Thread: Fin: fact or fiction?

So I keep reading about a "fin" at the edge of a straight razor. I kinda think it's BS. If there was a fin at the edge of the straight razor, then it would be so thin that it would fold over super easy as soon as it came into contact with anything harder than wet toilet paper (which we all know, is actually the absolute worst thing in the world when you get surprised by accidentally wet toilet paper...)

In all of the micrographs that I've seen, there has been no sign if a fin. I tend to feel that a proper straight razor edge is the perfect meeting of two planes with an angle of 15 to 17 degrees between the two.

More like a " V " than a " Y "

The fin seems to be a product of overhoning more than anything.


I'm in the "Fins are BS" camp. Where do you stand?

I've wondered if stropping could possibly remove it. Verhoevan did not do near as much stropping as we do.

Problem with the micrographs none have the resolution/ magnification to show it.

Originally Posted by kevint

Problem with the micrographs none have the resolution/ magnification to show it.

So, theyre like leprachauns, you know they are there but.....you just cant see them! I dont believe it!
Fins do not exist!

OK, you can also put me into the "Fins are BS" camp too.In fact, I think "overhoning" is overstated.Yes, you can develop a "burr"-but IMO, that is a result of poor honing technique. Especially at the lower grits if too much pressure is being used.

Kevint, also raises a very valid point.The study performed by Verhovan invovled stropping- but I know most of us spend alot of time putting steel on linen/cotton and leather. I doubt he stropped as much.

Interesting question...

this thread needs a poll attached

By the way, for those who have not read it (or anyone) can find the study here File:Help Files Knifessharpeningexperiment.pdf - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Indeed fellows, but if you look at JV's photos you will see it.

Verhoeven wasn't studying razors, was he? In the world of knife sharpening, a burr is a beautiful thing sometimes. It is one of the stepping stones on the way to sharpness, whereas in straights forming a burr is left to... well... people other than me.

The stropping involed in Verhoevens study was on a Tormek grinder with a leather wheel. He found that stropping produced the best edge, right (it's been over a year since I looked at his stuff... tell me if I'm wrong on any of this...), well we know that stropping gets the best edge. Otherwise Tony Miller wouldn't have sold out before christmas.

I hone my razors under magnification and I have seen fins. When I do, I hold the razor vertically on a very fine stone like a Shapton 16k or 30k and with very little pressure draw it toward me. I then do three light pushes on the stone on each side moving away from me. This removes the fin in the same way a short, steep slope stropping will i.e. by fatiguing the fin and getting it off the edge. I'm in agreement that the V formed with no chips, fins, curls, fingers, etc. is the best shaving edge I get.