Really small straights?

[r0ckrat]

I was in an antique shop today where there were a bunch (5-7) straights that all had blades much smaller than I was used to seeing. The blades where maybe 3" long, and a little over a 1/4" deep.

Is this normal? The shopkeeper was looking for $10 each, some were french, others polish, some stamped with Solingen. Anyone have a clue what I was looking at? The all appeared to be in pretty good shape, a couple had a little rust.

He also had one that looked more normal to me that had some rust on the edge, bone scales, with a tree design on the scale on one side.

Any clues?

 

[gugi]

the standard size seems to be 2.75" of the edge length (not including the tang) and 5/8" that's about 2x more than 1/4 wide

so much variety on the makers of the such small size razors seems odd to me (your description puts it at roughly everyting being 2x smaller than the norm)

 

[ambrose]

that last ones a boker

 

[cityjim]

pictures please

cityjim

 

[mdunn]

pictures please

cityjim

pleeeeease

 

[scottish steve]

I've got 2 4/8" and I like them a lot. very manouverable.

 

[maierar]

I have a couple of 3/8 blades which shave just fine. It takes longer,and honing is tricky, but they are good around the mustache.

 

[r0ckrat]

So it sounds like these are 3/8 blade razors in a variety that the shop owner has come by.

I didn't think to take pictures with my phone while I was there and did not buy them at the time.

Does it take a greater level of experience to use a smaller blade? Just curiious in case I decide to go back. Some were in really good shape from what I could tell.

 

[gugi]

Does it take a greater level of experience to use a smaller blade? Just curiious in case I decide to go back. Some were in really good shape from what I could tell.

yes, in my opinion it does.
also to hone them.

 

[TstebinsB]

yes, in my opinion it does.
also to hone them.

Why?

 

[gugi]

why? just based on my experience so far.

shaving - because the blade is extremely light and the lack of inertia means that the smoothness of the stroke is provided exclusively by the shaver's hand.

honing - the same thing, the narrower and lighter blade is a lot more responsive thus any imperfections in the honing stroke have larger effect on the edge.

it's simple mechanics.

 

[TstebinsB]

why? just based on my experience so far.

shaving - because the blade is extremely light and the lack of inertia means that the smoothness of the stroke is provided exclusively by the shaver's hand.

honing - the same thing, the narrower and lighter blade is a lot more responsive thus any imperfections in the honing stroke have larger effect on the edge.

it's simple mechanics.

I waited for your explanation before responding.

Many people prefer the control and the maneuverability of smaller and lighter razors. They wouldn't consider those to be factors of a harder shaving experience. It might take longer to shave with a smaller razor but I see nothing that makes it harder.

If someone finds shaving with one razor inherently harder than another, then that person is not that good of a shaver yet. You should be able to shave with any razor. It's a matter of adapting to the different peculiarities. You don't need any more experience to shave with a 4/8 razor compared to a 6/8 razor.

As for honing them, a smaller or lighter razor isn't harder to hone. You don't hone it any differently. A mistake can prove to be more costly because you have less area with which to work. I guess that means you can't be as careless as with other razors. Nonetheless, that has nothing to do with the difficulty of honing the razor. You use the same progression and the same amount of strokes as with other razors.

 

[Unknownsoldier]

Arn't 'tiny' straights for ladies legs?

Tom

 

[gugi]

I thought the question is the following:

Does it take a greater level of experience to use a smaller blade?

And the only two statements relevant to the question are:

If someone finds shaving with one razor inherently harder than another, then that person is not that good of a shaver yet.

....

I guess that means you can't be as careless as with other razors.

Unless you have evidence that new people find it as easy to shave whth small 4/8 or 3/8 razor, or large 8/8 razor as with a 5/8 or a 6/8. There are not that many who try the small razors when starting just because they get the advice for 5/8-6/8, so if you think this is wrong advice you may want to open a thread to challenge it. After all these razors are significantly cheaper and would be great for a new guys if they are just as appropriate as 5/8-6/8. You can still buy brand new filarmonica in that size for $30-$40.

Nonetheless, that has nothing to do with the difficulty of honing the razor. You use the same progression and the same amount of strokes as with other razors.

Looks like you're the only one talking about difficulty due to more strokes.

As I posted any difficulty is a result from errors not being partially compensated by the inertia of the blade.

BTW extra hollows are in the same category - new shavers typically have more trouble using them than using stiffer grind razors, especially if they are not adequately honed.

 

[English]

Arn't 'tiny' straights for ladies legs?

Tom

Only the ones with pink scales.

 

[gugi]

Arn't 'tiny' straights for ladies legs?

you probably mean for ladies' mustaches

 

[TstebinsB]

Unless you have evidence that new people find it as easy to shave whth small 4/8 or 3/8 razor, or large 8/8 razor as with a 5/8 or a 6/8. There are not that many who try the small razors when starting just because they get the advice for 5/8-6/8, so if you think this is wrong advice you may want to open a thread to challenge it. After all these razors are significantly cheaper and would be great for a new guys if they are just as appropriate as 5/8-6/8. You can still buy brand new filarmonica in that size for $30-$40.


Looks like you're the only one talking about difficulty due to more strokes.

As I posted any difficulty is a result from errors not being partially compensated by the inertia of the blade.

BTW extra hollows are in the same category - new shavers typically have more trouble using them than using stiffer grind razors, especially if they are not adequately honed.

Who says that inertia brought on by the weight of the razor makes for an easier razor to use? That's like saying that everyone considers the Merkur HD easier to use than the Merkur Classic. There is no inherently easier or harder mass production razor. It's a matter of how well you learned to use a straight razor and your preference.

I don't think hollow ground razors are harder to use or learn. So many people are inundated with recommendations for heavier grinds that they're just not used to them. I've sold Friodurs to complete newbies and they learned to shave with nary a problem. I've sold Friodurs to newbies who have used heavier grinds and they had trouble. With that in mind, I'm wary of selling to newbies who have used only heavier grinds but not to people who are looking for their first razor.

 

[gugi]

Who says that inertia brought on by the weight of the razor makes for an easier razor to use?

I do. And I made it perfectly clear what I mean by easier too - more forgiving to poor technique. Feel free to read newbie posts, perform a poll, or just ask every other senior member who recommends newbies start with 5/8 to 6/8 hollow ground razor.

I don't think hollow ground razors are harder to use or learn.

I think you should read more carefully what posts say (I thought you had a legal training and would expect that you will know precision; not sure why you continue dispelling a generalized version of my statements when the generalization changes the statement completely):

BTW extra hollows are in the same category - new shavers typically have more trouble using them than using stiffer grind razors, especially if they are not adequately honed.

Friodurs are not in this category, at least none of the 5-6 that I have had has been. Of course, you've had a lot more friodurs than me, and henckels has the famous 14-step scale of hollowing so they probbably produced XIV-hollowed friodurs as well.

 

[TstebinsB]

I do. And I made it perfectly clear what I mean by easier too - more forgiving to poor technique. Feel free to read newbie posts, perform a poll, or just ask every other senior member who recommends newbies start with 5/8 to 6/8 hollow ground razor.


I think you should read more carefully what posts say (I thought you had a legal training and would expect that you will know precision; not sure why you continue dispelling a generalized version of my statements when the generalization changes the statement completely):


Friodurs are not in this category, at least none of the 5-6 that I have had has been. Of course, you've had a lot more friodurs than me, and henckels has the famous 14-step scale of hollowing so they probbably produced XIV-hollowed friodurs as well.

This was your first post that said anything about poor technique. Earlier, you said inertia partially compensated for errors. What does that even mean? Which errors? Can inertia resolve too much pressure, using the wrong angle, or a harsh edge? Can it make up for poor stropping technique or poor prep?

Regardless, you feel that I should have made the connection between errors and poor technique. OK. On the other hand, you find it wrong to connect hollow ground razors to extra hollow ground razors. Of course, very few people can tell the difference between full hollow and extra hollow but OK.

Then you justify your statement by saying "especially if they are not adequately honed," as if any razor would be easy for anyone to use if it were inadequately honed. I don't know of such a razor but again, OK.

You're right. I'm wrong. You win. I lose. It's obvious that my legal "training" has indeed failed me.

 

[MoreSaltThanPepper]

From my point of experience, I find "normal" full length razors of any width difficult to shave with.

Since joining here, I have purchased and tried a couple of DE's, along with two different types of Shavettes. I have now done a better shave with a DE but it was very recent and only once.

I shaved for nearly two decades (until a friend dropped it edge down against the sink) with what was either a "corn" razor or a ladies' razor, very slender round nose with approximately a 1-1/2 to 2" cutting edge. I can shave well with a shavette or a sanguine (which are very wide) but I find my solingen 4/8 or 5/8 like shaving with a bayonet (a razor edged bayonet but it feels like I'm moving a bayonet around regardless).

I have never had any trouble honing any razor I ever used.

For what it's worth.

- John