Thread: Why?

I'm in the market for a new razor. And while I (finally) found one that suits, me, I noticed a huge disturbing trend. There have been several polls on here about preference for grind, or blade width, point, etc.

The general consensus seems to be that we hate round point razors. A lot of us also prefer 1/2 or 1/4 hollow ground to full hollow ground and large (7/8+) or small (5/8 or under) blades.

What confuses me then, is why are (nearly) all new razors full hollow, 6/8, and round point? It seems to me (although I will admit I have no experience) that square, spike, or even french or spanish points would be easier to make than round points. It also seems that 1/4 or 1/2 hollow would be easier than full hollow, less grinding. Size is no real factor I suppose, other than price based on amount of steel.

But when we, for the most part, make up the straight razor industry, why do current production companies, for the most part, ignore our preferences?

Drew

I think you'll find that the preference is aesthetic. A round point is typically considered easier to shave with at first. And is recommended for a new persons razor.

But those of us that have been around for awhile like other points (I myself favor the spanish fly, I mean point).

Most razor companies are selling to newbies, and the round point they tell me is easier to make.

dw

I don't know how aesthetic is really is. I find that I really like a french point for practical purposes.

For example: Every try trimming right at the base of your nostrils with a round point?

I do understand selling to newbies, but I feel that they should also have an extensive selection of blades for the pro. Dovo sells about a dozen or so styles with the round point, but off the top of my head they only have 1 spike point and 1 spanish-esque. Maybe I'm missing something though.

IMHO, round points might be the easiest ones to produce because the grinder does not have to care much about carefully griding the very end of the toe (which I can imagine is the most fragile part to grind) as it is removed later in the process of rounding it.

Full hollows are preferred by many, they are the pinnacle of razor evolution. They are the easiest ones to maintain and shave every bit as good as other grinds.

That's my hypothesis, not even worth 2c.

It is true that hollow grinds are nice (I have to say that I like full hollow and 1/4 the most, not entire sure why), but all the same there are a lot of shavers that like heavier blades (I have a full wedge right now that I hate because it weights 50 pounds).

I suppose it really isn't a huge issue since I have found a new razor I like, I just feel like since we make up a large portion of the razor consumer industry, and several companies regularly check in here, that they would provide a range of razors to suit all users.

I do appreciate the thoughts guys

For me it depends on the size actually. I like small wedges and bigger full hollows. Don't ask why. Honestly though I think the more full hollow it is the easier it is to maintain, but besides that, sharp is sharp, and you can make either grind sharp or dull. So they produce what is easiest to maintain.

I've thought about that too when looking at web pages of Dovos or TIs. Round points are the rule rather than the exception. Even the original LE Silverwing is a round point. The latest one is a French point and so cool but you have to be a bit more careful with it.

I do think that the razor companies figure that a more aggressive point profile will scare people off. I doubt if pro barbers in any part of the world are using permanent bladed straights to shave customers so it is only a limited amount of the general population that make up the customer base.

While the hard core razor fiend really loves the more exotic points the average joe who isn't obsessed with this hobby the way we are might be intimidated by the more aggressive points. My guess is that 'we' razor freaks make up a very small part of the customer base.

As for the full hollow versus the heavier grinds, I guess they have dominated the market since their inception in the 1870s. Like the exotic points the wedge grinds are cool and I shave with them sometimes but I prefer full hollows. Lot of guys like the heavier grinds though. I guess I could put milk on my cheeks and let the cat lick the whiskers off.

You here around here all the time about the guy who nicked his earlobe, nose, cheek, adams apple, etc all the time, almost always with a square point, so somewhere around the turn of the last century roundpoints came into favor and that was probably the last of the evolution process for blades.
I agree that the square can do a lot more detail work easier, but the round point was a safety factor that probably competed against the so called safety razor. Like a lot of changes in the design of tools, the refinements usually replace skill sets.

Even though I pretty much shave without thinking now, I still prefer a round point for reasons related to the efficiency of the shave. This relates to the way my face is constructed. Skinny!

An example is the area between my nose and my cheekbone. I can shave there going East to West, or West to East. But, how to make a pass in a Northerly direction? I can't! For the middle of the razor "high bottoms" to some degree, not reaching the skin with the same pressure as the edges.

So, I slice into the area with the razor held in a somewhat Northwest (or Northeast) direction. Works great!

But, this works horribly with razors with sharp points. The point digs into my skin with the upward slice! Round points smooth out the skin with the motion ahead of the edge, and it is one No Worry action.

Just one example from a skinny guy.

I wonder whether there is a difference in preference somewhat based on the construction of a face?

DPf,

I wish I knew the reasons why the round tip style is generally offered. Similarly, I'm at a loss to understand why both Thiers Issard and DOVO seem to mostly make 5/8 widths when 6/8 seems to be a preferred size. The full hollow grind is also the most/only offered grind now-a-days. It does save steel and has got to be the fussiest profile to grind, but it gives the grinders a chance to show off their skills. For tip shape, I'm guessing that the round is probably both the easiest to grind and sells the best.

I think the more experienced shavers graduate to pointier tips (square, Spanish, French, barber notched) and wider blades. Considering that, one would hope that manufacturers would begin to offer more 6/8 and 7/8 razors with the more adventuresome tips for the RADisordered among us. Will it happen soon? Probably not, but that's wonderful fuel for us whiners who suffer from the perennial PO.