Thread: Straight razors shorter than 3 inch blade length!

Hi all,

I am just starting my venture into the straights and wanted to know what razors are made that have only like a 2 1/4 or 2 1/2 inch blade. I find that I might like the shorter blade better than the standard 3 inch ones so I wanted to know some brands/model number so ones to search for.

Thx. for any and all comments and recommendations!

Here are a few that I know of. I'm sure there are more. The guards can be removed. You could also modify one to make it shorter, but I would hold off on till you get comfortable with restoration/modifying since that is a whole different area. Torrey Little Guard, Curley Safety Razor, and Genco Safedge.

Many Japanese razors and some English and German razors have shorter blades. In the attached image, the top razor has a conventional 75mm (3") edge, the next is a Japanese Nichiri with a 58mm edge, followed by a vintage Wosty with a 68mm edge. In the German line, I like the old 6/8 Dovo Bergischer Lowe which also had a 68mm edge or thereabouts.

Cheers, Steve

I saw some "custom" Harts being sold new that are shorter than normal.

Every now and again a standard length razor will have damage at the point that requires shortening the blade. You'll see some like that in the classifieds, or on ebay now and then. If done correctly they are still fine shavers ......... if they were to begin with .......

Originally Posted by SirMike

Hi all,

I am just starting my venture into the straights and wanted to know what razors are made that have only like a 2 1/4 or 2 1/2 inch blade. I find that I might like the shorter blade better than the standard 3 inch ones so I wanted to know some brands/model number so ones to search for.

Thx. for any and all comments and recommendations!

Strictly speaking the blade is the cutting piece which is nearly always under 3 inches, say 2.75 inches on average. The tang (the part you grip) and the tail length are not part of blade size.

Regards,
Neil

Originally Posted by Neil Miller

Strictly speaking the blade is the cutting piece which is nearly always under 3 inches, say 2.75 inches on average. The tang (the part you grip) and the tail length are not part of blade size.

Regards,
Neil

That may be true but the ones I have sitting here are all way closer to 3 inches than to 2.75 inches. I am looking for something about 2 1/4.

I've been interested in short blades too. Have a few that were damaged and need to be shortened. My next project. I'll post those pics this weekend when I finish one. My face and neck have some serious inverted angles, seem hard to get at. Have a friend with allot more padding and he has no problem, Ofcourse all the techniques to get those spots... I know I know. BUT, I figure, maybe just maybe one of those short blades could be used with one of my regular blades... worth a try, and can give meaning to the life of a hopeless broken razor! Oh yes

Originally Posted by SirMike

That may be true but the ones I have sitting here are all way closer to 3 inches than to 2.75 inches. I am looking for something about 2 1/4.

Only trying to clear up that most blades are under 3 inches and that in all the time I have dealt with SRs I have never, ever heard as 3 ins being a 'standard' width, because it is not.

Over the years I have sold many hundreds of SRs and I have always measured and recorded in the description the overall length (blade + tang + tail) plus the length of the blade - I have had some close to 3 inches, but most have been around 2.75 and some going a bit below this, with a number being under 2.5 inches.

Regards,
Neil

Few razors are actually 3". Most are shorter. 2.5 - 2.75 seems to be the most common.