Thread: Near wedge

I have around 15 sr's but all of them are full hollow are close to it. I would like to try a wedge and have been looking at the Esbjerg straights at SRD. I prefer the smaller 6/8 over the 8/8 but haven't found any post on the 6/8. It's also a big investment for me. Think I should pull the trigger or find a cheaper option to try out a near wedge? Just looking for opinions.
Thanks, Anthony

I think you will find these similar and affordable
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all of them are full hollow are close to it. I would like to try a wedge and have been looking at the Esbjerg straights at SRD. I prefer the smaller 6/8 over the 8/8 but haven't found any post on the 6/8. It's also a big investment for me. Think I should pull the trigger or find a cheaper option to try out a near wedge? Just looking for opinions.
Thanks, Anthony[/QUOTE]

Wade and Butcher made some very nice 5/8-6/8 wedges. If you've got a little bit of patience they pop up on ebay on a semi regular basis. Very nice shavers they are as well once properly honed.

I would not go expensive for your first one, you might not care for the way they shave! They have a different feel and are also different when it comes to honing and stropping. With that being said, I prefer them over hollow grinds.
Check out the bay for a nice one, you can pick up a decent one for a good price, especially if you are willing to do a little light cleaning and hone it. I picked this one up last week for $50, it is a fantastic shaver.


It it is a 5/8 near wedge, I polished the blade and honed it with one layer of tape.

I would be patient and keep your eyes open. There are a few around and the do come up in the classifieds from time to time. The razors in the classifieds are well marked as to what is shave ready too. It usually pays to wait and watch. As long as you are getting good shaves in the meantime just enjoy the ride.

Originally Posted by RezDog

I would be patient and keep your eyes open. There are a few around and the do come up in the classifieds from time to time. The razors in the classifieds are well marked as to what is shave ready too. It usually pays to wait and watch. As long as you are getting good shaves in the meantime just enjoy the ride.

I agree. Be patient and keep your eyes open. I hadnt shaved with a true wedge after a few years of shaving until recently. Until then it was 1/4, half, full hollows, and so forth.. I had purchased several over the years but never did shave. First one I tried to hone, a disaster. So I picked a 6/8 W&B and honed it up after reading and talking to a hone meister, worked great, loved the shave! Just take care when trying a new grind. I found that it wanted a lower shave angle.
If you search the Bay, just watch very closely, be very choosey, and have a hone meister fix it up for you unless you are already very skilled. Im going to send mine in to get a perfect edge, but it was a good experience doing it myself, though the other blade got screwed up pretty bad.

You should give a 1/4 hollow a try, they are lovely .

I was really wanting one for head shaving. I have a 1/4 hollow (guessing)that I use now and prefer it over a full hollow for head shaving. Going to take advice and wait for one to pop up at a price I can lI've with if I don't like it.
Thanks, Anthony

Originally Posted by Anthonyb

I was really wanting one for head shaving. I have a 1/4 hollow (guessing)that I use now and prefer it over a full hollow for head shaving. Going to take advice and wait for one to pop up at a price I can lI've with if I don't like it.
Thanks, Anthony

By definition you aready have a wedge if you own a 1/4 hollow.

I have a union Cutlery Spike that is a quarter hollow (picked up on the classifieds here) and it is my favorite over the half and full hollows that I have. I tried a near wedge, and besides not caring for the feel of it, I had a hard time stropping it, and honing was terrible (Lynn tried without success).

I agree with others about going low(er) cost on your first wedge.