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?

I have them from 9/8 through 14/8. They're just more fun to use. I have no problems at all shaving with them.

Rather than the "large" aspect, I tend, for myself, to find appeal in the weight.

I alternate on a daily basis between small and light blades and large and heavy blades.

In the first case, I tend to "direct" the blade in the direction where I want to shave, in the other case I merely let the weight do the trick.
Much like working with a lightweight vs heavyweight DE.

Still, the blade wiping part is a plus

My two cents

I'm guessing there must be a cool factor. Kind of like when I go to cities and there are people driving around in giant 4X4's. The closest to off road those trucks get is an unpaved parking lot. So there must be some cool factor. I don't see a big change in shave quality for one size to another, you are right about the less wiping. I have to confess though, I have several big blades. I got them to try out and restore. They are nice blades but do not offer anything a smaller blade does not. It's all about what floats your boat, the cool factor. I think most of us are just having fun and not many of us are into this for the practical solo....

Guess it's one of those personal preference things.

After I purchased an 8/8 Revisor from the Classifieds here, it was no looking back. A 5/8 feels like a toy in my hand now.

For me, everything about them works, I love the aesthetic, I really like being able to see the blade clearly and easily, and the feel of the weight of the steel against my face completely works for me. I find they strop much easier for me, and again, with the big blades, you can really see what you're doing and where it's going - ultimately though, like everything, it basically boils down to personal preference. Same with the fact I prefer the spike points, really don't like round points, they're my least favorite! LOL

Having said that, I guess I'm at extremes, while I love the big blades, I'm equally enamored with the French and Swedish frame backs, the Thiers-Issard #69 and the #19 I have are awesome, while the 13/16 W&B frame back I have didn't really do it for me...just personal taste in the end.

Originally Posted by ace

I have them from 9/8 through 14/8. They're just more fun to use. I have no problems at all shaving with them.

14/8 !?!?!?!

LOL - you're kidding right? I didn't even know they made them that big!

They are in the local hardware store right next to axes.

For me it is all what you get used to and prefer. 8/8 is my preferred size at this point. Everything from full hollow to near wedge. It's just what my hands are used to moving around on my face.

I'm not sure it can be said with certainty that big blades attract more appeal than mid-size blades,,,if that is what you are trying to say.

I have both , but shave with mid-size full hollows most of the time.

But,,,

If there are 2 razors on the table to choose from, both NOS, one full wedge Wade & Butcher & the other a hollow Filarmonica ,,,I want the W&B,,,can't really explain it..

If I could choose between a Cadillac El Dorado convertible & a mid size BMW,,,give me the Caddy.

Not really the explaination you were looking for, I'm sure,,,but some things are hard to explain, I guess,,

The choice is really not that hard, when looking at them both, side by side,,

I think a lot of us have to try the meat choppers out just to see what the fuss is about. I've shaved with a 10/8, maybe even a 12/8 once or twice, but like RezDog said, it is almost like folks that feel the need of a Hummer to go to the grocery store and back. I still have a few of the large blades, shave with them and enjoy them when I'm in the mood, but I found my sweet spot at 6/8 after a few years of messing with it. A 5/8 or 7/8 - 8/8 is alright too, but below 5/8 I cannot get comfortable with the ergonomics. YMMV.