Editing Razor (section)

=== Removable-blade razors ===
[[File:Parker-76R Safety Razor.jpg|thumb|300px|right|A modern double-edge safety razor and blade]]
The term safety razor was first used in 1880{{sfn|Waits|2014|loc=page 6 of the introduction}} and described a basic razor with a handle attached to a head where a removable blade may be placed. The edge was then protected by a [[comb]] patterned on the head to protect the skin. In the more modern-day produced safety razors, the comb is now more commonly replaced by a safety bar. There are two types of safety razors, single-edged and double-edged. The single-edged razor is essentially a {{convert|4|cm|adj=on}} long segment of a straight razor. The double-edged safety razor is a razor with a slant bar that can be used on both sides, with two open edges. The blade on the double-edged safety razor is slightly curved to allow for a smoother and cleaner shave.

In 1901, the American inventor [[King Camp Gillette]], with the assistance of William Nickerson, submitted a patent for a new variation of safety razor with disposable blades which was patented in 1904.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pdfpiw.uspto.gov/.piw?Docid=00775134&homeurl=http%3A%2F%2Fpatft.uspto.gov%2Fnetacgi%2Fnph-Parser%3FSect1%3DPTO1%2526Sect2%3DHITOFF%2526d%3DPALL%2526p%3D1%2526u%3D%25252Fnetahtml%25252FPTO%25252Fsrchnum.htm%2526r%3D1%2526f%3DG%2526l%3D50%2526s1%3D0775134.PN.%2526OS%3DPN%2F0775134%2526RS%3DPN%2F0775134&PageNum=&Rtype=&SectionNum=&idkey=NONE&Input=View+first+page|title=Patent No. 775134, K. C. Gillette Razor|publisher=United States Patent and Trademark Office|access-date=2 October 2019|archive-date=29 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229135857/https://pdfpiw.uspto.gov/.piw?Docid=00775134&homeurl=http%3A%2F%2Fpatft.uspto.gov%2Fnetacgi%2Fnph-Parser%3FSect1%3DPTO1%26Sect2%3DHITOFF%26d%3DPALL%26p%3D1%26u%3D%252Fnetahtml%252FPTO%252Fsrchnum.htm%26r%3D1%26f%3DG%26l%3D50%26s1%3D0775134.PN.%26OS%3DPN%2F0775134%26RS%3DPN%2F0775134&PageNum=&Rtype=&SectionNum=&idkey=NONE&Input=View+first+page|url-status=dead}}</ref> One reason was that shaving with a safety razor should be safer and more convenient than shaving with a classic [[straight razor]] with a sharp blade.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uspto.gov/about-us/news-updates/patent-safety-razor-issued-november-15-1904|title=Patent for Safety Razor Issued November 15, 1904|publisher=Department of Commerce's United States Patent and Trademark Office|access-date=2 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170628205548/https://www.uspto.gov/about-us/news-updates/patent-safety-razor-issued-november-15-1904|archive-date=28 June 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The thick grip of these safety razors can be reused. Gillette realized that a profit could be made by selling an inexpensive razor with disposable blades. This has been called the [[razor and blades business model]], and has become a very common practice for a wide variety of products.

Many other brands of safety razors have come and gone. Much of the competition was based on designing blades that would fit only one style of razor until the blade shape was standardized by the inclusion of a multi-faceted central channel to the blade which would accommodate the various designs of blade securing systems; e.g., three pins, a slender metal bar, etc. Even today, these various securing forms still persist in their variety in DE razors, all accepting the same universal blade design.