Tiny straights

[ouch]

4/8? 3/8? How low do you go?

Talk me into them, or out of them. My smallest is a 4/8 Koeller Velvo. It looks like a toy, but it's a full hollow and sharp as the dickens. Could use some restoration work, too. Most importantly, it has made me suddenly fascinated with teeny razors. Thought?

 

[xillion]

I use to have two of these when I used straights. For me they were fantastic little razors.
They were wicked sharp and would allow me to get in and around the tougher parts of my face with great ease.
And they were perfect for lining up my sideburns. I always got a fine shave with my little pumas.

 

[ouch]

Those are cute.

 

[FrankC]

livi makes a 3/8 i believe. expensive but i must admit i have considered it

 

[mparker762]

I believe Dovo still makes a 2/8 size razor. I bought one a year or so ago and use it occasionally for shaving the delicate parts of a special other person, when she's in the mood for such shenanigans.

 

[johnmrson]

Gugi recently sold a small wedge on another forum. Pity I missed it actually. It was all in proportion but it was about two thirds the size of a regular straight.

 

[ShavedZombie]

The smallest I've ever gone was a 4/8 It's A Peech wedge, and a 4/8 Hess wedge.. Both sold, and boy do I regret selling the Hess... That thing was a fantastic shaver... I would have kept it, size be damned, but I was in a tough spot and had to let her go.

I still only keep blades that are 6/8+ (Unless they're really special [Wostenholm Pipe and a Wade and Butcher Bow for example]) and like to stay 1/4 hollow or less... But that Hess still haunts my dreams

 

[mdunn]

I've a razor on the smaller side of 4/8, quater ground. It's excellent, and so
light!

Definately give it a go

 

[LarryAndro]

When manufacturers make small width blades, the scales are correspondingly smallers. I like shaving with these blades, but my hands tire toward the end of the shave.

Several times, I have removed big chips from regular sized straights, leaving just 4/8 or 3/8 left. By removing a little of the metal on the sides of the blade to somewhat maintain the 17 degree bevel angle, the shaving experience and edge maintenance is not a problem.

The big advantage is that the size of the scales is not so small, and hand fatigue is not a problem. Another advantage is that with the over-sized scales, compared to the width of the blade, I feel I have a much better feel for the edge behavior during the shave.

A 3/8 is in my regular rotation of three razors.

 

[pelicano]

3/8 Salamander, but my 4/8 Wicawa is one of my best shavers.

 

[Kees]

3/8 Tennis razor with aluminium scales. Excellent shaver but I prefer wider blades. It came with a honing log of its previous owner.

 

[ambrose]

perfect for under le eyes

 

[California Cajun]

When manufacturers make small width blades, the scales are correspondingly smallers. I like shaving with these blades, but my hands tire toward the end of the shave.

Several times, I have removed big chips from regular sized straights, leaving just 4/8 or 3/8 left. By removing a little of the metal on the sides of the blade to somewhat maintain the 17 degree bevel angle, the shaving experience and edge maintenance is not a problem.

The big advantage is that the size of the scales is not so small, and hand fatigue is not a problem. Another advantage is that with the over-sized scales, compared to the width of the blade, I feel I have a much better feel for the edge behavior during the shave.

A 3/8 is in my regular rotation of three razors.

Larry, I'm still a novice but for me the larger the blade, the more my hands trust the blade to do the work and I seem to get better shaves with the larger ones for that reason.

 

[ADRSPACH]

I have quite few 3/8 e.g. +++ which were originaly made in that size. Sometimes this is the just the width of the blade with simmilar length to ordinary blade and sometimes it is all smaller.

 

[Defend Tacoma]

That is a beautiful razor. I didn't realize anyone made 3/8 straights. If I come across one of those, it shall be mine!

 

[merchantbanker]

I have a little one too. My pinky gets tired on the second pass though.

 

[Slash McCoy]

I use to have two of these when I used straights. For me they were fantastic little razors.
They were wicked sharp and would allow me to get in and around the tougher parts of my face with great ease.
And they were perfect for lining up my sideburns. I always got a fine shave with my little pumas.

Those are some pretty little razors! I like a 4/8 and I have a couple of 3/8, and they sure are good for the turn under the nose. I have never been a fan of bigger razors. I don't have a single 7/8 in my collection and only a handful of 6/8.

 

[johnmrson]

I just managed to pick up a 4/8 off another forum this morning. It's a Simmons HDWE Co. I wanted something smallish to use to get in under the nose. I find that it's a tough area to shave with a bigger blade.

 

[domino]

I picked up a 3/8s Boker and now have a new respect for small blades. I had dfs and looking forward to my next shave with it...

 

[Luc]

4/8 is the smallest that I tried. If the razor is honed properly, it should change much if it's a 4/8 or 6/8... The edge is important. The weight will be different of course and the angle might be a bit more difficult to find on the smaller straight... However, great performers. I prefer bigger blades but I have one 4/8 and will keep it!