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?