The Origin of the Wolfman WR-1 Gaps ?

After the success of the BBS-1 James began producing the WR1 and there were 3 basic gaps IIRC. The .48, .54, .61, 67. 

A friend on a different shaving forum (years ago) found a .61 a bit too mild and James swapped it out for him with a .74. I don't know whether the guy requested that gap, or if James recommended it. Noting the gaps listed above it seems .6 is average for the increases. 

So time passed and James began cutting base plates with all sorts of gaps that, it seems to me, were not the standard gaps he came up with.

For instance I've seen a recent post on DFS where a guy was talking about ordering an .81 or something. I thought .80 had entered the standard field. I have a .94 which LOOT recommended to me, and I saw another guy with a .95.

So my question is ... Did James come up with the early standard gaps because he felt they were the optimum based on the design of the head ?

Or .... once the basic gaps were tried experimenting with variations is not necessarily going to be a mistake. Could be better, could be worse.

I know when LOOT got the WR-2 @ 1.55 I thought that was as high as it was reasonable to go. (I have one in SS and it is great) 

Since then I think I've seen 1.65, and maybe more. 

Anyone know how James determined the gaps he began with ?

Very interesting thread. I don' have any knowledge to offer on this but I'm looking forward to reading the answers from the Wolfman gurus.

They are up to a gap of 1.85 so no limit I guess unless you leave out the top cap. The originals were the BBS sold through Los Angeles Shaving co (since moved out of Ca). I had one of the first BBS and it was #3 prototype. Back then nobody bought a razor based on gap or exposure as far as I know. The gap thing started perhaps 6 years ago and James probably picked up on it. I also bought directly from James before he started lists and wait time. Again no mention of gaps. The last razor I bought cost 175usd complete including shipping. Then James kept raising prices particularly when he moved to his current location.

They are up to a gap of 1.85 so no limit I guess unless you leave out the top cap. The originals were the BBS sold through Los Angeles Shaving co (since moved out of Ca). I had one of the first BBS and it was #3 prototype. Back then nobody bought a razor based on gap or exposure as far as I know. The gap thing started perhaps 6 years ago and James probably picked up on it. I also bought directly from James before he started lists and wait time. Again no mention of gaps. The last razor I bought cost 175usd complete including shipping. Then James kept raising prices particularly when he moved to his currently location.

Kept raising prices because secondary market was flourishing.

I recall that $175 was a lot of money for a razor back then. Also, about BBS-1, before it went up to $299, it was being sold for $210 (if I make no mistake) and most were saying it was a crazy price.

I bought my ss WR1 4-5 years ago for $300 more or less, something like that.

They are up to a gap of 1.85 so no limit I guess unless you leave out the top cap. The originals were the BBS sold through Los Angeles Shaving co (since moved out of Ca). I had one of the first BBS and it was #3 prototype. Back then nobody bought a razor based on gap or exposure as far as I know. The gap thing started perhaps 6 years ago and James probably picked up on it. I also bought directly from James before he started lists and wait time. Again no mention of gaps. The last razor I bought cost 175usd complete including shipping. Then James kept raising prices particularly when he moved to his currently location.

the 1.85 is for the WR-2, not WR-1

They are up to a gap of 1.85 so no limit I guess unless you leave out the top cap. The originals were the BBS sold through Los Angeles Shaving co (since moved out of Ca). I had one of the first BBS and it was #3 prototype. Back then nobody bought a razor based on gap or exposure as far as I know. The gap thing started perhaps 6 years ago and James probably picked up on it. I also bought directly from James before he started lists and wait time. Again no mention of gaps. The last razor I bought cost 175usd complete including shipping. Then James kept raising prices particularly when he moved to his currently location.

the 1.85 is for the WR-2, not WR-1

Yes WR2

Only James can answer this for sure. I believe he started with just the one gap .61 until a few people asked for something more efficient or milder?



As far I know the .74 was what James came up with when asked for something more efficient.

"So the standard design in inches is a .024" blade gap (.61mm) and a few customers have gotten a .005" increase to .029" (.74mm) and on this razor according to my personal blueprints for each .005" (0.12mm) change in blade gap it will add or subtract .003" (0.07mm) in blade exposure (that imaginary line tangent to the cap and guard).

So you're getting .003 more blade exposure if you go with the same increase others have gotten."

Eventually he added more options when ordering: 48, 54, 67, 74, 80, 86 and 94.

"I use a Wolfman dual comb with the OC side at .74mm and the SB side at .48mm. The OC is for roughing and SB is for finishing. This is how I do machining work also."    

"The Wolfman WR1 (standard gap) is medium aggressive. Not mild, also not very aggressive."

Interesting thread. I don't remember what the original gaps were, at all. Wasn't in the market for a razor that expensive back then.

I'm not sure whether the 0.61 is still a neutral exposure razor. I thought they were all positive after the 0.54, but I could be wrong.


I have a 0.74 I picked up second hand. At first I thought it had way too much blade feel and I even tried to trade it for a smaller gap one time without success. Then I purchased one of the Chinese-made Stirling ST razors and shaved with that one for a few weeks. Now the 0.74 WR-1 feels pretty tame. I shaved with it two days ago and it felt smooth and efficient. I thought I would try to put it up for trade again, but maybe I'll just keep it. It is interesting how much my feelings about the razor changed over the course of about a month, not based on repeated shaving with the Wolfman, but based on shaving with a different razor.

Having said all that, in reality I would probably be happier in the long run with a 0.61 or even a 0.54. No longer sure it is worth the hassle of a trade (or of selling, ordering, and waiting).

.61 is positive or it would say zero exposure. I think .54, .61 and .67 have the same exposure.

I'm not even sure .48 is negative.

I'm not sure why those gaps were chosen, I'll try to remember to ask James when I see him in a couple of days. But the .61 was the "standard" I'm no machinist but what is that in inches. I know that James had a bunch of random vintage razors sent to him by John formerly of LASSC when James machined his first razors for the BBS1 contract, I know when Wolfman started he was looking for a design that was different than the BBS1 since he didn't want to compete.