Thread: 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 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.

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.