Safety Razor Ranking by Blade Gap

[Slynito]

http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/Double-Edged_Safety_Razors_Ranked_by_Blade_Gap

Safety Razor Ranking by blade gap size 

The following, based on a measurement of blade gap and razor weight, will hopefully agree with most of the impressions of the shaving community. This list was compiled by multiple people; inaccuracies are bound to result, and therefore multiple listings for the same razor are possible and even desirable. If there is only one measurement of a given razor gap, it assumes very strict manufacturing tolerances and that the razor measured has not ever been dropped, etc. which we know to not be the case.

The easiest way to measure the blade gap is with a feeler gauge. How to do it is described here.
Table of blade gaps


Blade gap, in 1/1000's of an inch [ +/- .001 inch ]

List order: Smallest gap size (mildest) to larger (more aggressive)

Blade gaps, ranked by gap size
thousandths of an inch   millimeters    Razor   weight, grams
15      Merkur Progress 570 @ 1   
17   .43mm   Gillette Adj Black handle @ 1    Long Handle, 67
18   .46mm      
19   .48mm   GEM 1912   
20   .51mm   Ming Sui   
      Gillette Rocket (UK)   
21   .53mm   Gem Micromatic   
      Gillette New Improved Tuckaway   
      Schick Krona   
22   .56mm   Gillette Adjustable @ 1   
      Gillette New Norfolk   
      Gillette TECH   Fat Handle, 48
      Merkur Classic   
      Weishi   
      Merkur Progress 570 @ 2   
23   .58mm   Gillette NEW   Ball-end, 54; square end, 51
      Gillette Super Speed 1954 - 1968 (Regular)    58
      Gillette Super Speed 1956   58
      Gillette Super Speed (Blue Tip)   45
24   .61mm   Gem G-Bar    
      Gillette Adjustable @ 2   
      Feather Popular   
      Weber 3 Piece Stainless w/ DLC Head    91
25   .64mm   Gillette Aristocrat (US)   late 1940s, 69
      Gillette Knack   43
      Gillette Ranger Tech    
      Gillette Super Speed (black handle)   46
      Gillette Super Speed (late 1940s)   54
      Merkur HD Long Handle (38C)   
      Wilkinson Croma   
      Schick Injector Type L   
      Merkur 23C   
26   .66mm   Bic Disposable (orange handle)   
      Gillette Adjustable @ 3   
      Gillette Aristocrat (UK)   
      Gillette Super Speed Red Tip (US)   65
27   .69mm      
28   .71mm   Merkur HD (34C)   78
      Merkur Progress 570 @ 3   
29   .74mm   Gillette Adjustable @ 4   
30   .76mm   Mühle R89 / Edwin Jagger DE89L   
31   .79mm   Feather Portable   
32   .81mm   Gillette Adjustable @ 5    
      Bic Metal   
      Gillette Super Speed Red Tip (UK)   
33   .84mm   Merkur Progress 570 @ 4    
34   .86mm      
35   .89mm   Gillette Adjustable @ 6   
36   .91mm      
37   .94mm   Merkur Progress 570 @ 5   
38   .97mm   Gillette Adjustable @ 7   
39   .99mm      
40   1.02mm      
41   1.04mm   Gillette Adjustable @ 8   
      Gillette Adjustable (black handle) @ 9   
42   1.07mm      
43   1.09mm   Lord L6    44.5
44   1.12mm   Merkur Futur @ 1   120
45   1.14mm   Gillette Adjustable @ 9   
47   1.19mm   Merkur Futur @ 2    120
53   1.35mm   Merkur Futur @ 3   120
58   1.47mm   Merkur Futur @ 4   120
63   1.60mm   Merkur Futur @ 5   120
65   1.65mm   Merkur Futur @ 6   120
69   1.75mm   Merkur Futur @ 6 .5   120
?      Butterscotch Schick Injector   31
?      Lux   56
?      Stahly Live-Blade   164
?      Gillette Super Speed 1953   56
?       Gillette Super Speed 1952   42
?      Gillette Super Speed 1959   55


Note: Gillette Adjustables
- Slim and Fat Boy range from .022 @ 1 to .045 @ 9; Fat Boy (195) weighs 79 gm, Slim Adjustable weighs 70
- the Black handle Adjustable ranges from .017 @ 1 to .041 @ 9 or 1 setting smaller than the Slim or Fat Boy
- Merkur Slant has a slightly variable blade gap, and is difficult to measure; it weighs 76 gm.

Subjective differences in ranking were limited to +/- .001 measurements
so differences of .001 - .003 can be considered functional equivalent.