Corn Knives and Razors

[LongBlade]

I haven’t found a good place to put this corn knife so figured I would start a thread on “Corn Knives and Razors” as none exist. Be a good place for folks to find some to see if they are searching. Corn knives or razors were used to cut the corns off your feet (and not for cutting kernel corn for eating as I first thought when I heard the pattern name … I believe they were made by many companies starting in the latter 1800s but stopped being available around the 1930s. Please show your corn knives or razors if you have any to share. Not sure it is a popular pattern by many but I know a few of you fellas have them to share ...

This is my only corn knife and just never had it high on my list – I think the image in my head about cutting gnarly corns off of feet didn’t sit well ... I couldn’t resist this IXL ivory corn knife which had little if any use. The IXL Corn Knife etch on the handle is in great shape as are all aspects. The blade even has a long pull through the tang …

[Sharpnshinyknives]

Is that actual ivory or French ivory? That’s a nice looking knife.
Here are a couple that I had last year. I sold both of them. The second one had a better slicing blade, more like a cotton sampler. Both Keen Kutter.
SSk

[LongBlade]

Thanks SSK ... yes the handle is the real deal and in great shape... I don’t think the knife saw much of the light of day ...

Nice Keen Kutter example SSK ...

[tongueriver]

No mistaking that real ivory in your excellent photos, Lee. I have a NYK Hammer Brand and an Ulster Knife Company, both in french ivory. They are available.

[kootenay joe]

I have a collection of corn knives. Guess i need to take some pictures. What they really are is a scalpel.
kj

[LongBlade]

Thanks very much Cal ...

Start shooting some photos KJ ... I know you have all kinds of the corn knives ...

[espn77]

This will be educational for me. I have 3 knives that I'll post. If any don't fit in here feel free to say so.
First - R1568
Second - R1882
Third - RB47

[FRJ]

I don't have any Corn Knives. They give me the willies! Just kidding ... sort of ........
That knife is in great condition, as you say, Lee. And I agree with Cal, great photos.
I agree with Roland in that they put a scalpel in the handle.
The thing is, for me, is that it wouldn't take much of a slip to cause yourself more problems than what that corn was.
There must have been a lot of poor fitting shoes back in the day.

[LongBlade]

Keith - all nice knives ... but based on the traditional corn knife blade I don’t think any of them are true corn knives... I’m not sure about the first one (almost has a horticultural knife feeling to me) but the last 2 are one hand opening knives with the notch at end of blade - I think they were called razor knives ... There are corn razors which have a very similar blade to mine or more scalpel like but in a razor frame (if KJ reads this I think he has at least one corn razor)... Anyway don’t remove your knives Keith - I like them ...

Joe - ... I felt the same as I noted but when this one looked hardly used I figured it hadn’t touched too many feet ... you better get cracking looking for a corn knife Joe - you usually have at least one any discussed knife pattern ...

[Duffer]

Here is one I picked up at an antique store going out of business. Got for just a few bucks so I said why not! Would hate to try this this razor to cut off a corn Like you Lee, never high on my list. It is Keen Kutter obviously and on the pile side tang is GERMANY. Don’t know much about it and weather the handles are French Ivory but I suspect so.

[LongBlade]

Really nice Lloyd .. great to have the box with the corn razor !!

[kootenay joe]

Even though the blade on a Corn knife is very similar to a scalpel blade i think the intention was to scrape the blade across the top of the corn to remove the dead skin. i.e. not for cutting off the corn in one piece, but for scraping until you get down to living skin (or close to it).
And yes, much of footwear must have been ill fitting because corns on feet are now not often seen but were common a 100 years ago.
kj

[RobesonsRme.com]

The purpose of a corn knife or razor was to keep the corn level with the skin on the ball of one's foot. The protruding mass of the corn causes pain with every step, as a corn will typically extend in a cone-like shape all the way down to the head of a metatarsal bone or the calcaneous, the heel. That's why a donut shaped pad placed around a corn gives some relief.

I have a modern corn shaver that I picked up at a beauty supply shop while Sarah was shopping for other items. It uses disposable razor type blades, though smaller and there is a guard built in that assures cuts of a controlled depth. All one has to do is drag it across the corn until it's level with the ball of the foot. I no longer have the corn, it simply fell out several years ago and has never come back.

I saw an interesting vintage corn razor with a built in guard last week on Ebay. It was mixed in with a group of razors. It was black composition molded and had manufacturer's logo molded in.

I have four corn razors made by Robeson. One is a Terrier.

The first two are the same pattern, 132, but with different blade shapes and handle material. They are both pre-1921.

The next is a diminutive razor with a "Twisted Rope" handle. I have a Terrier just like it, but no photo.

Charlie

[RobesonsRme.com]

Here are some auction photos of The Star Corn Razor I saw on Ebay.

Patented in the U.S.A. and Germany in June, 1904.

Appears to be missing the top part of its box, sadly.

This is still an active auction with no bids and the starting bid is $38.00 for the group.

Seller is taking offers.

Charlie

[LongBlade]

Thanks KJ and Charlie for clarifying using the corn knives and razors ... I guess scraping the corn is better than cutting - in a way ...

Those are some nice Corn knives and a razor Charlie .. I like the worm groove jigging and one on the first one ...

[RobesonsRme.com]

I don't think scraping is the correct term. One slices off very thin pieces of the corn until it no longer is raised above the surface of the skin.

A corn has no nerves or blood supply until you get down deep.

It doesn't hurt, at all, to shave a corn down flat, just don't cut the surrounding viable tissue.

Charlie

[Lawrence]

I think I may have one. It's a Demuth...and I have seen other knives with this name referenced to Muller & Schmidt of Germany. Looks like it may have dealt with a few corns in its life. cheers

[doglegg]

Some great scales on that one Lawrence.

[knife7knut]

Here is an assemblage of corn knives and razors I've accumulated over the years.
A pair of Bontgen & Sabin corn razors with blades shaped like full sized razors.
Edward Weck & Sons metal handled corn razor with purse & extra blades.
F.A.Koch bone handled razor with blade etch.
F.A.Koch bone handled corn knife in mint condition
Krusius Bros.bone handled corn razor.
Krusius Bros.French ivory handled corn knife.
Krusius Bros. synthetic handled corn razor with a different blade shape(well sharpened).
L&F corn razor with original box.
LaCross(Schneffel Bros.)corn razor with French ivory handles.
L.Weyersberg & Sons corn razor.

[kootenay joe]

Here'a bunch i have acquired. Some are 2 or even 3 blade. I will try to post a few interesting ones.
kj

[knife7knut]

Page two. For some reason the last razor didn't post so it will be the first picture.
Lily pearl handled corn razor.
Parex non folding corn razor with hard rubber handle and safety guard showing both sides.
Pauls Bros.corn knife with what looks like ivory handles.
Schnefel Bros. corn knife with French ivory handles.
Star Safety Corn Razor(Kampfe Bros.)with tortoise shell celluloid handles.
An unmarked corn razor.
Vom Cleff corn razor.

[LongBlade]

Ray - Great showing of all kinds of corn knives and razors ...

KJ - Looks like you have big group in that box .... Dump'em and take a group shot and any ones you feel are special note by themselves ...

[knife7knut]

Here'a bunch i have acquired. Some are 2 or even 3 blade. I will try to post a few interesting ones.
kj

Would love to see the two and three blade ones Roland!

[kootenay joe]

This 3 blade corn knife is marked: Henry Sears/& Son/1865. Unfortunately one blade is snapped off just above tang.
The 2 blade corn knife was made by Lutters in Solingen and is marked: Vom Cleff/& Co/Germany and: Lion Cutlery/logo reclining lion/Warranted, on both blades. Lutters made top quality cutlery.
kj

[knife7knut]

This 3 blade corn knife is marked: Henry Sears/& Son/1865. Unfortunately one blade is snapped off just above tang.
The 2 blade corn knife was made by Lutters in Solingen and is marked: Vom Cleff/& Co/Germany and: Lion Cutlery/logo reclining lion/Warranted, on both blades. Lutters made top quality cutlery.
kj

Those are fantastic! I've never seen a multiblade corn knife before. I believe Henry Sears had knives made for them by various companies;I have several by them. The Vom Cleff brand I also have several of and they are indeed high quality knives. Thanks for posting them.