Thread: PRC Hydra

I own a prc kraken made around October of 14. After looking at the ops razor, I can say that the finish on mine is the same, faint grind lines on the blade and an polished , but not mirror polish along the rest . It came honed well and ready to shave.

Originally Posted by bluesman7

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I always open all of my razors with two hands, pinching the spine with one of them, regardless of where the blade sits in the scales. I have never noticed any difficulty with my purposely extra deep sitting razors. It may be because the smallest razor that I have made is 7/8 and the spine is thick enough to be easy to grab.

Deep sitting razors are more aesthetic to me. Several people have complimented me on this deep sitting style on other razor sites.

The reasoning behind a razors design has been explained & I can't comment on other shaving sites or the preferences of individuals but what is obvious to me is that knifemakers are attempting to make razors in a way they are familiar with ie like a knife, rather than studying "traditional" design first, which is functional. Microfasteners are another example of this that drives me mad everytime I have to hone a razor with a loose pivot.
Just a general observation not criticising any one individual.

Originally Posted by onimaru55

Microfasteners are another example of this that drives me mad everytime I have to hone a razor with a loose pivot.
Just a general observation not criticising any one individual.

Those little pivot screws and nuts with allen heads drive me crazy. They come loose regularly. Why not regular pivot pins and washers?

Originally Posted by Haroldg48

Those little pivot screws and nuts with allen heads drive me crazy. They come loose regularly. Why not regular pivot pins and washers?

Because they use them on knives ?

Originally Posted by sharptonn

This is where you want a tight razor. In the shaving position(s). It alleviates excessive pressure where you don't need it and applies it where you do. Not an accident. Intentional as to many years of applying it. It works better, longer, IMO
As-said. Tight, straight square, and spacer works as well. No forces to take up for wear, though!

There's one more nuance to this. Without taper you have a permanent stress on the scales/pivot in any position, which means that over time they deform a little and relieve the stress a little making the scales looser than what you want. So you have to retighten them.

With the taper at the wedge and the tang and flexible bowing out scales the extra stress (which causes the increased friction and scales staying tight) only during shaving. Provided you keep your razors closed when no shaving there is no deformation/loosening. It's a pretty simple design, but more complicated and sufficiently subtle that many novice makers/restorers do not understand its functional importance and go with a simpler design which works fine in the short term while the maker is still trying to part with it and during the first impressions by the customer.

And some (even big talkers with claims and aspirations to be among the best) are so confused they have been making scales with reversed taper on the wedge.

And then sometimes you see microfasteners advertised as a 'feature' to solve the problem of retightening the scales, but I look at it as poor way to try to compensate for a flawed design.

Originally Posted by gugi

There's one more nuance to this. Without taper you have a permanent stress on the scales/pivot in any position, which means that over time they deform a little and relieve the stress a little making the scales looser than what you want. So you have to retighten them.

With the taper at the wedge and the tang and flexible bowing out scales the extra stress (which causes the increased friction and scales staying tight) only during shaving. Provided you keep your razors closed when no shaving there is no deformation/loosening. It's a pretty simple design, but more complicated and sufficiently subtle that many novice makers/restorers do not understand its functional importance and go with a simpler design which works fine in the short term while the maker is still trying to part with it and during the first impressions by the customer.

And some (even big talkers with claims and aspirations to be among the best) are so confused they have been making scales with reversed taper on the wedge.

And then sometimes you see microfasteners advertised as a 'feature' to solve the problem of retightening the scales, but I look at it as poor way to try to compensate for a flawed design.

Yet another variation of 'other than traditional' ! Certainly there are stresses at rest with a (I suppose) Traditionally-scaled razor. As the bottom is pinned, the top splays out and must come in and be pinned. The 'spring' action of proper, flexible scales is becoming a lost art. Extra effort should be made to make it proper. No doubt in my mind.

Originally Posted by Haroldg48

Those little pivot screws and nuts with allen heads drive me crazy. They come loose regularly. Why not regular pivot pins and washers?

It is a lot easier and faster to cut a bolt to length than to peen a pin neatly would be my guess

I never heard of PRC until 5 minutes ago. Jeeze, they look good. I'm ordering one. No doudt about it. I'll probably go acryllic though. No fuss.

Originally Posted by edhewitt

It is a lot easier and faster to cut a bolt to length than to peen a pin neatly would be my guess

This I have not yet gotten the hang of peening, so I have to use microfasteners for now. I put thread lock on them after snugging them down, and have never had one come loose.

Back on the topic of this thread...I had not heard of this company until last night, but I am about to order one!

Pins are cheaper and easier to install than tiny screws ("micro fasteners"). Pins loosen over time too. Screws are easier to tighten (or loosen) and make blade removal easier for cleaning and oiling. The blade is easier to keep centered in the scales with screws. I like them.