Thread: Razor Width Measurement.

How do you measure the width of a straight razor?

If you are selling a razor, it is often advantageous to measure the width from the top of the spine to the razor's edge.

My view is that you should measure from the razors edge to the edge of the spine bevel nearest to the edge.

I think it is important to try and agree on the method we should adopt to standardize the process.

I think it is important so that razors that are clearly undersize 5/8" are not advertised as 5/8".

I normally measure at 3 points and If i'm happy with the average then I let it go at that.

If as razor is undersize 5/8 then I will list it as a x/16

We have had this discussion more often here. I take total blade width as it is easiest, some measure only the width of the ground bit of the blade.

Hmmmmm Lets call Dovo and TI and let them know they are doing it all wrong.....

Isn't it intuitive to measure the width of the razor's cross-section? That is, from tip of spine to tip of edge. The distance from edge to spine bevel is also an important length to measure, but I would qualify such a measurement anytime I used it to describe a razor's width

Why wouldn't a cross section measurement be appropriate? I don't see the reasoning behind only viewing and making reference to the tip of edge to the hone wear or face of the spine? Maybe I'm understanding the idea of NOT measuring or referring to blade width as end to end (cross section) correctly.

Think of one of the vintage meat chopper monsters that sports some level of hollow grinding (those massive W&Bs come to mind). Cross section it might be 9/8th or at least 8/8ths. Edge to face of spine may only be 7/8 or who knows, maybe even 6/8ths??? I'd never refer to such a razor as such a small width in relation to its overall large size.

Oh, and don't use even a plastic caliper to measure the width of a Wapi. I tried that last year on a new one and BARELY I mean barely made contact on the unhoned edge. Chipped it. Flaked off by almost just looking at that one it did.

Chris L

I agree it is intuitive to measure in the way you say, Lee, but I don't know if it is correct.

I say this because when I bought a new DOVO, the measurement was taken from the spine bevel and not the top of the spine. Incidentally the blade still measured slightly larger than the 5/8" description. I don't know what TI do, I have never owned one.

Looking at all of my other razors that have little hone ware, the measurement always seems to be taken from bevel to razor edge.

I had a Case Red Imp wedge were the top of the spine was effectively the spine bevel and so there was no problem.

This said on many vintage heavy blades, the spine can be quite substantial.

Originally Posted by English

I agree it is intuitive to measure in the way you say, Lee, but I don't know if it is correct.

I say this because when I bought a new DOVO, the measurement was taken from the spine bevel and not the top of the spine. Incidentally the blade still measured slightly larger than the 5/8" description. I don't know what TI do, I have never owned one.

Looking at all of my other razors that have little hone ware, the measurement always seems to be taken from bevel to razor edge.

I had a Case Red Imp wedge were the top of the spine was effectively the spine bevel and so there was no problem.

This said on many vintage heavy blades, the spine can be quite substantial.

Ah - well, I guess like Glen said one of us should call Dovo and TI and find out. I am curious to know, maybe I will call them myself

Originally Posted by English

I agree it is intuitive to measure in the way you say, Lee, but I don't know if it is correct.

I say this because when I bought a new DOVO, the measurement was taken from the spine bevel and not the top of the spine. Incidentally the blade still measured slightly larger than the 5/8" description. I don't know what TI do, I have never owned one.

I guess DOVO has changed their methods. I emailed to ask them how they measure straight razor width and received this reply:

"Lee,

It is measured from the tip of cutting edge to the tip of the spine, so it
is the overall height (or width) of the blade.

Best regards,
Anne
DOVO Stahlwaren Bracht GmbH & Co. KG
Boecklinstr. 10
42719 SOLINGEN
GERMANY"

She didn't say why or how they measure their razors this way, but I guess this is their current method.

The best way to measure something like a razor is optically so you won't damage the edge. An inexpensive video camera with a reticle attached to your computer. Mount it so it is looking down at a translation stage with a micrometer. I am certain someone with very little computer knowledge could find a camera that would connect to a monitor to show a magnified, real time image. The reticle needs only to be a single thin line across the field of view (in the focal plane). I think it would be pretty easy to rig up someting like this (if I couldn't find one at the scapyard):
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