Thread: New Member

Originally Posted by RezDog

I think most would agree that it is function over form.

Great way to put it.

Bob

Welcome to the forum

Originally Posted by RezDog

...I think most would agree that it is function over form.

That's true Shaun but ya gotta admit that form does count at least a little.
Case in point:

Of course that's the great Charlie Lewis who is a member as well as a maker. Damn Charlie!...just...Damn!

I think all like a razor that takes and holds a shave ready edge. To me that is function over form. Not everyone likes the same form though as tastes differ wildly in that regard. The old one man's meat is another man's poison routine. Luckily there is enough variety in forms to please most everyone's tastes.

Bob

Yup Charlie’s razors are know to shave well, strop well, hold a fantastic edge, and some say they are the coolest looking razors around.

In all seriousness. For me the funky looking ones are cool to look at but if they don't shave well or they are treacherous to shave with or hard to hone or they don't fit in the hand well or they are not well balanced or they are difficult to hold on to while stropping or a hundred other "or's" then they become a shelf ornament. I know that's a lot of "or's" but that is the tricky part. It's that old paradox like the game of Oware. You can literally learn how to play it in 5 minutes but spend a lifetime trying to master it and maybe never succeed. There's something intuitive about razor making. I think that is why the basic pattern has been the same for so long. It's like a roach or a horseshoe crab. There was just no reason to change.

Here's an example. I just posted about this razor in a couple of places. H.M. Christensen Warranted. They didn't even bother to give it a model name. Made by a guy who owned a little business with maybe a dozen employees (I think I counted 8 in the picture) between 1889 & 1905

Simple, straight, sleek, surprisingly unassuming, not particularly eye catching. BUT, it is well balanced, fits well in the hand, manuverable, hones, strops and shaves easily. Not a lot of WOW factor...that is until you shave with it. I had thoughts of selling this one.but now you would have to snap my cold lifeless fingers to get it away from me... maybe that's why I don't sell that many...... just sayin'

I agree - I have some that look great but the aesthetics have messed with a tried and trusted form. Takes some practice and challenging the muscle memory.
But - its nice to have variety in technique as well. Granted, these will only be used on certain days when time, patience and suitable mindset allows

Welcome to the forum

Hello welcome