History of the Artist Club style razors

Good day folks,

This morning, while shaving with a AC single edge razor, I got to wondering about their history. I found that I've been assuming that they're modern. But are they really? And when does modern become vintage?

Many of us, I believe, have been fascinated by vintage double edge and single edge razors, and have enjoyed trying them and collecting them. What I am curious about is when did the first Artist club blade get mounted perpendicular to the handle? I want to rule out shavettes and their kin for this discussion, and focus on AC razors held like a double edge razor, blade perpendicular to the handle. 

For reference, I know that Blackland Razors started up in 2015 (Happy 10th Anniversary, Shane!) so the Vector was introduced sometime after that. A little digging would also tell me when the Razorock Hawk first appeared. But are there older razors that we don't hear about now? And when did one first appear on the market? Pre-21st century?

Let's post here what we know, and for us history nerds/geeks, if you have a specific date or other reference, include that as well. But opinions and recollections are fine!

Curious as well

I believe Classic Shaving (original owner) started the AC craze with the Classic Cobra which was a one piece razor. You loaded it by opening a small hinge under the head which was hard to control. Classic Shaving was the sole distributor of Artist Club blades at the time.

Cobra first. Then Mongoose made the first three-piece and named themselves specifically targeting the Cobra.

Cobra first. Then Mongoose made the first three-piece and named themselves specifically targeting the Cobra.

Now that is some fun history!

Cobra first. Then Mongoose made the first three-piece and named themselves specifically targeting the Cobra.

Now that is some fun history!

Then a bunch of others entered this markert. And we made the Vector to be the exact opposite of the Mongoose's biggest-possible head design.

Cobra first. Then Mongoose made the first three-piece and named themselves specifically targeting the Cobra.

Now that is some fun history!

Then a bunch of others entered this markert. And we made the Vector to be the exact opposite of the Mongoose's biggest-possible head design.

Praise God!

I saw a post on another site from a person who translated some of Feather's website from Japanese and found that the Feather Professional blade was produced in November 1971 and that was Feather's entry point into the 'barbering industry'.

Without digging into AC history, I just assumed AC blades came about because of the unknowns about the AIDS virus in the early 80s. Barbers using straight razors needed something new for shaving that was disposable and Feather filled that need. Looks like I was wrong again.