How many manufacturers made....

[Joe Edson]

8/8 choppers or bigger? Seems all I see are Wade and Butcher's on eBay and I've been wanting to try something this big. Are there other manufacturers to look out for?

I picked up a 7/8 Frederick Reynolds wedge for $5 at an antique store that I want to restore and I've seen some 7/8 Wostenholms. Just would really like to get my hands on an 8/8 that I can restore and was wondering what other manufacturers to be on the look out for.

 

[SliceOfLife]

Pretty much every Sheffield maker in business during the late 19th century. (1860-1890 or so I'd guess). There are some Solingen 8/8's I've seen, but they're pretty rare.

I've got a >8/8 Geo. I've seen 8/8's in more Sheffield makers than I could run off.

 

[Joe Edson]

Pretty much every Sheffield maker in business during the late 19th century. (1860-1890 or so I'd guess). There are some Solingen 8/8's I've seen, but they're pretty rare.

I've got a >8/8 Geo. I've seen 8/8's in more Sheffield makers than I could run off.

Guess I'll have to keep my eye open. I've seen plenty of W&B's on the bay, but nothing of anything else. Maybe it is just more common for the W&B's or that may be the only ones I've trained myself to spot.

 

[altshaver]

Revisor makes an 8/8's straight razor. There are also a plethora of 7/8's and 8/8's Henckel's Friodurs out on the market now as well.

Edit: I didn't see the caveat of you wanting to restore the razor. These blade are either new or new-old-stock. I definitely recommend you take a look at them though if your mood changes for restoration.

 

[Thebigspendur]

In the early days with wedges and semi wedges big blades were how it was done. As the 20th century approached and they learned how to do hollows they pretty much stopped making the big ones and 5/8s and 6/8s were the rule. Sure there were exceptions and they are out there but you see many more of the smaller ones for that reason. The new stuff being made now is really the same story. I don't think Dovo makes anything bigger than 6/8s and TI I'm not sure. Some of the old restarts make some I know and of course there are customs.

 

[SliceOfLife]

The Big 8/8 and bigger Full hollows are extremely fun to shave with if you like the choppers. Very different feel, but still has that laughably huge razor giddyness that the choppers give you.

 

[Undream]

I've seen 8/8+ in a bunch... most notably.. (these are all england mfg's, and most 8/8+ were manufactured before 1880)

Wade & Butcher (already mentioned)
G. Wostenholm
F. Reynolds
F. Fenney / tally ho
Joseph Rodgers
Joseph Elliot
Wm. Greaves & Son
Wm. Stenton
Horton
Turner
Botson
Holley Mfg Co.

and dozens of others....

 

[The Invisible Edge]

Kropp also made 8/8 full hollows (I have one and one was sold on ebay within the last few days). They are very usable, trust me!

 

[Joe Edson]

Thanks for all the info. I've started to see now a bunch of other 8/8's from other manufacturers pop up on eBay recently. Guess I just thought it was only W&B's as that was all I saw until that point. Most seem to be sheffields, but I've seen a couple of solingens as well. One thing I do know is that I need to be prepared to pop down some serious cash to pick one up.