Thread: Feather Edge on Traditional Straight?

Been loving the way my Feather SS with Pro Blades shaves, it's the easiest, glide-eist, most irritation-free shave I have been able to find. I get decent shaves off of my traditional straights, (vintage Sheffield and Trophee), but nothing as easy as with the Feather.

While I understand that there will always be a bit of a difference between a shavette and a tradition str8, I think the main advantage of the Feather has is just how sharp the blades are; I know some people think they are too sharp, but it seems perfect for me. Does anyone else have similar experiences, and/or have any honing ideas for how to get a traditional to that level of sharpness? or recommendations for Who to send one to for honing? And then a maintenance process once it is achieved?

Thanks!

There is very little real difference in actual sharpness

If you want a Wicked Sharp edge on a SR look for a Vintage Little Valley NY Extreme Hollow Grind made razor and have a experiended person put a Gokuyama 20k or Shapton 30k edge on there..

C-Mon had some that will go there
Hess is another that can take seriously stupid sharp edges
There are several more names that will come to me I am sure

Most of the Japanese Traditional Kamisori can take a smoking hot edge too but you need to learn how to use them

Is the difference more in blade geometry then? That would certainly make sense to me, and I could see how an extreme hollow grind might closer match the geometry of a shavette.

Not really in the case of SR's the Target Geometry for them is 16° - 17° bevel angle regardless of grind.

I am not sure what the angle is for a Feather or a DE for that matter..

I guess I was thinking as far as the shape of the blade leading up to the bevel. In a traditional I imagine it would be more triangular in cross-section, where as with as shavette the sides would be parallel behind the bevel. IDK if that makes a difference, though.

I feel certain different steels can take an edge just as keen as a DE blade. As Glen said Japanese kamisori made from Yasuki steel take an incredible edge, also the hone used is a massive factor, hone the same razor with a Coticule and the Gok 20k and the face feel will be considerable, both however will give a close shave.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

There are several more names that will come to me I am sure

Boker Arbolito comes to mind.

Feather has been making blades for a very long time. They've had time to perfect the right alloy and get the perfect angle and process down, etc. Their blades hold a very fine edge. Todd Simpson took some cross section images with his SEM that show the Super Pro included angle to be about 19° at the extreme apex:

https://scienceofsharp.wordpress.com...ctured-blades/

I like shaving with my Pro blades very much as well. I've gotten edges that are pretty darn close to indistinguishable from the Feather Pro, but like Glen says, you need to have a razor with good steel to really get there.

I've gotten very close many times honing and I prefer the SR edge over my Shavette. Like others have said the razor steel does make a difference and I've gotten Bokers and a few French blades ultra sharp

Carl Schlieper, Friodur, Mappin Webb and post WW II Herder straights are my sharpest blades