Thread: Mastro Livi Razor Club

So you are the one who ordered that "classic/new grind" with a Spanish point! I was at Mastro Livi workshop the day he was grinding and making your razor. Now I wish you will post pictures of it very soon so everyone of us here will see it. Not to mention, you will contribute to this thread with your razor.
I agree with you: the Mastro Livi "new grind" is truly a wonderful and lovely shaver, besides being a wonderful piece of art and craftsmanship.

As for your question, I guess this is very subjective to answer. I have six Mastro Livi razors and all of them are very different one from each other in many regards. Don't misunderstand me, they are all magnificent shavers, but each one of them has a truly personal "character", feedback and feeling. They all however are excellent shavers, no doubt about this.
So, do the so called "Mastro Livi customs" shave different than the "new grind" razor? Yes, definitely. Are they sweeter than a new grind? It depends. In my opinion, Mastro Livi carbon steel razors can also be sweeter than his new grinds, whereas the stainless steels he uses, RWL34 in particular, are more aggressive and absolutely very efficient.
Not to mention Mastro Livi carbon damascus steel, which is, in my opinion, sweeter than all of the carbon steel razors he makes.
As for stainless steel, Mastro Livi recently started using a new steel (of which I have no idea of what it is) and he called it "experimental inox" because it was part of a number of new steels he was experimenting and testing on. I am proud to say I have been the first one in the world - besides Mastro Livi, of course - to test this new "experimental inox razor" and I can certainly say this steel is impressive. Aggressive and efficient like RWL34 but certainly sweeter than it.
In my opinion, we are talking about "splitting hairs" as I believe all the Mastro Livi razors are superior shavers in many regards: to me they are the very best I have ever used for shaving and it is very hard to me to tell the best of the six I have. But they do certainly have a different personality and each one of them has its own way of shaving, all of them being effective and impeccable, however different.
For the moment, enjoy your new magnificent Mastro Livi "new grind" and I hope you will post some pictures of it soon: I will certainly be glad to see your razor again!

Originally Posted by stefanosup

Congratulations Mike, I'm very happy for you, I can understand you! I hope soon to be able to see photos of your new razor "new grind".

Have a good day!!

Originally Posted by razorguy

So you are the one who ordered that "classic/new grind" with a Spanish point! I was at Mastro Livi workshop the day he was grinding and making your razor. Now I wish you will post pictures of it very soon so everyone of us here will see it. Not to mention, you will contribute to this thread with your razor... I will certainly be glad to see your razor again!

Thank you so much for your replies, you've answered my question. I've contacted ML and been redirected to straightrazordesigns in order to obtain a ML in damascus. I keep a "Seven Day Rotation A-Team" of my best shavers. The ML Classic/New Grind knocked out another very capable custom razor to earn a place in a line up that includes a Hart 6/8 square point with carbon fiber scales, an NOS Friodur in G10, an Iwasaki 6/8, a Wacker Stosser, an NOS Le Grelot and a Fili 14 Sub Cero. Tough competition with which she ably holds her own.

Razorguy: I'm thrilled to hear you were present for the birth of my razor! Feel free to bore the rest of the community by regaling me with the detailed minutia of its creation any time ! I really enjoy your thread on the creation of these razors in the main "Razor" section by the way.

Very cold outside today, but I did manage to snap a few pics of the new addition...

Nice Livi and what an enviable 7 day rotation!

Congratulation Mike! A truly gorgeous set!
I am very glad for having seen your Mastro Livi "new grind" razor again! I am sure your new order placed at Straight Razor Designs will soon arrive in Perugia and I guess Mastro Livi will soon begin working on its making. In case I happen to be Mastro's workshop, I will be glad to watch the making of your second Mastro Livi. I wish you will personally watch the making of your razor soon and, in case you are planning to come to Italy, I will be very glad to take you there and to help you with the language. I am sure you would be elated to meet Mastro Livi and to directly learn from his insights about razors and shaving.
I am of course glad you enjoy my posts about the making of my Mastro Livi razors and I hope you enjoy my videos as well. Thank you for that.
I believe Mastro Livi has a remarkable story to tell the world, not only as a talented straight razor maker. I plan to make more videos in the future and I hope you all gentlemen will continue enjoying them as much as I do in making them.
Congratulations for your new Mastro Livi as well as for the others beautiful razors you have in rotation during the week.
I do not know whether I can do that or not, I do not know whether there is an officiant in charge for this, however, welcome to the club!

Razorguy, I've submitted my order to SRD for an 8/8's satin carbon Damascus Spanish point with Olivewood scales...filework and etching of the Mastro's choosing. Keep your eyes peeled for the order-If you succeed in obtaining any pictures of her creation, I will return the favor with something very nice!

Originally Posted by entropy1049

Razorguy, I've submitted my order to SRD for an 8/8's satin carbon Damascus Spanish point with Olivewood scales...filework and etching of the Mastro's choosing. Keep your eyes peeled for the order-If you succeed in obtaining any pictures of her creation, I will return the favor with something very nice!

No problem Mike! First of all, I should say you made a very good choice! Carbon damascus steel, Spanish point and olive wood scales sound very, very promising! Can't wait to see it finished and, yes, I guess you too can't wait that!
I will ask Mastro Livi to take some pictures of the making of your razor as soon as he receives your order from SRD: I am sure he will let me do that with pleasure. I hope to be in Perugia by the time he starts working on your razor: I frequently travel because of my job and in case I am in Perugia it will be my pleasure to watch the making of your new razor. No problem.
I will however ask him to keep me informed about your order!

Congratulations Entropy1049 for the wonderful collection of razors. I love razors Philharmonic! They are all beautiful and of great value. The razor you ordered Mastro Livi I think it will astonish you 'a lot and not only for it's beauty. They are very sweet and razors that cut with great effectiveness. I also believe that there Razorguy earth 'updated with pictures of the process and it is exciting to see the birth of his razor. Razorguy is really a kind person who did this to me too. He's lucky because he lives in the same city' of the Master and can 'go to him often. He is a generous person because it also helps those who live far away.

Thanks stefanosup, it's a rare bit of great luck having a couple of you fellows who happen to live in the Mastros back yard! The Fili is a great shaver. All of those have earned their place. I have other more "monetarily valuable" razors that don't make the cut to live in that AlembiCase with the A-Team.
Surprisingly, the Hart has kept it's place. There are mixed reviews on these, people either love them or hate them due to some forging issues with some. Apparently I got one of the good ones. The Wacker Stosser I love as well. It was purchased as a set with a 1/4 hollow Spanish point that was eliminated early and now resides with the B-Team case, and is on shaky ground even with that crowd. Two Wackers, one a true champion and one that just doesn't do it for me.
Personal preference is an amazing thing, to a point. At a certain level of either greatness or folly, we seem to all unite in our preferences. The Pakistani Damascus are easily identified by an enthusiast as pure rubbish (yes, lol, I admit to purchasing one for 99 cents plus 2.95 shipping out of pure morbid curiosity...crumbled to pieces on the hones lol) or as pure magic, as is the case with the Mastro's works.
I am truly jealous of you fellows who are able to drop by the Mastro's shop on a whim. I've already checked the airfare...$1300 for the privilege of watching the Mastro create my razor. I'm thinking about it .

hello Entropy1049 also I have a Wacker Chevalier and find it excellent. I have some friends not very satisfied. I'm glad if you decide to come to Italy, you will see the Mastro Livi's lab was born while your new razor. Antonello then will help you 'because' knows English very well and is a very kind person and helpful. It 's exciting to see the master while working, then Perugia is one of the most' beautiful Italian's city you will see many other interesting things. You can eat and drink so wonderful and if you invite me to dinner, I'll be right in Perugia me too!

I mentioned a trip to Italy to my wife fully expecting her to say "I'm not going to Italy to watch you watch a razor being made" and was surprised when she said she thought it was a great idea! I suspect she has ulterior motives, probably involving shopping in Rome and Florence. I doubt we'll make it over for the making of this next razor, but I'm thinking seriously about winter time frame to witness the creation of a fine third ML razor. When I am in your neighborhood I look forward to buying you and Antonello both a fine dinner or two!