Thread: Really Big Razors - What's the Appeal?

Settling in to nearly a year of straight shaving - at least the past six months of it very good - leaves me wondering about razor size and and the attraction to large vs. intermediate blades.

Months and months of slashing around my face virtually cut- and nick free has given me time to focus on razor geometry. There are not any mysteries left but the personal question of "Why a large razor" compared to anything else? Square points take a while of getting used to but, once trained and focused on the point, they really do a nice job on details and edges. I get square points although, as a mustachioed person, I find little utility in the point I cannot mimic with an extra detailing pass from a round point. Sure, a smiling blade is kind of nice but plumb geometry works fine for me on intermediate sized blades.

Big blades... I don't get it. Having tried a smiling 8/8 W&B for a few rounds I found it heavy and somewhat restrictive or cumbersome in where it will go. Having shaved with a (really lovely) 7/8 Kropp I am left with the same feeling; except for speed on broad cheek strokes not much of the blade sees action around my nose, chin and up/down the throat. Am I missing the point by missing some big-blade technique or is it just a matter of big-blade rarity creates big-blade skills and kicks? True, blade wiping is minimized but, after that - where's the beef? "For barbers" appears to mean, here's a huge blade you can shave with a dozen or more times a day, hone away, and expect it to wildly outlast a smaller, thinner, lighter razor. Not outperform smaller razors, just outlast them if you have the requisite skills to whip them around through the curves.

Your thoughts on blades 13/16 and larger?