Thread: The greatest misperception...

Originally Posted by sharptonn

Ain't THAT the truth!

(BTW, John....I expect that you may soon be growing shorter soon! It happens!)

We are all getting older.......

Just a quick note, Ulrik of Koraat doesn't charge more for larger blades.

Although I wouldn't argue that 5/8" was the most widely sold size - there must be a reason why some of the Sheffield Manufacturers seemed to specialise in the larger blades. I don't recall seeing many 5/8" W&B for example whereas you see lots in the 7/8" and bigger varieties.

I started off with a 5/8" and the majority of my collection are in the 6/8" - slightly smaller or slightly bigger range that I find comfortable. The deciding factor for me is the size/weight factor - I don't find small/light blades comfortable to use, there needs to be a reasonable spine width preferably.

Originally Posted by 32t

We are all getting older.......

Is time made out of height?

Originally Posted by UKRob

Although I wouldn't argue that 5/8" was the most widely sold size - there must be a reason why some of the Sheffield Manufacturers seemed to specialise in the larger blades. I don't recall seeing many 5/8" W&B for example whereas you see lots in the 7/8" and bigger varieties.

I started off with a 5/8" and the majority of my collection are in the 6/8" - slightly smaller or slightly bigger range that I find comfortable. The deciding factor for me is the size/weight factor - I don't find small/light blades comfortable to use, there needs to be a reasonable spine width preferably.

Maybe it was a sales ploy - if you are a barber you will hone your razor regularly, the more razor you start with the more material you have to hone off

Originally Posted by edhewitt

Is time made out of height?

And length.

Maybe it goes to diameter which seems to gain with time.

Originally Posted by dmnc

Just a quick note, Ulrik of Koraat doesn't charge more for larger blades.

That is a point of the OP. They also don't charge less for smaller ones. The manufacturing cost is very similar for the different sizes.

I wonder what the ratio of sizes sold are for them.

Originally Posted by hrfdez

I guess I just don't waste my money anymore. I learned that lesson with DE shaving. I love looking at the big razors and the work and craftsmanship, but I know I don't need them.

I don't buy for the sake of buying or to impress anybody. It may sound harsh, but this is my reality.

Lol - the day I think I can impress someone with a big razor, or think that someone would be impressed by a big razor, is the day I should probably go on meds.

You can spend your money on whatever you want, and I'm the last person to tell anyone they are "wasting" their money - what works for may not work for everyone else; hence the wide variety of tastes and interests in this hobby. It's a ymmv type thing, and as this is a forum of polite members, we endeavour not to impose our value system on others.

When looking at the evolution of the straight razor as far as we can go with correct provenance of dating a razor with a maker, you find that razor started in the 5/8 region, and wedge grind. With the advent of hollowing it seems like the razor are available in bigger sizes.

Like Edgewitt mentioned a Barber honing a razor frequently would want a larger size razor that will last longer, sounds like a plausible theory to me anyways. Going further with the more precise hollowing, to match the heft you need more length.
That said i dont have a preference in size or grind, its the beauty of the hobby to try different razors.

Originally Posted by Utopian

Here is the reality. 5/8 blades work just great! Bigger is not always better.

Thank you, Ron. If we can replace 5/8 with 6/8, I'll fully agree. I do own 4/8 razors, and they do not work for me. I can shave with a really well made 7/8, but those are far and few between. My 8/8ths see very seldom use, including the #14 ones. I like 6/8ths better than 5/8ths because I find them easier to maintain (big, clumsy hands), and because they carry the exact right amount of used lather for me to have to rinse the blade just once for each pass (yes, I use very little lather, thanks to Meißner Tremonia's lather characteristics).

But yes, 8/8ths and wider blades are simply too unwieldy for my liking.