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

For me I enjoy the heft. It also is easier for me to let the heavier blade do the work versus my smaller 5/8 that I feel inclined to "help" which results in occasional razor burn.

Blade angle must be radically adjusted (as to spine-to-face) on the really huge ones. I like 13/16 to 15/16 best!

I've never had a bad shave with any size, but I like bigger better.

Gentlemen,
I prefer the 7/8 and the 8/8 full hollow blades. Mine are all fabulous shavers and well balanced, especially the custom-made blades. My Solingen NOS razors are 6/8 round points and I used them from to time. Anything below 6/8 feels uncomfortable. My sweetest spot razor, however, is the custom-made 8/8 hollow blade.

I enjoy the weight of the larger razors. They feel much more sturdy in hand, giving me the feeling of much more control.

There are three items for which size does not seem to matter:
- Razor - a 3/8 Fili or Biedemeyer seems to work as well as a 8/8 Wade and Butcher - different feel in the hand, but not a worse shave
- Strop - 2 inches is too narrow, but 3 inch strops seems to cup too often - maybe why most classy, vintage strops were 2 1/2 inches wide
- Brush - knot size does not at all seem to be the major determinant of brush quality

On the other hand, hones narrower than 2 inches seem difficult, although there are a lot of 1 inch Eschers out there in use.

Whilst I do enjoy the bitty baby teeny tiny wispy featherlight supremely sharp and shapely Swedish 4/8 I have, I have tried shaving my whole gruesome mug with it and do no find that experience satisfying.

SO I generally hit the facialfuzzfactory with a Fattie (7/8+) for one or two passes before cleaning up with the aforementioned willowy Red Devil.

5/8 doesn't interest me. 6/8 works fine. 7/8 and bigger suits me best.

edit: 15/16 hollow is current fave and 2.5 for strops forever!



FTR I drive a 8000# 4x4 turbo diesel with big noisy tires. (and have been push/pulled out by log skidders(40000#) and bull dozers (30000#) and 100 hp farm tractors, because when i get stuck, no other pickup has the balls to get it out)

I also wear spandex and ride a bicycle (only at the same time!).

I have large hands, and my wife would say a big head, and 7/8 and 8/8 just fit better in my hand. Smaller razors are uncomfortable for me to hold and feel too light, and I feel like I have less control, rather than more.

And they said ...size doesn't matter !!! Evidently they weren't referring to straight razors....6/8 - 8/8 for me

I've been giving the 5/8 blades another try lately and some work and some don't. I used a 5/8 henckel with a barbers notch and small thin scales and it was pretty difficult. the blade was very sharp it was just that the hole thing is just to light. the extra force with something that light just wasn't comfortable. It seems that 6/8 and up with an average size scales seems to work best for me.