Thread: Quarter Hollow vs. Wedge - Can you tell the difference?

There are very very small differences in what your asking....

Wedge = a full wedge very very rare, very very old, "In General" This means the face of the blade touches the hone unless the spine is raised... examples some of the very old Sheffielders, and a very few new Customs...

What is considered to be a wedge = A concave wedge a very little metal relieved from the blade face so that the flat of the face of the blade is not touching while honing... examples: Many of the 1830's and newer Sheffielders.. hint: if it has blade etch it ain't a true wedge

1/4 wedge the first hollow cut = A very stiff blade that is much easier to hone than the wedges but still retains the stiffness of the feel when shaving...
Generally a very easy to shave/maintain razor as it just plows through the whiskers and is almost as easy to hone as a more hollow grind... examples: Wapi, 1/4 Le Gerlot, many early 1900's American makers made these, most of the Solingen razors that are stamped "wedge" such as DD, C-MON, Henckels, Beau Brummel, Red Imps, Union Spikes, are actually closer to a 1/4 wedge then a true wedge...

Hope that helps a bit..

Wedges are very cool, I own quite a few of them an de they can really help mow down a beard, especially if you skipped a shave or two. I own a few joseph rodgers and sons that I honed with a taped spine, they're among my best shavers. Hollows can bite your face easier, imo, and require more experience to shave close.

I find that anything half hollow or fuller shaves feels pretty much the same when shaving. It's more a matter of weight vs blade width, but even there there isn't too much of a difference.

Glen, that really was a great amount of information. Thank you. Also, everyone else, I am learning alot. And think this is a great topic for people such as myself who do not really know the difference. Thanks!