Thread: Torrey Shave Manual

The following excerpts from a Torrey straight razor manual from around 1900 asserts the following...

- Pick blade width on how big your hand is.
- Pick blade grind based on whisker toughness and skin sensitivity

Do you agree?

Here are the excerpts...


Statement #1 - Blade Width Selection

The choice of [blade] width in a razor blade should be governed by its adaptability to the hand of the individual.

Statement #2 - Blade Grind Selection

In selecting a razor for use, adaptation to the beard is a very important consideration. For a heavy, coarse beard a too thin-ground blade should not be used unless one is somewhat of an expert... On the other hand, a light, wiry beard and tender skin require a thin-ground blade, which will lie flat on the face.

Statement #1 I can agree with. 7/8 and larger blades are just too difficult for me to manage. 5/8 blades are the perfect fit for me.

Statement #2 while there seems to be some logic behind it, I think any grind can be used once a person get's used to the different way it cuts. But that being said each razor has it's unique personality and it just takes some time to get used to it.

I don't know about statement one, but two kinda makes sense. There's quite a bit of flex in a thin hollow, and could cause trouble for a new wet shaver with a thick,dense beard, that and a spike point. They're saying "expert" I dont' know about that, but at least some experience....imo....

There might be something to the size of the razor relative to the size of the hand but I don't know about the grind being a consideration relative to the skin/beard. The qualification Torrey's manual makes that if the shaver is 'somewhat of an expert' strikes me. If someone is not an expert I would suspect they'll have issues with any size or grind until they develop their skills. Lately I'm preferring wedges, heavy wedges, over full hollows but I can shave just as well with one or the other.

Hogwash. Like all the other advice you see that came with razors in the past and even now. Ever look at what comes with present day TIs?

I can't agree with their reasoning for the hollow blade. Hollow so it lies flat on the face? What? Pretty sure you can get the same blade to face angles with any grind.

Given the flawed premise, if their conclusion is accurate it is no more than luck on their part, as their causal relationship is completely absent. And if the argument for the hollow blade is that bad, I can't imagine what their (not provided) argument for the heavy grind might be.

I agree with #2 as a practical matter but considering I have only three fingers on my right hand mostly use 13/16+ sized razors I would disagree with #1 but this is all subjective of course.

I agree with #1...

A couple years ago, one of my straight razors had a very deep chip. For grins, I actually ground the chip out with my bench grinder (that I use for cutting pipe and angle iron and such.) That left the spine too wide for a good bevel angle. So, I ground that down somewhat as well. Pretty brute force, killing flies with shotguns, type action!

After honing, I ended up with a 7/16 blade with a 6/8 size handle. And, I loved it! My conclusion was that the size of the handle was more important to me than the width of the blade.

On the other hand, a light, wiry beard and tender skin require a thin-ground blade, which will lie flat on the face.

I agree with this assessment. My beard doesn't grow very fast and it's not super thick when it does. I get my best shaves out of a full-hollow razor.

To be fair, statement #1 isn't really saying that the size of the razor should be in direct proportion to the individual's hand; I read it as a commentary on the manual dexterity of the user (aka the "adaptability"). In any case, I don't see statement #1 as any kind of gospel truth, as I'm sure there are many with smaller hands who enjoy using a 7/8 or 8/8.

As for statement #2, well I'll just save some typing and join the chorus here and agree with the others, for the reasons listed above....