Length of razor edge

[grump]

Anyone ever wonder how the makers determined how long to make the edge of the razor? The older first razors were quite long and they seemed to have settled on between 2-3 inches with the trend moving toward 2 inches for larger blades and customs. Do you think this is a balance issue or that you just don't use the hole length of the blade? What are your thoug
hts?

 

[global_dev]

Anyone ever wonder how the makers determined how long to make the edge of the razor? The older first razors were quite long and they seemed to have settled on between 2-3 inches with the trend moving toward 2 inches for larger blades and customs. Do you think this is a balance issue or that you just don't use the hole length of the blade? What are your thoug
hts?

i always thought it was ~3 inches for larger blades, like 8/8. at least most of mine seem to be that way.

here is an example of why i think that..

now i do have some older 6/8s and 7/8s that are ~3" but most 5/8s seem to be less than 3".

 

[ladykate]

All my larger blades are much closer to 3" I have some smaller ones that are a bit longer. If you make a blade 2 1/4" (which I've been doing with my Kamisori objects) then it is obviously a shortened blade not normally found in the wild. Here is a 60 mm blade with is about 6/8 - which seems obviously short:



Here is an 8/8 chopper - old blade



Here is the only case I have in my collection of a 8/8 chopper that is shorter - maybe 2 3/4 inches - it doesn't have a stamped tang so I have no idea where it came from... I suspect it is older but who knows.