Thread: Craig Barr Straight razor - Rolling review

hello people,
As the title implies i'm going to be adding to this post from time to time about my experiences with my Craig Barr razor. In comparison to Dovo or Dubl Duck razors that were make in a more factory setting (both are awesome btw) and have decades of reviews, the Craig Barr razors are forged at deer mountain forge and really doesn't have a lot of reviews or consumer commentary.So here goes...

12/31/14
-I bought it on Ebay , from Craig, and decided to give the razor a shot if anything else just to compare it against my vintage razors. It came in the mail in a package, didn't expect a lacquered box and silk stuffing but a little razor sleeve would have nice. First impressions when i got it out of the wrapping was "good god! that's huge!" Really. it's is close to 1.5x my Dubl Duck in height and the blade itself weights more then a moon ( the hairs on my face were attracted by its gravity). The rat tail on it makes it feel more like a Japanese Kamisori and you will need to make a pair of scales, stock scale will not fit. That being said the workmanship is top shelf and the design is minimalist and masculine overall a very striking razor blade.
1/1/15
-Since the razor is so big i decided to make some scales to fit. Drew the outline and got to work on a design for the scales. Went and got some poplar to make a pair of test scales and refine the design. the wedge ended up being a square 3/16" thick and the scales had to be modified to fit material sizes i could find (not a problem for normal scales big problem for this one).
1/2/15
-First shave with the razor today. Preshave prep with hot shower , facial scrub, and conditioner. I took the scales off for this since the poplar was untreated . face lathered and off i went , the blade felt comfortable and honestly felt great in the hand .Originally i thought tight places would cause problems ( like under the nose) but surprisingly it wasn't an issue. Cut as well as my DD and did not irritate my skin. Only bone of contention is the steel is super hard so i doubled my strops on the canvas and leather.

I have seen them on Ebay but have never heard anyone mention them. I was actually thinking about a post to see if anyone had any info, I am surprised he isn't a member.

i was actually just looking at them today and was also curious about them , was waiting to hear about them and how they honed and maintained ..

This is a transcription of the email Craig sent to me :"I use a diamond hone, but any hone you are used to using will work.I doubt you will even need to re-hone that much. I have been shaving for about 3 months ,same razor and only stropping." He says the razor is 1095 steel ,a very hard metal from the research I did ,it should keep an edge for a long time. Honing will take longer but I probably won't need to do it for many months.

I have been monitoring them on eBay for a few months but never heard anyone mention anything about them except on person & I think it was on eBay, someone was selling one they bought & made scales for but I suppose was either unhappy with it or did it to resell it. Some of them have some huge widths! I might be wrong where I saw it but the buyer said that it was a very hard steel to hone. I have noticed that some have the pivot hole drilled further down in the curve of the tail where others are up higher where I would most likely prefer it if I had one due to the balance but I believe he gives you the option for drilling or not & where you want it. He has different heat treating stages using the Rc which I believe is the Rockwell method. They are hand forged from 1045, 1050, 1080, 1095, 52100, W-2, O-1 steel, 5160 and 15n20 damascus steel, Wootz steel & are very hard. It sounds like he makes some good blades. Here is what he says from one of his listings:

"Pings when you pluck it !!!!! This is an excellent Shave Ready Razor, you will not be disappointed! O-1 is an high end tool steel , and it takes an extremely sharp edge and holds it !!! These razors are completely hand made by me, I use no jigs, no forms, no patterns, I do not measure anything or use center lines to follow, I forge these razors to shape by hand on an anvil, free hand grind the blades no jigs or tool rest. I also perform the heat treatment. Made right here in the USA. by an American!
**** Tang is drilled if you would like to fit scales to it **** This steel was triple quenched *****
This is a great looking straight razor (7) that I Hand Forged from O-1 steel. I signed and dated this razor. Very sharp so use caution handling. After forging I hollow ground the blade. Blade is heat treated to 62Rc. Overall 6 3/8" Long. Blade is 2 5/8" long x 9/8" wide x 3/16" thick. Thanks for looking and be sure to check out my other auctions!!! I'm Craig Barr the maker and owner ***Deer mountain Forge**** The razor in the photos is the one you will receive!******"

honorakr,

Thanks for starting this thread. I have been watching Craig Barr blades too, and I have been looking for some reviews as well. Your review inspired me to pull the trigger and get my own Craig Barr blade.

I have a 9/8 1095 blade on its way. Here's a pic and description below:



9/8 wide. satin finish , pings when you pluck it !!!!! This is an excellent Shave Ready Razor, you will not be disappointed! 1095 is a high carbon, simple carbon steel and it takes an extremely sharp edge and holds it !!!
**** Tang is drilled if you would like to fit scales to it **** This steel was triple quenched *****
This is a great looking straight razor (1) that I Hand Forged from 1095 steel. I signed and dated this razor. Very sharp so use caution handling. After forging I hollow ground the blade. Blade is heat treated to 62Rc. Overall 6 3/8" Long. Blade is 2 3/4" long x 9/8" wide x 3/16" thick.

I will post photos and a review when mine arrives. I am thinking about putting some ebony scales on it.

I'm wondering how you'd hone that razor with that reverse curve in the spine ? Looks like you'd get some funky spine wear.

3/16" thick X 9/8" wide doesn't sound ideal either but I'm not a maker so maybe someone else could advise.

1/7/15- did a shave before going out tonight. I am trying out an idea, working the canvas side of the strop more then usual. Since the blade is so thick and the material is very hard ,I have been doing close to 30 pass on the canvas side instead of the regular 10. I also noticed that I can't rotate on the shank as easily if I was using a classic sized razor. Still shaves smooth and no irritation. On the subject of the strop this thing definitely would benefit from a super wide strop.I'm still waiting for the scale material to come but I did notice that the temp scales I'm using need to be adjusted to accommodate the tail more.

Pretty sure you can buy a bare blade for a lot less than that from Bruno. As mentioned, the spine doesn't look right to me either. Might be worth mentioning to the maker of them. He obviously has the skill, if the geometry issues were corrected he would be on a winner.

ive been meaning to ask what is wrong with the spine ? from what i know all it does is make the cutting angle height and support