Thread: Custom Japanese Razor #3

Wow, very impressive.....I'll have to watch the BST......lol.....

Wow, that looks really great

man that is awesome. very raw look. primative. amazing work.

vgod

Well, thanks again to all of you who've complimented my work!

I'm happy to report that this isn't just a "looker", this bad boy holds a wicked edge and feels great in the hand too.

As for the review of the asymmetrical v. symmetrical grind, I have to say that I like them both for separate reasons. The asymmetrical grinds seemed to be more authentic, but slightly cumbersome to use (some areas of my face just can't be shaved properly with my right hand alone). The dual shallow hollow grind corrected the shortcomings of the asymmetrical grind but was somewhat more like a western straight.

The actual shave was equal with both grinds, I intentionally ground and honed them to similar angles so that they could be compared, as well as heat treated and tempered them to the same degree of hardness. The major difference comes with being able to just go at it one handed, with little time spent repositioning myself/the blade but sacrificing the ability to go absolutely ATG in some areas. Whereas, with the symmetrical edge, I was a little more comfortable using it and was able to get all of the tricky spots but lacked the absolute authenticity of traditional Japanese razor.

All together I like the simplicity of these razors a little more than the western style (currently), and they almost feel a bit more stable in my hand. They also give a nice experience during the shave as they have a heftier blade that makes the shave peacefully quiet and enjoyable.

I'm upgrading my forge today and picking up a few tools that'll make the forging/grinding process go a little quicker, so if you are interested in commissioning one of these, email me and we'll talk more about it! (russelbaldridge@gmail.com )

Extremely nice! I'm hugely impressed!

This is the best one yet Russel!! Awesome!!

I like the sound of the symetrical blade. I too would have trouble shaving my whole face with just one hand!!

Please keep my interest noted for when the time comes!

Ricky

Hey russel this is really beautiful. I really like the hammered / charred look contrasing with the satin polish blade and the hamon. Outstanding work.

Do you have any idea about rockwell hardness?

The "as quenched" hardness is rated at 66, and the tempering I've been doing should put them around 62-64.

Wow! This is a beautiful razor. You did an outstanding job melding the rough and the refined nature of steel with this razor. The handle and blade look awesome together. Nice job!