About Us

Originally established as Durham Razor Company Inc in New York in 1875, the company launched with a pioneering product—the Durham-Duplex safety razor. Manufactured in Jersey City, the razor featured a patented slotted blade design developed by the Durham family. This innovative double-edged steel blade could be re-sharpened and reused, offering both safety and cost-efficiency, making it a widely used shaving system from the late 19th to mid-20th century.

To meet growing demand in Europe, Durham-Duplex Razor Blade Company Ltd was incorporated in Sheffield on 11 May 1910, leveraging the city's renowned steelworking expertise. Sheffield-made blades quickly gained a reputation for quality and were soon being exported back to the United States. The Durham-Duplex trademark has been registered in the UK since 1927.

The company remained in family ownership until 1960, when it was acquired by the Milburn family, who relocated the business to Petre Street in Sheffield. However, with the rise of low-cost disposable razors from brands like Gillette, the shaving business began to decline. After diversifying into hairdressing products with limited success, the company was acquired in 1974 by Edward Turner and Son Ltd.

Under the leadership of Neil Turner and the appointment of Stuart Barnes as Managing Director in 1978, Durham-Duplex shifted its focus to industrial blades and machine knives. This strategic repositioning led to a prolonged period of growth, establishing the brand as a trusted manufacturer in the industrial sector.

The company has continued to evolve, expanding its capabilities with the addition of a dedicated machine knife factory in Sheffield in 2006, followed by the expansion of warehouse facilities to better serve global markets. Export has remained a central part of Durham-Duplex’s strategy, supported by the establishment of Durham-Duplex (South East Asia) Ltd in 2008 and Durham-Duplex (Europe) SPRL in Brussels in 2018.

In 2011, the launch of a flooring division further broadened the company’s product range. Yet, despite these advancements, Durham-Duplex continues to manufacture its original slotted razor blades—now enhanced with modern coatings such as TiN or TiCN—still sought after by loyal customers including military veterans.

Today, Durham-Duplex stands as a symbol of British engineering excellence, offering a diverse portfolio of cutting solutions across global industrial and specialist markets.