Thread: Narrowing a blade.

Long story short, I have a Genco Lincoln that is a bit wider at the toe than at the heel. Full hollow with a noticeable belly. 6/8 or a little more. Can I lop this sucker off to just ahead of the swell? You know, take it down past the belly? Not that I really need to, but wondering if it is possible to retain a good enough honing geometry while making a narrow blade from a wider one.

Are you talking about a smiling blade ? Straightening out the edge ? I would just leave it alone. I like blade profiles like that .... if that is what you mean.

No, not smiling. I like swayback blades that have a smile to them as well. This is a very straight spine Genco that is just wider at the toe. The edge is straight, it is just at an angle to the spine. Does that make sense? I will get some pics up at some point today. The blade would be fine left alone, I suppose, I just thought that if there would be the option of making it a bit narrower and regaining a spike point i could go for that. It already needs scales and has a lot of pitting, though I do like the way the pits cleaned up. I just though that this might be the blade to give massive cosmetic modification a shot on. But if it will mess up the blade then I will pass.

Its kind of shaped like a triangle? That doesnt bother me, as long as the toe is wider than the heel. I kind like it, actually, it means that the edge is canted. One of my favorite razors has blade a purposefully canted forward.

Yeah, the edge is canted forward a bit. The edge is straight as an arrow, but it is not parallel to the spine. It is 6/8 at the toe, and maybe drops a 1/16 or a bit more toward the heel.

Most wear that i have seen seems to show up more on the toe, maybe it's a design to deliberately have more steel there to last longer...just a thought.

You're probably talking about a tapered looking blade. Less wide on one side and wider at the other but still a straight edge
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A. bad honing as to much pressure has been put toward one side while still keeping a straight edge on the hones or B. I've seen NOS grounded vintage blades with the same geometry which off course is not considered perfect as the edge needs to be parallel to the spine

Your best option is to start using some more pressure on the wider side when honing as to eventually even out the wider side. It could turn into a smiling edge too.