Thread: 9/8 W2 Wedge, and 6/8 W2 'Stubby' with Oregon Maple Burl and Box Elder Burl

Hey guys,

I thought I'd take a minute to share with you guys one of my first pair of custom razors. The first was a LOT of fun...and actually a good bit more of a challenge than the second. Forged from AISI W2 tool steel and differentially hardened. It's nearly a full wedge, and a real beast. A customer grabbed it before I was finished, and asked that I make it into something like a kamisori in use...but with a traditional bevel and scales to guard the blade. The end result is actually really kind of cool.



When the razor unfolds, the second pin acts as a lock, keeping it from opening all the way. In use, this makes for a nice 'haldle' and effectively turns the blade into a kamisori. While I was teaching myself to use a straight razor, it was actually very nice to use...and the big heavy blade made for a very comfortable shave.

The second blade is the opposite of the first in almost every way, lol. It too was made from AISI W2, and differentially hardened, but it's closer to a half hollow, and only 6/8. The customer asked that I make the thumb notch very short, and the tail as well...along with wanting a more rustic and used look.



All in all, these razors were a LOT of fun to make, and even more fun to use. I'm definitely looking forward to making many, many more!

Where can I get that box elder burl?? Gorgeous!

Originally Posted by prodigy

Where can I get that box elder burl?? Gorgeous!

I only have a few pieces of it left, lol...and it was the only one like it. I've got some truer color pictures I can share here if you like? It reminds me...very literally...of a photograph of outerspace.

Please share the pics. Was it sourced from a vendor etc.? I haven't really looked for any, but if I new where to find it I'd buy some. My latest scales are buckeye burl. I love all burls, but buckeye and box elder just seem magical.

I love the Harmon line, nice work! Those scales are stunning as well

Originally Posted by prodigy

Please share the pics. Was it sourced from a vendor etc.? I haven't really looked for any, but if I new where to find it I'd buy some. My latest scales are buckeye burl. I love all burls, but buckeye and box elder just seem magical.

I'll post the pictures below. As for the wood, I generally don't buy from vendors anymore. I buy unstabilized woods and send them to K&G myself. The cost of burl woods anymore has gone through the roof, and to be honest...I can't see a viable reason for it. So I do it myself.

The Oregon Maple (top razor) however...did come from Mark Farley at BurlSource.

Originally Posted by Ernie1980

I love the Harmon line, nice work! Those scales are stunning as well

Thanks! Everything I've ever made in my life has had a hamon...lol, even my hunting broadheads! I didn't figure making razors should change that one bit!

Here's those pictures! A full 360° view, open and closed lol:

Could you share your technique on making them from one piece? I was looking for the wedge and realized there wasn't one! Very cool! I scouted ebay and it seems the blanks are all less than 6", which is what I normally look for.