Thread: Size matters with a straight razor

I own or owned Boker, Aust's, dove's, Genco's, Ontario's and Mastro Livi's. They ranged from 4/8 to my new 7/8 Mastro Livi. I always wanted a custom razor in 7/8 and when I got my Mastro Livi with Deer Antler scales it really looked big. Like Murray Carter shaving with a kitchen knife. When I opened the box and picked it up it was really heavy compared to all the other razors. When I shaved with it the shave was smooth with no irritation but I did manage to nick my ear lobe. Wasn't ready for the larger blade. Now that I have about 4 weeks using it I really like it. Seems the size and weight really keep the razor on my face with no added pressure. Anyone else using larger straights?

I tend to go for the larger blades, along with heavy grinds. For me they seem to produce a better shave and I prefer the feel.
By the way- I love the stag on your razor! I was actually just thinking yesterday that I don't see it very often as a handle material.

Heading that way. Only 6/8 at the moment, but finding I definitely like heavy and wedgy. Going to visit Ulrik and Koraat in the new year and was thinking of a 7/8 near wedge. Love the look of their smiling wedges. That is a lovely looking blade. Finding straight edges impossible to get into neck hollows without irritation. ☺ Smile.

I love a heavy blade, myself... which make finding blades a challenge for me since I also like shorties at about 2"!

I cycle from 6/8 to 8/8. Most of my 5/8 blades see very little action and as such many will hit the classifieds soon enough. I feel the need to purge and none of my favs will go, but the smaller ones will find places where they can be loved and used.

I'm half Scottish, and half Egyptian. Needless to say, my facial hair is like braided steel cable.

I can get just as an enjoyable shave out of a 5/8 extra hollow as an 8/8 wedge. My only gripe, with my facial hair, I prefer a beefier blade like a wedge or 1/4 hollow just because of the noise alone.

Don't get me wrong, I have plenty of each type of grind. But when I want a nice relaxing shave, I'm going for the choppers.

You can get a quality shave out of them all, but I have grown over the years to prefer a larger blade from 6/8 up to 9/8. I honed and shaved with a 10/8 not too long ago, didn't care for it as it was just too dang big to get proper angles right.

I've been using a 7/8 Ralf Aust for months now. I love the bigger blade. I wouldn't mind having a quarter hollow 7/8, but I'm in no rush to buy more razors, my RAD has subsided.

I seem to prefer a 5/8 blade actually,
I might need to try out a 4/8 blade, but I prefer the 5/8 size over my 6/8s, 7/8s and 8/8s, just a personal preference thing, I like them a little smaller rather than bigger

I have large hands and smaller razors just aren't a very good fit for me. Although I have razors ranging from 6/8 to 8/8, a 7/8 1/4 - 1/2 grind is my preferred razor.