Thread: Possible Heresy...

So, I have an inkling, a plan...right now, it's just a tickle, but I have no doubt it will, eventually, come to reality...

I am new to this, I know. But both in shaving, and in stropping, I find that the scales on my razors are kind of a pain--they get in the way of easy handling. I know that the scales serve an important function, protecting the blade and keep handlers safe. They are also an important element of the traditional aesthetic of the razor...but are they necessary? Really?

I have an inkling that they may not be--the DA I have has some pretty worthless scales. Soooo...I want to take them off. And not replace them.

I'm thinking of making some kind of sheath-like thing for it, to protect the blade and keep me from losing a finger, and when using, hold it more like a Japanese style...

Am I insane? Has no one never tried this before?

The balance will be horrible, and it will be almost unusable.


The Japanese style has a pretty weighty handle, which makes grasping it and using it possible without scales.

When you strop a scale-less blade all the pressure will be on your fingers. Not only will it be tiring but you will risk losing control of the blade and possibly losing a finger.

Wow, are they really that vital?

But, if the scales are so important for balance, why is it ok to rescale razors with all kinds of different materials and not mess up the balance? The scales on my DA, for example, are incredibly thin plastic--I would say they couldn't be more than 5 grams, how could they balance the steel of the blade? Compare this to a Wapi, with stainless steel scales...I'm just surprised that the blade is that delicately balanced.

I have never quite understood all this talk of balance! I have an 8/8's 1/4 hollow W&B with no scales that I used for many years to touch up my shave with no problems! I also have a traditional Japanese straight with a 5/8 to 6/8 blade with the tiniest daintyest handle I have seen! It was made this way on purpose!
I have never used either for a full shave, but where I have used them, I find no problem!

I don't think blades are so delicately balanced so much as we pay way to close attention to something so unimportant in my book! In other words, I think we we've gotten a little too prissy!

Yes, you are insane. But I digress, I am simply trying to be disagreeable on a personal level with someone I don’t even know.

As far as the scale-less razor question, I’ve wondered about that same question myself. Most of the time my scales end up straight in line with the blade and sort of clumsy to grasp. I ‘choke up’ to where the scale is skinny and rarely grasp past the end of the tang. When I really need some fine control my fingers slide up on either side of the blade itself. So I too look at Japanese blades with interest.

I’ve been thinking that a few wraps of duct tape would transform a scale free tang into a custom thickness and less slippery and OOOH so attractive. The price would certainly be right for experimentation.

Why I have not just gone and done this, I don’t know. Probably the same reason I have not just gone and found a beautiful, rich wife, or won one of those pesky Power Ball lotteries. Just lazy.

Hey, is this simmering pot that just popped out of nowhere going to turn into a full blown boil of a heated debate? Let me get in on the action then!

I also believe "balance" has been overblown. The Wapi is an anomaly; I don't know of any other production razor that is so scale heavy and I do think that razor is "out of balance" and is not enjoyable to shave with as is.

However, leaving the Wapi out of the argument, balance schmalance. I've gotten a kick out seeing pictures in the past (don't remember where or when) where razors are opened in a complete straight line and the razor is being "balanced" at the pivot pin on someone's finger. Why would that matter? Who shaves with a scaled straight like that (like a Japanese razor)? People talk about the HHT being a parlor trick.

Chris L

If you plan on rescaling a blade, I say give it a shot. You're going to take the scales off anyway, so you might as well test out everything (stropping, shaving, honing, whatever) before you put a new set of scales on.

It's your razor and you are using it; do whatever you want. All I ask is that you be careful (safety first) and share your results with us.

Originally Posted by OLD_SCHOOL

Welcome to the land of the insane. I too have had similar thoughts, and I have honed a scaleless razor and I tell you it was so easy and fast to hone. I had difficulties stropping as well when I first started because the scales seemed to get in the way, but after practice, you don't even notice they're there.

This is my situation--they seem to get in the way. And I can definitely see the honing issue.

Originally Posted by OLD_SCHOOL

I don't think scales play too much of a role in balance, if any. Just take a look at the crappy lightweight, non centering, plastic scales Dovo sells. I can't see them having any effect on the balance of a razor whatsoever. And if scales did play such a role, then why not just add a tiny weight to the tang, utilizing the would be redundant pivot hole. That would make sense wouldn't it?

Yes, exactly! I just can't believe that this flimsly little scales have ANYTHING to do with balance. And yes, that weighted tang idea is good...

Originally Posted by OLD_SCHOOL

So why haven't I removed the scales from my razors? Well I believe their primary role to be the protection of the blade. The scales also add to the cool factor of straights, I mean if you saw a movie where someone was holding a scaleless razor, it just wouldn't seem right. Well to me at least. Therefore I left the scales on my razors to keep them traditional, so to speak.

I understand that. The scales are traditional, and this is a very very traditional hobby. The look of them is excellent...when they're not crappy. And of course, the blade protection issue is very important. I'm thinking about that one.

But I'm doing it. When I figure out a way to protect the blade, I'm making me a scaleless straight.
First was the custom boar brush, and now the scaleless razor! I'm outa control!

I think the balance issue that Chris brought up is what the main issue is.

The metal scales on a wapi are HEAVY. Probably too heavy. This can (I'm not saying it will but it may, could, possibly), due to the weight, throw off the the razor angle at times during the shave. But I assume those with heavier scales grow accustom to that balance and rarely notice any difference. But give them to a person only used to using lighter weight scales and I am sure irritation could follow a less that stellar shave. Again, this is just supposition and scales that are too light are a non-issue in my opinion.

Regarding a scale-less razor, I myself would not want an open blade laying around. The possibility of dinging it or injury are just not worth it for me.