Were DE blades once shorter?

[cavaliere]

Hallo,

I've just got my first safety razor, which is a vintage, brass nickeled Gillette Tech. I cleaned it and gave it a try- the tool gave me a very pleasant and gentle shave. I fitted it with a new Wilkinson Sword blade and to my surprise it does not quite seem to fit very well. Although it shaves well, the blunt and narrow sides of the blade stand out of the razor's head by about 2mm on each side. Is there any idea behind it or have the blades dimensions been changed since my razor was introduced to the market? (Am I right to think it's about 1940)? I marked the spot with a red square on the attached photo.

[guitarslinger]

good question.

that outer part hits my nose with certain razors. I hate that.

[bman40]

I find the same thing - I use my granddads '47 gold Aristocrat, and so far (in two weeks of DE shaving) I have scaped the side of my nose three times!

Maybe I'll open up the pack of blades I have and take them out the workshop and grind the ends off!!!

Barry

[tester]

That's a great question.

I'm so worried about slicing myself with this part of the blade that sticks out.

[Confuzius]

On my brand new Merkur with merkur blades they edges stick out by about 1mm on each side. I use that while changing the blade so I don't get cut. I think it may be the intended design. Also, I might be wrong...

[cavaliere]

Hats off, Confuzius. I think you're right, there'd be no other reasonably safe way to remove the blade.

[Lionhearted]

Blade sizes haven't changed. This is perfectly normal. Blades are designed to be handled by the blunt ends. Especially with a 3-piece razor you put the blade in and take it out holding it by the blunt ends.



As one who grew up using razor blades as ordinary household cutting tools, I find this fear of blades somewhat amusing. When sewing my grandmother, mother and wife cut threads with a razor blade, I've used razor blades as quick and dirty window scrapers and I sharpened pencils with a razor blade when I was in elementary school. I carved balsa models with a DE blade when I was a kid and couldn't afford an Exacto knife.

Richard

[SpartanIV]

Blade sizes haven't changed. This is perfectly normal. Blades are designed to be handled by the blunt ends. Especially with a 3-piece razor you put the blade in and take it out holding it by the blunt ends.

As one who grew up using razor blades as ordinary household cutting tools, I find this fear of blades somewhat amusing. When sewing my grandmother, mother and wife cut threads with a razor blade, I've used razor blades as quick and dirty window scrapers and I sharpened pencils with a razor blade when I was in elementary school. I carved balsa models with a DE blade when I was a kid and couldn't afford an Exacto knife.

Richard

I don't really understand the fear either, and I didn't grow up with them. I guess I just trust myself

I found that DE blades are great at taking off hard to remove stickers. It just slices the sticky goo right off!

[rickw]

The original, pre 1930, blades were rounded at the ends and had three holes through the blade. They were squared for better handling.