on the blade, they're pretty well useless for deep slicing. They do also bend all the way back, (at least the ones I stock do) which is going to be royally frustrating because if you do go to cut something, if you aren't holding the blade firmly in place, (and depending on what you're cutting, even if you are...) it's just going to fold backwards.
 
There are manufacturers that make "razor" type knives. I am wracking my brain right now to remember who made the ones I was looking at. If you want to go this route, I would highly recommend one of the fixed ones that look like a razor. Actual straight razors are very dangerous to use as a knife ( at least with any impact or harder cutting or using as a weapon might result in lost or severely cut fingers).
 
Hey, here's a cool idea! Carry a straight razor in your shoe, like in that old song by Jim Croce, "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown." That'll give the cops who frisk you one night something to talk about later. :D

Sorry. Just had to say that. But seriously now, in my opinion a razor is good for one thing and one thing only, shaving the fuzz off your face if you're brave and skillful. May I suggest something that's actually a pocket knife but might appeal to your idea of a thin, simple, razor-like folding knife? Take a look on www.garrettwade.com and check out their Japanese Brass Cased Knife, item number 02E05.01 for $19.95 + S&H. I've bought from Garrett Wade with complete satisfaction. 1-800-221-2942

Two other thin pocket knives that I like for their thinness, their simplicity, their sturdiness, and their economy are the Douk-Douk (it's French) and the Mercator (it's German). Google them up and read about them. Both have been carried by millions of soldiers in various war zones around the world.

Garrett Wade did carry the Douk-Douk (it's spelled with and without the hyphen), but I don't see it in their recent catalog that came a few days ago. Ask them about it. I'll bet they still have some. Get the original "large" size. It's about 4 inches closed and costs about $20. It does not lock open, but it has a very strong spring so that's hardly a problem. It's sturdiness and simplicity are amazing, and it's been around for some 80+ years. Read Fred Perrin's little article on them in your Google search. Douk-Douks are not very common in the US, but Szabo at www.szaboinc.com has by far the best selection that I know of. Check out his website, click on "Edged" and go way down to the bottom of all those pictures of mostly strange knives and other devices and you'll see the various Douk-Douks he sells. I've talked to him on the phone and he seems like a nice guy. I was about to order one of his "monster" Douk-Douks just for the hell of it once, but he didn't have one in stock right then. The regular size is far more practical anyway, though.

The Mercator is of similar sturdy and simple construction, it has a strong back lock (that takes a strong thumb or both hands to unlock), it costs about $20, and if Garrett Wade doesn't have them I think you can order from Lee Valley Tools at www.leevalley.com and I know you can get them from Blade Matrix at www.bladematrix.com. I've also bought from both of those companies with complete satisfaction. Mercators have been around about as long as Douk-Douks, too. Mercators are sometimes call "cat knives" because some have a cat logo on the handle. At least two different companies in Solingen, Germany have made them, but always to the same specs and standards as far as I know.

One more super thin knife for you to consider is the Victorinox Solo model with the Silver Alox handles from www.eknifeworks.com for about $20. I keep one of those in my wallet. Don't ask me why, but I do like it. I get all my Swiss Army Knives from Smoky Mountain Knife Works. Just ignore the junk they sell and concentrate on their good name brands. I've enjoyed doing business with these folks for years.

Three cheers for thin, sturdy, simple, economical pocket knives! :thumbup:
 
I definitely agree on the Douk-Douk. I've got one of mine right here on my desk, ready to drop into my pocket anytime. Douks have been used to shave with.

A.G.Russell has a great fruit testing knife with a 4.5" spey blade of ATS-34. I've been using it in the kitchen.

Both of them are flat ground, the Douk under 1/8" and the fruit tester thinner than that.
 
i found one folding razor from master-c i think, the picture are from knifezilla.
strightfolder.jpg

and this fixed razor are sick http://www.magnusaxelsonknives.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=10 check it out
 
If you are looking for something similar to a straight razor I would look amongst friction folders which can be somewhat similar in design.
 
Check out the Spyderco Centofante 4. Flat, light, hollow ground straight edge. Sounds like just the thing. It's one of the Great Knives, IMHO.
 
Upon reading this thread I was instantly reminded of the Kershaw Shun Higo "Straight Razor" Knife. Has a 3.5" stainless blade that is nice and slim and also has the tab on the rear of the blade to help open it. There is a liner lock that locks it open for you also. A nice looking dark wood handle and a leather pocket sheath round out the deal. Take a look over at www.knifecenter.com under the Kershaw brand and you will see it. You might try a google search with shun higo site:bladeforums.com and see what it pulls up as I remember a thread on this knife over at the Kershaw forum.

Just googled it myself and the blade steel is a laminated steel with SG2 at the center. Cost is under $100.00!
 
this thread is old. those are alot of interesting knives, i enjoyed looking at them, but i settled on a benchmade 710 :D
 
I paid for one of those e-bay (Tom Anderson design) knives months ago, e-bay is always full of them. The dealer took my money and didn't send the knife. They've since ignored my e-mails, as have e-bay. I'd caution against buying any knife from e-bay, I've been ripped off in one way or another with every blade I've bought there, and I wouldn't touch the company selling the razor knives with a 10 foot pole.
 
I have one that might fit your bill.......
HPIM1528.jpg

It's made by Master knives and cost about 5 bucks.It's a slip joint and very slim.
 
Spyderco Police in plain edge always reminds me of a straight razor with a point. Slim and classic(you know you want one:)).
 
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