Thread: My Definition of a Custom Razor

Originally Posted by Birnando

60 razors labeled as customs

I need picture on this

Originally Posted by MrMagnus

I need picture on this

Be patient, your thread will eventually contain them all!

I think by trying to define what constitutes a custom razor we are getting into the territory of "what is the sound of one hand clapping, grasshopper?". Pretty hard to nail down a universally accepted definition but fun trying.

Bob

Imo, custom means made specifically for a specific customer requirement. 'Customized'. Just making something by hand doesn't make it custom. Hart razors are not custom, just like dovo. At best they are limited editions. Usually not even that. Custom is also not a quality moniker.

I disagree that everything has to be done by a single craftsman. However, in that case, suppose one person makes the blade, and another the scales. In that case I think that for the razor to be custom, both the blade and the scales need to be tailor made for a given design. If you make a custom blade and then have someone else slap on pre-made scales, that is not a custom razor. At best it's a razor with a custom blade.

The first blade I did for TC is a good example. I made a blade specifically for his requirements and sent it to Glen. Glen made a set of scales specifically to his requirements. That means a custom razor start to finish.

Different example my Alien razors are start to finish my own designs and work. Imo, that does not make them 'custom', even if they are unique. Otoh, someone recently asked me to make an Alien, but with such and such things different. That, imo is custom work. Custom means it is tailor made for a specific person (or specific set of requirements). Otherwise it's an off the shelf product, no matter how much creativity went into the design.

lets not forget the Dracula blade! "when its done how much more custom or one oft can it get ,, as customs go I consider any that has the collaboration of maker and purchaser to realize an object made for the buyer only. just my opinion , I have razors made specificatley to my specs and then I have razors from the top makers that are items they sell already done , these are semi custom to me tc good post Obie

To me a custom razor is a bespoke razor. You get with the maker and work out what you want and he produces it. Whether one maker is involved or 10 doesn't alter it. What if the razor is made by Mr X and he makes the blade and the scales but he buys the pins for the scales at a hardware store or the spacer for the scales? Does that mean it's not custom anymore?

Many of the razors we see I would call custom class meaning they are low production pieces that are either ready made or have slight alterations in design or scale. These aren't custom however they come close.

JMHO but I gotta agree, a custom anything is a 1 off (or small batch set maybe), made to the designers own specs wether that be the maker or the purchaser, not a copy of an existing design etc re-made as new as this would be a reproduction.
I also don’t believe that a custom needs to be completely made by the same person, not all artisans are experts in all fields of their product, even traditional Japanese swords were & are not usually completely made by one person as you have the Blacksmith who makes the blade, another who make the scarabs another does the handles & another who does the final fit out & finally the master honer who sharpens the blade each is a master of their work but not one of them would do all the work completely.

Even my Bruno Blade I would call a custom, as it fits the description, 1 off, made to my specs by Bruno then completed by myself.
I have seen blades with a similar spine detail & shaped tail etc as I received it, but I then altered the tail & made all the fruit to go on it myself, non of which was intentionally based on any other design this is just the choice out of the umpteen scales etc drawings I did that I liked the most.

this is just my thoughts on the topic

Originally Posted by Birnando

Be patient, your thread will eventually contain them all!

I hate waiting

For me the word custom begins firstly with the contact, in the same way you would meet a painter sculptor or writer you discuss the basic details but you must allow the creator to have the final say, I personally don't believe any major manufacturer such as Thiers Issard can offer a custom razor and Hart razors are just a production line of clones, at this present time I'm waiting on a custom from the UK maker Michael Waterhouse even though I outlined to Michael what I wanted I also ask Michael for his own personal view and input that's what bespoke custom means to me.

I think pixel said it best. I wouldn't condemn anybody for calling a razor that has been customized, a custom but to me the definition is pretty simple. One of a kind different.