3-Pinned scales?

I don't know why, but my eye is really drawn to 3-pinned razors...which seems silly, considering how subtle the difference is when compared to 1 or 2-pinned designs. But as the saying goes, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder". ;)

As I've been shopping around for my first razor, I've started wondering about that third pin: why is it there? My assumption is that the third pin is not a cosmetic affectation, but is there to serve some function. Among the few razors I've handled so far, the third pin seems to be there either to reinforce the scales, and/or to serve as a blade stop. However, one SRP member noted that he doesn't recall ever seeing a third pin used with wood scales, which suggests that the blade stop idea may be incorrect. And some of the flimsiest scales I've seen don't have a third pin. I suppose that design or cost control philosophy might explain things, too.

So...what's the deal with that third pin?

I just saw a post here on SRP where an old timer explained that he had read that the third pin was to prevent the scales from degrading the gold wash and etching on some blades. ( Just thought..that would preserve the gold wash, black oxide, or bluing on some tangs also?) I have seen the third pin mainly on German produced razors. Never saw one as a blade stop other than the hidden one on GD's and DA's and not always a blade stop there either. I have used the third pin as a widener for wedge type blades on some rescales to assure there was sufficient room for the blade to get home and..not break or crack the scales when squeezed into the scales.
Just my thoughts and I hope someone else chimes in!
~Richard

Wood scales are rare to non-existent in on Vintage factory razors, so any theory there concerning 3rd pins is null and void..

Geezer has listed all the reasons I have seen posted

BUT

None of those reasons holds water across the board, at least not that I have found anyway.. Basically another SR mystery, much like the Barber's notch which isn't even called a Barber's notch :p but people will swear to the reasons it is there, though no proof is offered (at this time)


I also think they look good, but many of them have caused serious warping issues in many Vintage razors...

I hadn't considered the possibility that the 3rd pin might be there as a spacer; that certainly seems feasible. But if that was the case, I'd expect to see them used on more razors that have fancy finishes.

Bummer about the warping! That REALLY sucks.

:confused:

I'd be willing to bet, back in the day the 3 pin razors were advertised like many other things in those days as beneficial when there was no basis in fact for them. Probably a luxury feature.

A third pin adds to the labor of assembly.

As to the reason for using it, I might suggest that it looks more premium, and the examples I have seen seemed less flimsy than similar materials with only two pins (and logic dictates this would often be the case...the third pin adds structure and reduces flex in the scales).

I think it's like bolsters. It's there because it looks nice and it was a way to add profit for the superior makers that could produce it economically.

Tis all in the eye of the beholder. I like the look of a 3 pin razor, just like I like the look of a 3 piece suit.

Yup...I like the 3 pin razors as well...one of those esoteric, mystical things I guess that translates into internet language as: YMMV.

Hmmmm, this thread needs some pics, anybody?

Perhaps not the best photo for this thread, but this one was in my strop recently.

Attachment 145500

Some more.

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...ps9f63f391.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...ps400f4987.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...ps08048569.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...ps8632b70a.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...ps274fee1d.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...ps49bee505.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...ps8cf54dc9.jpg

Two for me:

Attachment 145519
Attachment 145520

So far....

And if the Goldedge bites me again on the next rotation, there will be one sad duck hanging around the Classfieds!!

The only 3 pin unpacked from the move

Attachment 145522

Attachment 145528Attachment 145529My Gamerx I inherited has a third pin but the wedge is the same round spacer as the third pin haven't seen it anywhere else either just, a style I spouse.
I read the third pin was a spacer more for celluloid scales to help prevent them distorting not to stop the blade .

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BobH

Some more.


http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...ps8cf54dc9.jpg

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That is a beautiful PUMA.

[QUOTE My Gamerx I inherited has a third pin but the wedge is the same round spacer as the third pin haven't seen it anywhere else either just, a style I spouse.
I read the third pin was a spacer more for celluloid scales to help prevent them distorting not to stop the blade .[/QUOTE]

I have seen that pin substitute for a wedge a few times but not very often for sure. Unique and interesting idea, isn't it.

Bob

Is there a 3 pin razor club? While not possessing one, I could look at them all day.

Definately unique set up Bob & the wedge & spacer look & feel like a rubber not hard plastic but so it flexes a bit
I like the enough to used a 3 pin setup on my first scales job

Here's one I restored and then sold on a Taylors 3000 with three pins and two spacers.

http://i713.photobucket.com/albums/w...d.jpg~original
http://i713.photobucket.com/albums/w...0.jpg~original
http://i713.photobucket.com/albums/w...e.jpg~original

[QUOTE=celticcrusader;1236345]Here's one I restored and then sold on a Taylors 3000 with three pins and two spacers.
QUOTE]


I suspect that was a replacement pin Jamie - my 3000 has a conventional wedge.

[QUOTE=UKRob;1236381]

Quote:

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Originally Posted by celticcrusader

Here's one I restored and then sold on a Taylors 3000 with three pins and two spacers.
QUOTE]


I suspect that was a replacement pin Jamie - my 3000 has a conventional wedge.

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Hi Rob, as the razor came to me in what I would say was a very honest and original condition, the pins were original, I would say this would be the correct set up, as the two spacers are identical, and another reason I think it's original is how well the blade sits in the scales plus I don't see any point of putting in a spacer other than they wanted it that way, because it would be just as easy to fit a wedge, and I recon if you removed the spacer and pushed the ends together I think the blade would be sitting far to high in the scales.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Substance

Definately unique set up Bob & the wedge & spacer look & feel like a rubber not hard plastic but so it flexes a bit
I like the enough to used a 3 pin setup on my first scales job

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You know, I was thinking of doing the same if I ever get around to doing up another set of scales. Wedges can be a PITA to do up.

Bob

I have a 3 pin puma with a similar spacer instead of a wedge, and it is original to the razor.

http://i56.servimg.com/u/f56/17/19/46/97/photo11.jpg

http://i56.servimg.com/u/f56/17/19/46/97/photo12.jpg

strange looking with out the wedge aren't they, this is the second & third I have actually seen now, so not as unique as first thought there is a few now LOL
are these white spacers a hard celluloid or softer tyrpe materials like mine as
Celtics yours look like celluloid nearly with the shine on them
I think the reason for liking the 3rd is, like the inlays etc it just breaks the side of the blade & adds more bling factor eseccially on the black ( shiney black with shiney metal bits, always looks good)

Mine is the softer kind.