I'm working on an article about just what *is* a "safety razor." Getting some interesting variations depending on the reference source (I've even contacted the US Patent and Trademark Office for their take). What does the term "safety razor" mean to you?
Well, a razor is in its simplest form just a blade, so a safety razor is a razor blade with a safety device. Straight razors, shavettes, etc. are not "safety razors". SE's, DE's Cartridges are all razors with a safety device so are safety razors, just variations on a theme. I think the above is fairly straight forward and self explanitory, but i am trying to think of the any odd one outs which will prove the rule and i am struggling. An injector razor is a bit odd but it still works on a safety bar principle (in a different plane obv) so is a safety razor. There is a DE razor which has no safety bar (can't think of its name tbh). And whilst it is a DE razor, i would say it most definetly isnt a safety razor.
Traditionally it would refer to any razor that has some sort of guard so you couldn't accidentally or on purpose cut deep enough to slice an artery in the neck and kill somebody. These days it seems to still be the same though some people also think it means you not being able to cut yourself at all with a razor forget about how deep of a cut. Then you have those that confuse blade type with the concept of a blade guard and calling anything with a style of blade like DE an safety razor whether it has a guard or not even if it is only relatively unsafe i.e. you can't cut deep enough to slice a major artery but can still cut yourself real good with it like using what is called a homemade Devette. A Devette is combination of the word DE and Shavette. It is simply a DE safety razor that you remove the blade guard from it. It is not very safe but it certainly isn't lethal either.
Any razor which is designed to manage blade angle and exposure to the skin while shaving. While this definition would include cartridge razors, today's use of the term includes a distinction that the safety device, which manages blade angle and exposure, is attached to the razor handle and not permanently attached to the blade. Thus, safety razors have a safety device which is not replaced as a part of an assembly, permanently attached to the blade or blades.
To me a safety razor has a front safety bar and a top cap with a small window of ideal blade exposure for the person controlling it. Most of the turn of the Century razors only had the front safety bar with out a top cap like Star, Gem and Everready razors. Gillette had both front guard and top cap right from the get go and that could be why they were so popular a razor. Have some great shaves!
Safety razor to me is a razor with somekind of bar along the blade. I do not count a cart garbage as a safety razor. ( although I do know why most do)
With the comb guard, i would say yes. It is thus equipped with a safety device. See the bottom of the ad up above for the "real safety razor"