Thread: Is my near-wedge a near-wedge?

Rob, as far as I'm aware, Wacker has offered at least four different grinds on his 6/8 razors (there may be more):

- '1/1 hohl' = hollow

- '1/4 hohl' = quarter hollow (but more like half hollow)

- 'Stosser' = wedge (but more like quarter hollow)

- 'Special razor' = a blade which Wacker claims combines the advantages of a wedge (stiffness) with the advantages of a hollow (flex). I haven't seen him say much more on this but looking at my blade it looks like the upper part of the blade closest to the spine is thick like a wedge, while the lower half close to the edge is very thin like a hollow.

All have nice straight grinds, very hard steel and shave beautifully.

I'm heading out but can try and post pics tomorrow. cheers.

Originally Posted by MichaelS

Rob, as far as I'm aware, Wacker has offered at least four different grinds on his 6/8 razors (there may be more):

- '1/1 hohl' = hollow

- '1/4 hohl' = quarter hollow (but more like half hollow)

- 'Stosser' = wedge (but more like quarter hollow)

- 'Special razor' = a blade which Wacker claims combines the advantages of a wedge (stiffness) with the advantages of a hollow (flex). I haven't seen him say much more on this but looking at my blade it looks like the upper part of the blade closest to the spine is thick like a wedge, while the lower half close to the edge is very thin like a hollow.

All have nice straight grinds, very hard steel and shave beautifully.

I'm heading out but can try and post pics tomorrow. cheers.

I'm not sure about the 6/8 blades, but my 7/8 says "Stosser," but it's definitely not a wedge. And there's a near-wedge in the 7/8 family -- the Keilshchliff. Whatever grind mine is, it shaves very nicely -- probably a lot like the "Special" you mentioned. It feels much more substantial than the other hollow-ground razors in my rotation.

My "Stosser" also says "Keilschliff" on it, aren't they the same thing?

Originally Posted by MichaelS

My "Stosser" also says "Keilschliff" on it, aren't they the same thing?

I don't think so. I know "Keilschliff" translates to "wedge cut" in English. "Stosser" is, I think the transliteration of "Stoßer," which means something like "piercing" or "pushing." I should probably ask my German brother-in-law to give me an official translation. But that would mean actually talking to him. :|

Originally Posted by CtwoHsix0h

I don't think so. I know "Keilschliff" translates to "wedge cut" in English. "Stosser" is, I think the transliteration of "Stoßer," which means something like "piercing" or "pushing." I should probably ask my German brother-in-law to give me an official translation. But that would mean actually talking to him. :|

Rob,

No need to call the brother-in-law , they both mean wedge:

- Keilschliff = literal translation

- Stosser = old tradename that became synonymous with 'wedge' and which was/is used by many razor makers: Tuckmar Stosser, Schulze Stosser, Wacker Stosser etc They're all Keilschliffs.

Originally Posted by MichaelS

- Stosser = old tradename that became synonymous with 'wedge' and which was/is used by many razor makers: Tuckmar Stosser, Schulze Stosser, Wacker Stosser etc They're all Keilschliffs.

Only my Stosser isn't a Keilschliff. I wonder if Stosser was pre-printed on the blank that Herr Wacker acquired, then he decided to grind it hollow?

Originally Posted by CtwoHsix0h

Only my Stosser isn't a Keilschliff. I wonder if Stosser was pre-printed on the blank that Herr Wacker acquired, then he decided to grind it hollow?

I dont think so, I mean that the blanks were just that, blank razor shaped bits of steel, either hand forged or pressed out of a sheet with a tilt hammer, untempered, and very thick to allow for subsequent grinding.

The sides would be thick enough to allow for most types of grinding, so it would be useless to add any marking at this stage, as it would be ground off again.

Cant tell from the photo, but the blade markings look laser etched or something similar, and this would be appled as one of the last stages in production.

Regards,
Neil

My Heartring Stosser is a quarter hollow - nowhere near a wedge.

And I can't find a literal definition of Keilschliff online"?

Regards,
Neil

Keil is German for "wedge" and Schliff means "cut." It's a literal translation from German to English.

What I still have trouble identifying is Stosser. I think it translates to something like "sharp" or "piercing," but the post from MichaelS above suggests it's a trade name.

Originally Posted by Neil Miller

My Heartring Stosser is a quarter hollow - nowhere near a wedge.

So my German brother-in-law tells me that Stoßer (Stosser) means "pusher" in English. Not sure if that really furthers the conversation, but I thought I'd throw it out there.