31-35 Interesting Facts About WW1 31. Safety Razors were invented in the late 18th century, but weren’t popularized until World War 1. During World War I, Gillette worked out a deal with the U.S. Armed Forces to provide with the U.S. Armed Forces to provide Gillette safety razors and blades to every enlisted man or officer on his way to Europe as part of his standard-issue gear. – Source 32. WWI pilots used to use pistols and carbines in air to air combat before guns were installed on planes. – Source 33. Rudyard Kipling urged John, his 18-year-old son to join WWI. He had such a bad eyesight that he was repeatedly turned down. Kipling used his connections with a Commander-In-Chief of the Army to get him in. John was sent into battle, where an exploding shell ripped his face apart. – Source