I have wanted to see someone create a USA based (or UK, Australia.. not China, Pakistan made) straight razor aimed at the beginning straight shaver. This would require a fairly low price point of around $100 - 120 dollars. How would you go about setting something like this up? I don't have the knowledge base to figure it out completely, but this is the rough idea I came up with. This would be a process that was made to be as quick and repeatable as possible. It is not the same as a custom razor. A custom, IMO, is more art and skill than a manufacturing process. I thought I would throw this out there and see if any interesting ideas came up. Maybe it will give someone else a kick in the but to do it themselves. Just to get it out of the way, I am not looking to start making razors or polling people for marketing purposes, or any of that. I have seen quite a few "Artisan" safety razors doing well lately and it makes me hope for something along those lines for straights.


1) Basic razor: 5/8" round point, shoulderless design, O1 tool steel (no plunge cuts = faster/easier grinding?, O1 easy to get, holds nice edge, heat treat no surprises)
2) Razor blank CAD designed and water cut in bulk
3) Hogging grind done on a double wheel hollow grinder (quicker, more consistency on every razor)
4) Softening/rounding of edges on belt grinder
5) Heat treat - ?
6) Final grind - think a double grinder is more efficient? No idea if would work.
7) Scales/Wedge - Bulk orders of CNC cut plastic, maybe injection molding?
8) Pins/Washers - I would look at the types that Dovo/TI use that have the "nail" that stick through, pop a washer on, trim and peen.
9) Honing - This would be a huge bottle neck. Maybe a lapidary hone to set bevel?

Anyway, curious to see if anyone has thought about something like this or event thinks it achievable.

Matt