Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 13
Like Tree24Likes

Thread: The maligned 4/8 sized razor

  1. #1
    Senior Member blabbermouth
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    17,304
    Thanked: 3226

    Default The maligned 4/8 sized razor

    The 4/8 sized razors are not my personal favourites but the first few razors I bought were that size and remain in my rotation of razors. This morning shave reminded me that while a dainty 4/8 razor won't gain you the look of a he-man while shaving they certainly will do the job well. It shaved as well as any of my other larger sized razors do. To put it another way, it could be that I am as inept with a 4/8 as I am with the larger sized razors. Take your pick, either way the outcome was just fine. If you are looking for a new or different experience from your big choppers the 4/8 might just surprise you.

    I should also give a shout out to the C&E Moroccan Myrrh shave cream for supplying a wonderful lather with a lovely scent. Nothing like a slick lather that leaves my skin feeling good to aid in getting a good 4 pass irritation free shave.

    Bob
    JP5, outback, cau and 5 others like this.
    Life is a terminal illness in the end

  2. #2
    Skeptical Member Gasman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2016
    Location
    Colorado Springs
    Posts
    10,539
    Thanked: 2190

    Default

    I agree Bob. I still pick-up the smaller blades to shave with now and then. 6/8 is my go-to size but a 4/8 now and then just keeps me in practice. I dont find the smaller blades any harder to use. You just have to watch the angle. And as long as they are good and sharp, the missing weight of the larger blade is not needed.
    Thanks for your opinion on the smaller blades. Now my 2/8 blade dont ever get used. Thats just too damn small! But i got one.
    BobH and xiaotuzi like this.
    It's just Sharpening, right?
    Jerry...

  3. The Following User Says Thank You to Gasman For This Useful Post:

    kruppstahl (04-28-2018)

  4. #3
    The Hurdy Gurdy Man thebigspendur's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    New Mexico
    Posts
    33,040
    Thanked: 5020
    Blog Entries
    4

    Default

    I have always been a fan of 4/8s razors. Those smaller models are maligned by the big razor crowd but I'll take a highly maneuverable razor any day of the week over some big meatchopper.


    Of course there is a limit. 3/8s and 2/8s were never designed for actual shaving only as trim pieces.
    onimaru55, rolodave and BobH like this.
    No matter how many men you kill you can't kill your successor-Emperor Nero

  5. #4
    ~ Life is but a Dream ~ petercp4e's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Location
    Oakham, Ma.
    Posts
    3,843
    Thanked: 1218

    Default

    I only have one 4/8 razor. It is in the rotation and gets used. It will give as good a shave as any. The only thing that I notice is that I seem to drag the tips of my fingers through the cream on my face a bit. Being narrower it puts everything in a bit closer and tighter. No biggie though.

    Pete <:-}
    BobH likes this.
    "Life is short, Break the Rules. Forgive quickly, Kiss Slowly,
    Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably, And never regret ANYTHING
    That makes you smile." - Mark Twain

  6. #5
    The Hurdy Gurdy Man thebigspendur's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    New Mexico
    Posts
    33,040
    Thanked: 5020
    Blog Entries
    4

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by petercp4e View Post
    I only have one 4/8 razor. It is in the rotation and gets used. It will give as good a shave as any. The only thing that I notice is that I seem to drag the tips of my fingers through the cream on my face a bit. Being narrower it puts everything in a bit closer and tighter. No biggie though.

    Pete <:-}
    When I use a 7/8s or 8/8s the scales hit the side of my head and my ears. That is a biggie for me. Just a clumsy big razor.
    No matter how many men you kill you can't kill your successor-Emperor Nero

  7. #6
    Senior Member TristanLudlow's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Posts
    942
    Thanked: 171

    Default

    I like 'em, a lot.

    I have a couple of Swedes that are more to the smaller side as well as some germans, I greatly enjoy shaving with them


    I enjoy shaving with smaller blades in general, I like shaving with most other blades too, but anything over 6/8 is getting too large for my personal style
    BobH and cau like this.

  8. #7
    JP5
    JP5 is offline
    Senior Member blabbermouth JP5's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Duluth, GA - Atlanta OTP North
    Posts
    2,546
    Thanked: 315
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default

    I sold a smaller (4/8? ) shoulderless Torrey last year to that I really liked. It didn't have much weight to it, but when I test shaved with it I liked the way it handled.
    I love the look of larger blades, but you can't argue with results.

  9. #8
    Senior Member blabbermouth evnpar's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    Portland, Oregon
    Posts
    3,350
    Thanked: 664

    Default

    I have very large hands which feel cramped when using most 5/8, let alone 4/8 razors. However, in reaction to someone on another forum praising Swedish blades, I picked up an Erik Anton Berg that was in good shape and selling for a reasonable price, and it's one fine little razor and has been fun to use. It is a pain to have to rinse the lather from the blade more often, but I do enjoy using it.
    Richard

  10. #9
    Senior Member rodb's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States
    Posts
    2,944
    Thanked: 433

    Default

    My comfort zone is 5/8"-6/8" but 4/8" work really well as long as I watch the angle. I really start to have issues with anything over 7/8", they just seem to big and make the top lip really hard to shave

  11. #10
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    Coimbra PT, Vancouver BC
    Posts
    753
    Thanked: 171

    Default

    Not so much maligned, as they are hardly talked about, more neglected and overlooked.

    I have a few in my collection but use them rarely. Like many of us, my preferred range is 5/8 - 6/8 and while I use other sizes too, the further I stray away from my preferred range, the more I begin to notice their respective disadvantages.

    I have a lovely Koraat that doesn’t see much use because it is just too unwieldy. I can get excellent results from it, but it lacks precision around corners, requires more work in these areas, and is simply not the ideal size for this job.

    To my mind, the venerable 5/8 and 6/8 razors represent the best compromise between maneuverability around corners and ability to clear the stubble on the larger flatter areas of my face.

    Where the 4/8 size shines is touch-ups or a quick second shave in the evening before going out.
    Austrians developed for this purpose the “Wiener Schaber(l)” (written with or without the “l”) that translates as “Viennese Scraper” and was most commonly a 4/8 with short blade and French head.



    B.
    Last edited by beluga; 03-18-2018 at 03:04 AM.
    BobH likes this.

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •