Thread: "Forgiving" blades

Originally Posted by JohnP

It's just a generalization, but for instance, my Dovo Specials would shave circles around my Dovo "Best Quality" razors, even when sharpened and stropped similarly. Both would shave well, but the Special felt smoother. I have noticed this with other razors also. I think some respond differently to different techniques also. I seldom use a pasted strop, for instance, but some razors seem to scream for it (TI's for instance) while others it *to me* doesn't improve at all and is best skipped.

John P.

John, I've been looking at a cheap new razor to take when I travel. Your mention on the Special has made me opt for that out of curiosity. Just ordered it now on Classicshaving, lol!

My very simplistic reply, would be that a forgiving blade, would be one that manages not to cut me, when I don't do my part quite as well as I should

I think that each persons face and beard are so different, that one persons forgiving razor might be another person's meat grinder

Every blade is an individual like a person. They are all different. depending on the blade shape, grind, steel, size, scale shape, scale size and overall balance of the razor each of these factors will make a blade feel different and sometimes two identical razors will feel very different. Even the honing method changes a blades characteristics. So when you take all these factors and mix them up you can see why one razor is more or less forgiving or is just different even assuming both have an identical level of keaness. Change the last factor and it really gets interesting.

For starters, a razor without a really sharp spike point. I know that richardhead agrees with me on this one

Originally Posted by heavydutysg135

For starters, a razor without a really sharp spike point. I know that richardhead agrees with me on this one

Oh yeah...vertical cuts on the throat are hard to explain. Stinking Red Imp... But I still have 3 or 4 of them in rotation.

Tony.

Originally Posted by heavydutysg135

For starters, a razor without a really sharp spike point. I know that richardhead agrees with me on this one

Oh yeah. Any deeper on my earlobe and I can wear an earring.

The first time the term "forgiving" came up here was when a Feather was compared to a traditional straight.

Are some of my str8"s more forgiving than others? Only if I sweet talk them!
( I'am gonna have ta sweet talk her real nice this morning, been 6 days since the last shave!)
( I used to talk like this when I was married if I wanted any ___ .)