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

I recently purchased a 7/8 Wacker "Keilschliff" near-wedge razor from John Crowley at shavingshop.com (with whom, by the way, it was a pleasure doing business). It's a great razor. It feels terrific in the hand, shaves beautifully and is generally a delight. But something has been bothering me. For a near-wedge, it seems awfully far from, well, a wedge. At least in my eyes. I'd love an opinion from you fine gentlemen. Does this look like it falls into the category of near-wedge to you? Unlike some of the other Wacker Keilschliff razors I've seen, it doesn't say "Keilschliff" anywhere on the blade. It does say "Stosser" on the back of the tang. I'm not sure if that has anything to do with the grind, however.

Thanks much for your learned insights!





(Sorry for the upside-down photo. I can't seem to orient it properly.)

Based on your photos it looks like a half hollow. A near wedge would have a thicker look closer to the edge.

Yup - half-hollow, very nice, middle of the road, lots of horsepower yet good handling...

Keep in mind that a "modern" wedge style razor would be closer to a 1/4 hollow Its not such a big stretch to call consider that a near wedge if you compare it to an extra hollow singing blade.
An old W&B Hollow Ground is a wedge when compared to singer too. Its all relative.

Not that it answers your question, but I[m bored and felt like saying something.

A half-hollow grind is what I suspected it was. Anyone have a Wacker Keilschliff to compare it to?

Originally Posted by Phrank

Yup - half-hollow, very nice, middle of the road, lots of horsepower yet good handling...

No cup holders though.

It's a nice razor, but it's leaving me wondering whether I need to get a true wedge.... This is the type of thing that keeps me up at night.

Well, THAT answer is simple enough. of COURSE you need a wedgier wedge. you also need a more hollow hollow. and you need both of them in sets of Round Point, Square Point, and Spanish Point.

Originally Posted by CtwoHsix0h

No cup holders though.

It's a nice razor, but it's leaving me wondering whether I need to get a true wedge.... This is the type of thing that keeps me up at night.

You will be looking for a while, they don't exist. Grinding wheels are cylindrical, so all razors have concavity unless you hone the whole thing flat yourself on a stone.

Originally Posted by ScienceGuy

You will be looking for a while, they don't exist. Grinding wheels are cylindrical, so all razors have concavity unless you hone the whole thing flat yourself on a stone.

A little concavity, yes. But I'm not convinced a 1/2-hollow really counts as a near-wedge. I've certainly seen pictures of far wedgier wedges, which leads me to believe that it won't be quite like searching for Bigfoot.

Originally Posted by Magpie

Well, THAT answer is simple enough. of COURSE you need a wedgier wedge. you also need a more hollow hollow. and you need both of them in sets of Round Point, Square Point, and Spanish Point.

My wife might disagree. For some reason, she thinks nobody needs more than one razor.