Thread: Different size blades

Ive been shaving with a 5/8 razor for about a year, minus the three months it took to get back from honing(but thats another story), the one thing ive noticed is it feels very light and small. Maybe I just have fat hands who knows. My question is do the bigger blades i.e. 6/8 or 7/8 feel more substantial in your hands, are they that much heavier, do they make the tangs bigger on some razors? or is there not really much difference? I ask because I cant just buy them to try them out and as far as I know there is no physical store near omaha to visit. Thank you.

Yes, Yes, No and Yes there is a difference. Yes on just about everything but the tang generally about the same size. I comapred a 4/8 Boker and a 6/8 Dovo and the Dovo feels much more substantial and the blade is much heavier. That said the little 4/8 is pretty nimble.

You might try three fingers in front of the pivot with just your pinky on the curved part of the tang and see if that works better for you.

Larger razors like 7/8s and 8/8s are pretty massive hunks of steel in your hand. Just remember as they get larger they are more more clumsy with larger scales that can get in your way while shaving. In the day barbers used mostly 5/8s and 6/8s razors.

I'm not knocking big razors. Loads of guys love them but just realize with size you loose maneuverability. Think sports car and 18 wheeler.

6/8 is a good compromise. I don't mind 7/8 but much larger than that and (has been already mentioned) you will lose manoeuverability. It all depends on what you're looking for in a razor.

Originally Posted by Ryan82

6/8 is a good compromise. I don't mind 7/8 but much larger than that and (has been already mentioned) you will lose manoeuverability. It all depends on what you're looking for in a razor.

I must disagree here..as you know I will Ryan..lol. You don't necessarily sacrifice maneuverability by having a larger blade..it all depends on said blade. I prefer the larger blades , 8/8 or 9/8. The only thing I find is you have to pay greater attention to detail when finding your line along the sideburns etc. the smaller blades are easier to find the starting point, but after that maneuverability is all in the hands and blade