Thread: Why are more 5/8's sold than 6/8's?

If you look on the vendor's websites, you'll notice that most of the razors come as a 5/8. Why is that?

I find the 5/8 size easier to shave with under the nose, around the chin, and in my neck grooves. As my beard has gotten more grey (wiry) I find myself appreciating the extra weight of the 6/8 more. I have to be more attentive about freshening up the edge on the 6/8 to prevent razor burn though. The 5/8 pulls right away when it's time to refresh the edge. The 6/8 has enough weight that it plows right through the whiskers even when it's a little dull - but this still results in mild razor burn...

Its really simple. 5/8 is the most all around razor. Wide enough to make honing and stropping achievable by the average joe, cost effective enough to be affordable by the average joe. And properly sized for the average joes face. The fact of the matter is, larger blades are not much more than a fad, and (this is gonna really piss some people off) simply provide an illusion of a superior shave because they are easier to strop than a smaller blade

Originally Posted by Magpie

Its really simple. 5/8 is the most all around razor. Wide enough to make honing and stropping achievable by the average joe, cost effective enough to be affordable by the average joe. And properly sized for the average joes face. The fact of the matter is, larger blades are not much more than a fad, and (this is gonna really piss some people off) simply provide an illusion of a superior shave because they are easier to strop than a smaller blade

I think you forgot the most important fact of shaving with your statement "On your face" or perhaps "in your humble opinion"... Because there is no fact of the matter in that one, even if I happen to actually agree because on my face a 5/8 to 6/8 razor is the shizit...

To the OP Dovo and TI when this resurgence started were producing mostly 5/8 razors and that was what was selling because that was what was available.. Now with more and more of us out here asking for more and more options everyone is stepping up the game with more sizes... Try a few and see what works best for your style and your face as this is a YMMV thing..

I think, and this is only a guess, when they stopped making the meat choppers from the 1800s and moved to hollow grind they went full circle and style wise went to small light razors. Also barbers seemed to like them too which helped push the trend. It kind of parallels watches. Years ago watches were small like 30mm or so then they got bigger like 40mm and now they have these monsters at 50mm and larger which make old pocketwatches look small.

These days the folks making razors are making what sells and the larger sizes seems to be selling better so you see more 6/8s and 7/8s and 8/8s than 5/8s or 4/8s being made. Barbers are out of the picture so they are not a factor anymore.

On average they're ten bucks cheaper than the 6/8 counterpart for one thing. Truth be told, I like the 5/8 best of all sizes. I shave with the larger blades too but the 5/8 is just easy to manipulate. A 4/8 is a bit too small for my hand but I'm sure some guys like them too.

What Jimmy said!

I have both sizes..the 5/8 is easier to maneuver..the 6/8 holds more cream or soap on the blade..less need to re rinse as often

I like, and agree w/ what's been posted so far.

Another aspect on size was the size of the man during the heyday of production (ballpark WW I) The avg. WW I soldier was 5' 3" tall. We have better nutrition and healthcare now (usually), and we've grown. You can see a parallel growth trend in Japan following WWII. Smaller guys, smaller hands - more guys are comfortable on 4/8-5/8 then now. Monster hands aren't comfy on a toothpick-sized shank. 'No surprise there. Its why I sell most 5/8s and keep most 6/8. Those few 5/8 I keep are exceptional - usually for reasons of shaving really well. I keep and use only 1 4/8. Its not fancy, not pretty, but shaves like a house afire. Normal comfort zone is 6/8-13/16.

Seems a 5/8 is quite maneuverable, but I prefer 6/8 to 8/8 for the weight and the feel despite the difficulties going under the nose. It's a small trade-off.