Thread: Vintage wedge vs modern hollow ground?

Normally I prefer hollow razors but if I go a week or two without shaving I like the wedge more.

I've also noticed the difference, still none of them are what I prefer

I never understood the appeal of framebacks until recently, they're a special kind of razor and they shave marvelously
I look at them as small miniature wedges with a frame or spine added

Wedges are throwbacks to a time when the only way they knew to make a cutting edge was a wedge and it had to be big and massive. Once they learned about hollow grinding they never looked back.

Most of what folks call "wedges" are not true wedges. They are at best near wedges or part wedges. A true wedge is a very rare animal indeed and a pain to maintain.

Yes they do shave totally different because they are different.

They all shave good, if quality. Just different.
Learning to enjoy them all in their time is an acquired taste.
Lotsa fun and variety!
JMO

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Wedges are throwbacks to a time when the only way they knew to make a cutting edge was a wedge and it had to be big and massive. Once they learned about hollow grinding they never looked back.

Most of what folks call "wedges" are not true wedges. They are at best near wedges or part wedges. A true wedge is a very rare animal indeed and a pain to maintain.

Yes they do shave totally different because they are different.

You are right that the vintage razor I described is not a "true" wedge because it is hollow ground on both sides but the depth of the hollow is much less than that on the Theirs Issard. I would hesitate to claim however that the cutlers of Sheffield did not know any better. If this razor had been ground with a very deep hollow it is unlikely to have survived as long as it has.

The only difference I find between the wedge and full hollow is, that the wedges have a bit of drag for me. Or you could say they stick to my face more than a full hollow. I attribute this to the width of the bevel that can be found on some old vintage blades. But the shave results are the same, sometimes better than full hollows.

I like um all...!!

Originally Posted by NigelW

You are right that the vintage razor I described is not a "true" wedge because it is hollow ground on both sides but the depth of the hollow is much less than that on the Theirs Issard. I would hesitate to claim however that the cutlers of Sheffield did not know any better. If this razor had been ground with a very deep hollow it is unlikely to have survived as long as it has.

No doubt the Sheffield cutlers used the best method of grinding that they knew of when making near wedges. I don't think the ability to grind very hollow was available to them then. It was the introduction, by the Germans, of the "Hexe" grinding machine that finally allowed for razors to be very hollow ground.

STRAZORS.com - all about classic razors - Carl Friedrich ERN, Solingen-Wald.

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

No doubt the Sheffield cutlers used the best method of grinding that they knew of when making near wedges. I don't think the ability to grind very hollow was available to them then. It was the introduction, by the Germans, of the "Hexe" grinding machine that finally allowed for razors to be very hollow ground.

STRAZORS.com - all about classic razors - Carl Friedrich ERN, Solingen-Wald.

Bob

Very interesting. I have a razor of unknown date but probably second quarter of the 20th Century which is clearly not German (it is marked "NBS Empire Made") which is flat on one side but very hollow ground on the other. It is rather cheap looking and has what appears to be a Bakelite handle.

For me however the jury is still out on whether the very hollow grinding is a benefit. The cutting angle of the blade is the same and it would chip more easily. The one practical advantage I can see, other than shave quality, is that as the razor continues to be sharpened the honing edge will remain narrow whereas in the flatter blade it could get much wider.

Flat on one side and ground on the other sounds like a medical instrument. They are very common.

Most true wedges are products of the 19th century and not the end of it either.

Originally Posted by NigelW

... which is flat on one side but very hollow ground on the other.

Sounds like it is a microtome.

Cheers, Steve