Besides being a neat place to hold the blade, does it have much of a purpose?
What's the scale for?
- Thread starter gull
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Protects the edge for storage... allows you to balance the blade in your fingertips for use...
Stops you cutting up your socks when you carry it in your cowboy boot.
It keeps the scale makers employed.
plus balances the weight of the blade when shaving.
a very elegant design, straight razors have.
a very elegant design, straight razors have.
They enable you to carry a straight without cutting your hands to pieces and they also protect the edge of the blade when it's closed.
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What prompted me to make the topic was the topic I saw in the BST board. There was a Japanese straight that didn't have a scale 
Do you guys keep the scale in the air, or let it hang down? I was thinking that if I let it hand down it might provide some supportive weight. I don't know, it's just a thought.
Do you guys keep the scale in the air, or let it hang down? I was thinking that if I let it hand down it might provide some supportive weight. I don't know, it's just a thought.
What prompted me to make the topic was the topic I saw in the BST board. There was a Japanese straight that didn't have a scale
Do you guys keep the scale in the air, or let it hang down? I was thinking that if I let it hand down it might provide some supportive weight. I don't know, it's just a thought.
We shave with pointing up, about 90 degrees to the blade.
Japanese straights have a much longer tang/tail, which provides the balance. They are annoying to store though, got to be so careful of the edge.
Yeah, the scale pokes up between your ring finger and your little finger.
Some of the custom guys are now making straights without scales and a sort of little knife block to keep it in, that doesn't let the edge touch anything. No good for your cowboy boot, though.
Some of the custom guys are now making straights without scales and a sort of little knife block to keep it in, that doesn't let the edge touch anything. No good for your cowboy boot, though.
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Had my eighth wonderful shave with a straight today. When I hold my razor to shave, it's opened like a smiley-face. I put my thumb on the spine, at the end of the blade and my index finger under my thumb, at the end of the blade, with my other three fingers wrapped around the shank and scales.
Pretty much what they said...
You could shave without it but it wouldn't be the same...
You could shave without it but it wouldn't be the same...
I think it would be awkward shaving without the scales to balance the weight of the blade. I'm sure you could get used to it, but I like the way they look. Its instantly recognizable as a straight razor...otherwise it would just look like a funny knife.
What prompted me to make the topic was the topic I saw in the BST board. There was a Japanese straight that didn't have a scale
I have a Pseudo-Japanese straight and a Japanese straight... both shave very well... the longer, heavier tang balances the blade nicely. It does require a different hand position and one much be much more mindful about angle as it's much easier to "roll" the blade the wrong direction without the kick-stand of the scales to remind you of orientation.
Both of mine came with cases that essentially strap them to boards that keep the blade from touching anything... the tang is held down and the blade in free space totally enclosed by the case.
Are these the japanese straight-razors you guys are talking about?
They look freakin' scary! I wouldn't even know how to begin transporting or storing one of those!...Give me a Western straight anyday.
Are razors like that still used regularly today?
They look freakin' scary! I wouldn't even know how to begin transporting or storing one of those!...Give me a Western straight anyday.
Are razors like that still used regularly today?
Are these the japanese straight-razors you guys are talking about?
They look freakin' scary! I wouldn't even know how to begin transporting or storing one of those!...Give me a Western straight anyday.
Are razors like that still used regularly today?
That's a Japanese straight razor yes. Some use them, there's a video somewhere on youtube that was posted a few weeks back on the board...
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=153993
Normally, those are single bevel so you would shave using the same side of the razor always. They are supposed to be very good and give very close shaves... I'm happy with my Straight razors at the moment but don't push the idea of not trying one... Yet...
