Thread: What is a "smile", "smiler"?

Good evening to all,

I keep reading references to smiles and smilers. What exactly is a smile, smiler? I'm guessing it is a warped blade, but want to be certain.

Thanks,

Dave

A 'smile' or a 'smiling razor' is a razor that has a curved cutting edge -- which kind of looks like a smile -- unlike a more traditional razor (in which the cutting edge is a straight line). Many people (including me) like them a lot for the shave they can provide, which is subtly different than one with a straighter cutting edge.

A 'frown,' to anticipate your next question, is a razor which, generally because of bad honing, has a curved cutting edge where the belly is closer to the spine than the ends -- and thus resembles a frown. A frown is also the appropriate expression if you discover one of these on a razor you've purchased on ebay, because in most cases they won't shave will before a really significant grinding.

Hope that helps,

cass

Bit of a smile on this one if you compare to say, a Dovo

Thanks guys. I'm glad I asked. A smiler looks like it would be a challenge to hone.

Dave

If you consistently pull the entire edge of the blade off the edge of your hone every time, making that exit point the single point of contact at all times, (meaning single point on the edge paired with a single point on the spine) it is not too bad honing a smiling blade. Maybe a little slow. This is part of the X or Rolling X concept you will read about. I personally don’t like shaving with smiling edges. This is not to disagree with the people who say they are great shaver – it’s the nature of this particular beast. One of those love’em or hate’em things that seem to have just as many staunch supporters on both sides.

There there is also the concept of 'warp' which has nothing to do with people in tights

wap means that for one reason or other (bad heat treatment, mechanical distortion, ...) the razor is bent to one side. As a result, if you lay it on a flat surface on one side, only the middle of the blade will touch.
If you lay it on the other side, only the heal and toe will touch.
This is considered a defect, as is a frown. Smiles are usually intention.

Originally Posted by onimaru55

Bit of a smile on this one if you compare to say, a Dovo

Reground (or restored), rescaled John Barber, right?

Originally Posted by onimaru55

Bit of a smile on this one if you compare to say, a Dovo

I would even go as far as to say that it's an obvious smile compared to the Dovo.

It should be easy to see that the smile is intentional or not when you look at the whole razor instead of just the edge.

And of course, a frown (Thanks Chady!)

HA! You guys have too much time on your hands! And I love it!

Great pics - made my morning!

Mark