Thread: Razor Grip

I was just reading Thumb on blade??? and I have a question with probably no correct answer: How many fingers do you use on each side of the tang. I've seen pictures with just the little finger on the opposite side of the tang and some with the ring finger and little finger. Anyway this will probably turn into a "I'm not sure if there is a correct way but this is what I do" type of thing but if there is a correct way I want to know.
Thanks,

Justin

Justin I think that you are correct. I believe that their is no one way. The way a barber friend of mine showed me was to hold a razor was three fingers on top of the tang, thumb and little finger on the bottom. I believe that was the way he was trained. and he has been a barber for over 30 years, and has shown me allot, that doesn't mean his is the only way.

Thanks, Floridaboy. There probably is no "one" way, but it should be interesting to see what other members say. Some might have a unique way of doing things.

Justin

I employ a few different grips, some standard forward grips, some reverse, but my hands are small enough that I usually have only my little finger on the tang side of the pivot pin.

X

I'm a "ring and little finger" guy - just what happened the first time I picked up a straight. In fact, my grip changes when I do certain strokes - like against the grain. My thinking is that as long as you've got a comfortable, decent grip on the razor which allows control, it shouldn't matter whether the grip is "textbook" or not.

James.

I agree with the "do what's comfortable" crowd. Personally I prefer just the little finger on the tang or, finger rest.


Scott

Well for a normal grip, I split it with index/middle fingers on the shank and ring/little fingers on the monkey tail. I flatten the thing straight for my ATG passes and just wrap all my fingers around the shank and scales.

I have to agree that we all adapt to whats comfortable for each of us depending on the size of our fingers and how we learned at the outset.

Also keep in mind that there are many razors out there which have non standard dimensions which force us to modify our grips. For example I have a Rogers in which the monkey tail is about twice the usual length and the tang is about a third shorter than usual. I have small fingers but I have to completely change my grip for this one razor and its not comfortable having to shift at least one finger off the tang. It does not make for an incontrol feeling while shaving.

Does anyone else have a razor like this? come to think of it I'll open up a new thread on this idea. it seems interesting.

I started with just the pinky on the tail of the tang; felt the most comfortable way to lay my fingers along the the spine from tang to start of blade itself.

However, I have mostly moved to a ring and pinky on the tail of the tang because with this (and with the thumb gently touching the heel end of the blade (not edge) as it inserts into the tang, I get the most control to avoid rotation. If not, the scales occasionally drop down and change the edge's angle against the face.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Does anyone else have a razor like this? come to think of it I'll open up a new thread on this idea. it seems interesting.

I've got a DePews Perfect Razor which is probably the canonical example of this style. I agree about the awkwardness.