Curved or "straight" straights

[Thomas Martin]

Most "modern" straights have straight blades (like the Chronik below) whereas some come with a more or les curved/smiling blade from the factory (Wacker on top). Is there any advantage of a curved blade? I imagine that it could cut better since it inherently cuts in a scything motion just like an Arabic sabre, but may be less accurate when it comes to trimming certain areas (sideburns for instance). On the other hand, smiling blades are also regarded as a consequence of a bad honing technique and there are actually special strokes to eliminate smiling blades. So what is a smiling blade? A strength or a weakness to get rid of? (Note that the Wacker on the picture is not a good example. I've seen blades with much more pronounced smiles (nor is the Chronik, which also seems slightly curved). but I think you get the idea.)

 

[Thomas Martin]

I just read in the "big blades" thread that a smiling blade would provide the advantage of not having a spike that gets in the way when shaving certain areas like your neck and jaw and tight areas. I can easily see that.

 

[KindestCutofAll]

I find that both shave equally well for me. That said I have become accustomed to shaving with the blade at a guillotine like angle (straight or curved).

Unless you have larger hones it is easier to hone a straight blade. Curved takes larger hones or a lot more care on smaller hones.

Most of my straights are vintage blades (all are over 40 years old). I found that many older "straight" blades have developed a light smile at least. Properly honed they still shave well.

 

[Seraphim]

Frowning blades suck because they bunch the skin up in front of the razor while shaving.

Smiling blades rule because they help spread the skin flat in front of the razor.

Straight edges are totally neutral, but in my opinion, since they are closer along the spectrum to a frowning blade I don't usually care for them. The one exception being very short razors. The advantage of a straight edge is they lay totally flat on the hone, so sharpening is easier. Smiling blades require some finesse to hone properly.

 

[Zephyr]

In an old Barber's manual I read there was a section on how to hone a razor properly by intentionally honing a smile to the blade.

I don't remember the argument for this, but personally I prefer a slight smile on my blades for the same reasons Seraphim mentiones.

 

[Thomas Martin]

Frowning blades suck because they bunch the skin up in front of the razor while shaving.

Smiling blades rule because they help spread the skin flat in front of the razor.

Straight edges are totally neutral, but in my opinion, since they are closer along the spectrum to a frowning blade I don't usually care for them. The one exception being very short razors. The advantage of a straight edge is they lay totally flat on the hone, so sharpening is easier. Smiling blades require some finesse to hone properly.

Thanks. Could you explain in a few word how you hone smiling blades? Rolling X-strokes (I hope not, these seem completely undoable to me)? I'm a fan of circular or elliptical strokes and if you see to give an equal amount of attention on eatch part of the blade these should work out perfectly, no? Reason for asking is the big W&B chopper that's on the way to me as I speak.

 

[BakerAndBadger]

I've just started restoring one of my Saito smilers, it's one of the smiliest smilers you'll ever come across and I can't wait to get it on the stones. Just finishing the 120 grit as it was in a fair state when it arrived at my house but the steel is sound enough.

I've shaved with straight edges, slight frowns and smiles and honestly it doesn't seem to matter when the off-straightness is small.
I don't bother taking out slight frowns on my old razors any more, as long as I can get it shave ready and the frown is less than 1mm or so then it shouldn't pose too much of a problem - my face isn't flat so I don't see why I straight edge should be SO much better than a tiny little frown.
Having said that I will breadknife a blade if the frown is too big.

 

[BakerAndBadger]

Thanks. Could you explain in a few word how you hone smiling blades? Rolling X-strokes (I hope not, these seem completely undoable to me)? I'm a fan of circular or elliptical strokes and if you see to give an equal amount of attention on eatch part of the blade these should work out perfectly, no? Reason for asking is the big W&B chopper that's on the way to me as I speak.

Thomas, I think you are gonna have to use either rolling X's or a skinny stone. If the smile is original then I think you'll be OK with just normal strokes but if it's from years of rock and rolling across the hone then you'll need to carry on that rock and roll unless you want to hone it out.

 

[Thomas Martin]

I thought that rolling x strokes were meant to hone out a smile? The smile on that W&B is intentional and I want to keep it.

 

[global_dev]

I find that both shave equally well for me. That said I have become accustomed to shaving with the blade at a guillotine like angle (straight or curved).

well said

Unless you have larger hones it is easier to hone a straight blade. Curved takes larger hones or a lot more care on smaller hones.

my experience doesn't parallel this statement at all. are we talking wide/long or what?

Most of my straights are vintage blades (all are over 40 years old). I found that many older "straight" blades have developed a light smile at least. Properly honed they still shave well.

strange i think i see more just poor honing that looks like a smile, but resembles more of a biased straight line towards the point.

Frowning blades suck because they bunch the skin up in front of the razor while shaving.
Smiling blades rule because they help spread the skin flat in front of the razor.
Straight edges are totally neutral, but in my opinion, since they are closer along the spectrum to a frowning blade I don't usually care for them. The one exception being very short razors. The advantage of a straight edge is they lay totally flat on the hone, so sharpening is easier. Smiling blades require some finesse to hone properly.

i agree

In an old Barber's manual I read there was a section on how to hone a razor properly by intentionally honing a smile to the blade.
I don't remember the argument for this, but personally I prefer a slight smile on my blades for the same reasons Seraphim mentiones.

me three

I thought that rolling x strokes were meant to hone out a smile? The smile on that W&B is intentional and I want to keep it.

i believe the rolling x strokes keeps the smile and perhaps allows you to go through the progression (as necessary) from a frown to straight to smile, at least my rolling x-stroke i think does that. theoretically if the spine and edge of a smiling razor were aligned equidistant along a plane down the middle of the blade, then the shorter lengths down the blade wouldn't touch the hone, would they? at least that's what i think without doing the math.

to tell you the truth, i don't think it matters if the spine is curved or not, really as the edge would have no idea whether it's length equivalent areas along teh width were 6/8s away or 7/8s away, and if the spine is reverse hour glass shaped --<==>-- (spine top view) , the rolling stroke would be inevitable. and as you honed rolling x on a ==== (spine top view), perhaps the spine wear would manifest slightly in that ==>--<== (spine side view) ---<==>-- (spine top view)?

this is all of the top of my head while drinking my first coffee though, so take it for what it's worth.

 

[mycarver]

I prefer a bit of a smile to my blades.

 

[tomjr]

i love the smiley ones, but use both.

 

[ladykate]

I like both. However, an extreme smiley blade is lethal since you can easily get an inappropriate slicing motion with the outer edges. All things in moderation.

Honing a smile and keeping it is easy enough - you do have to move the blade appropriately on the stone to address the edge directly. Call it what you will. I was requested by the owner of a firm to take out smiles when honing if they weren't meant to be in the blade. I don't do it for my own. Frowns have to go, though.

Here is an inappropriately exaggerated smile - and it is an evil blade that will cut you in a heartbeat. This was made from a GD - the spine had to be tapered towards the toe so the curved edge near the tip would be addressed by the hone correctly. I used it twice and am now looking to gift it to an enemy.

 

[Thomas Martin]

This one has a slight smile. Might just need to hone it out a bit:

 

[daflorc]

I like both. However, an extreme smiley blade is lethal since you can easily get an inappropriate slicing motion with the outer edges. All things in moderation.
Here is an inappropriately exaggerated smile - and it is an evil blade that will cut you in a heartbeat. This was made from a GD - the spine had to be tapered towards the toe so the curved edge near the tip would be addressed by the hone correctly. I used it twice and am now looking to gift it to an enemy.
QUOTE]

LMAO! Very cool looking kamisori, and I'm sure you're one of the few who knows the downside of an extreme smile. I've never had one that smiley. LOL at gifting your white elephant to an enemy I intend to buy my enemy's kids a drum set

 

[Doc226]

Slightest of smiles

 

[hillbilly]

I like both. However, an extreme smiley blade is lethal since you can easily get an inappropriate slicing motion with the outer edges. All things in moderation.

Honing a smile and keeping it is easy enough - you do have to move the blade appropriately on the stone to address the edge directly. Call it what you will. I was requested by the owner of a firm to take out smiles when honing if they weren't meant to be in the blade. I don't do it for my own. Frowns have to go, though.

Here is an inappropriately exaggerated smile - and it is an evil blade that will cut you in a heartbeat. This was made from a GD - the spine had to be tapered towards the toe so the curved edge near the tip would be addressed by the hone correctly. I used it twice and am now looking to gift it to an enemy.

View attachment 313247

gift it to an enemy! I spewed coffee out of my nose ha ha.