Thread: 4/8 razors

What is your opinion on them? It seems to me that not many ppl own/use them? Why is that?

Originally Posted by napoleon

What is your opinion on them? It seems to me that not many ppl own/use them? Why is that?

I have a Ross "Vienna French" 4/8 that is my favorite shaver. I don't know why there aren't more in circulation.

Originally Posted by napoleon

What is your opinion on them? It seems to me that not many ppl own/use them? Why is that?

I don't know for sure I have two 4/8th and a 3/8. They are very useful for a quick touch up. I have tried them with 3 or 4 days of beard growth and didn't like the result, finished off with a 7/8. However for an everyday shave they are fine.

I enjoy 4/8s (4 of them): Pipe, Dixie, Nugget, and Engels. The Pipe is my finest and most expensive ($65) and came shave-ready. All shave well and are fast to use and are fun to maintain. The 3 other razors in my informal 7-day set (mostly6/8s): Wostenholm, ERN, Reynolds, and Black Diamond-feel heavy in the hand but do a good job. The 4/8 is a very easy to use blade. Stropping is a joy. I used a 5/8 3 years ago. Someday I may trade my expensive 4/8 Pipe for something in 5/8 for variety and personality.

I think the larger blade users are more vocal about that and maybe that's why it seems to you that not many shavers use 4/8 and smaller razors.

I like smaller width razors so long as they will not bounce across my hair as I shave, they are more maneuverable on my skinny neck than larger razors.

There's a 4/8 wedge in my shaving bag that I really enjoy

I have a few of them and always enjoy using them. I find they shave equally as well as some of my larger 7/8s razors. I think people are in this big razor mindset and want big, big, big so the small ones go by the wayside. That's a pity.

i use a couple of them. like them very much. a fred reynolds, a DePew(my favorite str8), and another i cannot think of right now. all very good, sharp. not touch ups or travel razors, but ones i would use daily.

good luck.

vgod

The 4/8 razors are very good IMHO. They are usually of a thicker grind and as a result can handle most beard types. The American made 4/8's such as the "Spike" are easy to hone and take a very good edge.


Just my $.02,

I have a 4/8 wade & butcher improved tang and it's my best shaver. It's easy to hold and keeps a very keen edge. Btw it's also my avatar.

I have a Henckels 7/8, a Klaas 6/8, and a Torrey 5/8 that actually evolved to a 4/8.

That last one is highly manoeuvrable (sp?) and my best shaver, especially for everyday shaves where there isn't a lot of growth.
Also, I don't think I go longer without rinsing with a bigger blade either, although they do give that opportunity.