How did people cut their nails in 'the olden days'?

[Toadflax]

May seem a weird question, but it's one of those that has hung around in the back of my mind for years. I used to use nail scissors until I discovered nail clippers (marvellous invention) but what would people do before the advent of nail scissors?

And if you were in a bushcraft situation, how would you trim your nails - assuming that you don't have a SAK, or a sharpening stone to file them. Maybe you could bite your fingernails but not your toenails - I suspect that the last time I could get my foot to my mouth was when I was a baby!


Geoff

 

[JohnC]

maybe a close friend for the toenails?

 

[Draven]

I always bite my fingernails, haven't cut them with scissors in years
And while I COULD bite my toenails... I don't. And won't. You could use a rock to file them I suspect but it wouldn't be too pleasant. Shard of flint to cut them? I've cut my nails with a knife before. Not 'cause I was out camping and felt the irresistable urge to cut my nails, I was just sitting at my computer and didn't have scissors... but I had my clipper! Uh... Mora Clipper that is

Perhaps people didn't care that much. I expect that in a world where everybody wasn't wearing shoes and socks, nails wouldn't last too long anyway.

 

[Eric_Methven]

They would just publicly question the existence of God and the inquisition would rip them out, end of problem.

Eric

 

[shep]

You can make a nick with anything sharp (eg. knife) and then peel away.

That's if you can uncurl them after reading Eric's post!

 

[chris_irwin]

animals don't cut theirs in the wild, so maybe they just were just naturally worn down

 

[John Fenna]

I quite often put my foot in my mouth - even at my age!
Mostly by accident though and only figuratively.....
John

 

[Greg]

I quite often put my foot in my mouth - even at my age!
Mostly by accident though and only figuratively.....
John

Yep that figures John, especially after some of your sloe gin!!
Only kidding mate....

 

[Floyd Soul]

I wouldn't say it was a problem. When they get long enough they tend to break away don't they.

 

[Mungo]

Put peanut butter on your nails, lay down close to a badger den and wait.

 

[Floyd Soul]

Ha! Problem is they don't know where the nails end and the fingers start!

 

[maddave]

 

[gunnix]

Funny I was just wondering about it too these days