Thread: Wacker's

I have found the QC on Wackers to be pretty inconsistent over the past year or so. Would definitely be worth to look at them in person rather than buy blind

It's been inconsistent for years. It's only got even worse lately. If you can buy one in a shop (good luck in finding one), sure, why not? Online? Never - unless you have absolute trust in the retailer. Which, for me, leaves Esbjerg...

Wacker were a welcome alternative 10 years or so ago. Since then, Ralf Aust and Revisor have put razors in the market that equal, or surpass, Wacker razors - and cost significantly less.

If you are lucky enough to find a Wacker actually made by Heribert Wacker from an NOS blank, and with functioning, well aligned scales, that's great. Otherwise, well, not so great. I have owned a few, and have been owning zero for several years.

I can't comment on a Damascus Wacker but I've owned two carbon steel Wackers and I was a little underwhelmed by them. Like RobinK, I know longer own one. I really couldn't find a spot for one in my collection.

Speak as you find - so the saying goes - although I can't speak for the damascus either, my razor goes back about 4 years and is a very nice quality in terms of grind - that's how I judge the workmanship. The original scales were horn and again, decent enough quality in terms of finish apart from the nails used instead of peened rod.

I changed the scales as you can see in the picture - but the razor itself is very much used and enjoyed.

Those are very unique scales, Rob. Any road, that is a "Bismarck" blade, ie a Herkenrath forged 6/8 blank. Yours has a French point and whatever Schorkopf is in English, which looks very nice.

But some people have been attributing mythical shaving capabilities to the Wacker steel, and they simply don't exist. It's all in the grind, and yours looks just great.

Originally Posted by RobinK

Those are very unique scales, Rob. Any road, that is a "Bismarck" blade, ie a Herkenrath forged 6/8 blank. Yours has a French point and whatever Schorkopf is in English, which looks very nice.

But some people have been attributing mythical shaving capabilities to the Wacker steel, and they simply don't exist. It's all in the grind, and yours looks just great.

I should call it the black knight I suppose.

Thank you for the compliments - however I can't find a translation for Schorkopf - please enlighten me.

Originally Posted by UKRob

I should call it the black knight I suppose.

Thank you for the compliments - however I can't find a translation for Schorkopf - please enlighten me.

It's the bevelled part of where the point and spine meet, if that makes any sense. I call a Schorkopf a "sculpted nose", which is not a literal translation but seems to cover it quite well. If you are comfortable with the nose of the razor being situated just above the toe and attached to the spine.

They often go together with a sculpted spine, and I am a huge fan. I like the idea of the Chevalier (a full hollow shoulderless grind with a sculpted spine and nose and a French point), although its aesthetics are slightly overstated, in my opinion. Friedrich Herder 25's have a similar geometry but are more conservatively executed, aesthetically the type of blade I find most attractive.