Thread: Blade rest

I was reading product descriptions on vintagebladesllc.com that the Dovo Classics and Best Quality razors (the cheapest ones) have an internal blade rest in the handle, as they describe it, like a third pin, but there is no mention of this on the more expensive items. Can anyone tell me if the other models, particularly the Special Tortoise, have this feature, and how well it works? Is it really of much use, or something inconsequential? It's a feature that would make sense to me, as I imagine that having the edge rest directly on the inside of the handle would not be a good thing at all! Also, do other manufacturers do something similar? Sorry if this sounds like a stupid question, but I do not as of yet have a razor of my own that I can look at, and I was curious about it! Thanks!

Joe

The "internal pin" is a bit of plastic moulded in to the plastic scales. The blade (shank really) usually doesn't actually rest on these pins. Bigger razors and custom razors usually use a third pin because it adds stiffness to the scale assembly to help them deal with the heavy blades without twisting. The cheap plastic scales have them because it's cheaper to add stiffness with a cast-in pin than it is to make the scales out of a better and stiffer plastic.

The only manufacturer that I know of that used a third pin even on their hollow-ground 5/8 is Puma. And very few vintage W&B meatchoppers had a third pin even though they really needed it.

Some of my razors have 3rd pins but I don't see anything consistently applied with any particular brand. I can't explain why. On my razors with the 3rd pin, the shank never touches the pin anyway as the end of the scales stop the blade before it hits the 3rd pin. It probably does more the add stiffness to the scales than anything else.

Interesting stuff guys. Good to know!

Joe

I think you'll find that all the earlier razors lacked the third pin. It was only well into the 20th century that makers started using them. I think it was more of a style thing than anything else. If it was really important they would all use them but they didn't and you'll find some cheapie razors having them and many real quality razors never did.