Thread: Thinnest razor in production right now?

Originally Posted by RezDog

There is some makers producing some very fine grinds. I have not had a modern TI hollow blade, I do have a Dovo modern Bismarck, and it’s thin, I have had thinner vintage blades, but those were exceptional vintage blades. I have a lot of Henckels razors that run from definitely full hollow to quarter hollow depending on the model. I’d say those claims are not completely true, sort of a half truth

DOVO Bismarck, then? I think I'll add it to my shopping list. Maybe it's worth a try.

Anyway, how does it compare in shaving comfort vs vintage blades?

Thanks a lot,
Kind regards,
Mike

Originally Posted by CoffeeAddict24

DOVO Bismarck, then? I think I'll add it to my shopping list. Maybe it's worth a try.

Anyway, how does it compare in shaving comfort vs vintage blades?

Thanks a lot



Kind regards,
Mike

Modern holds no candle to vintage. The older the better, IMHO.

Originally Posted by outback

Modern holds no candle to vintage. The older the better, IMHO.

So I've read. But I think I'll stick to modern razors for a while. Later on I'd like to get either a Filarmonica or W&B.

Thank you,
Kind regards,
Mike

Originally Posted by CoffeeAddict24

So I've read. But I think I'll stick to modern razors for a while. Later on I'd like to get either a Filarmonica or W&B.

Thank you,
Kind regards,
Mike

That’s a wild spread. Filarmonica were very thin ground hollows and most of the Wade and butchers and very heavy grinds in comparison.
There are some very nice razors from about 1900 to 1950, and the early to mid 1800’s. There are some American makers that should not be overlooked if you are really grooving on finely ground hollows.

Originally Posted by RezDog

That’s a wild spread. Filarmonica were very thin ground hollows and most of the Wade and butchers and very heavy grinds in comparison.
There are some very nice razors from about 1900 to 1950, and the early to mid 1800’s. There are some American makers that should not be overlooked if you are really grooving on finely ground hollows.

Yeah, I know. Some online vendors have W&Bs here in Mexico. Filarmonicas seem to be hard to find.

Which American makers would you recommend? I know about Tim Zowada but I don't have too much info.

Originally Posted by CoffeeAddict24

Yeah, I know. Some online vendors have W&Bs here in Mexico. Filarmonicas seem to be hard to find.

Which American makers would you recommend? I know about Tim Zowada but I don't have too much info.

My choices for vintage American cutlers would be Shumate, Case, Robeson and anything made in Little Valley NY, Cattaraugus, George Korn, Union to name a few. Some really fine razors with arguably the best steel of the time came from that region.

Edit: for new stuff you'll be relegated to custom makers for things made in the US. If you could ever find it for sale (which you won't) I would get a Charlie Lewis original.

Bluesman also has some very nicely ground razors, for modern. I think Paul hit the theme of what I was suggesting for vintage American makers. There were many more though. There are threads around here dedicated to the early American blades.

ERN had a very thin extra hollow also as did some other German cutlers like Henckels as Rezdog mentioned and also Boker. Remember though that the thinner they are the easier they are to either crack or chip and the chips on extra hollows can be quite large.
I think you'll find as time goes by that the thin-ness of the grind becomes less important to you than the shape and also the steel.

Don't forget the Dovo Bergischer Lowe which is/was a very fine grind and they also make/made a stainless with real pearl handles which has a very fine grind.