Thread: What is your definition of a custom razor?

Originally Posted by Utopian

Charlie Lewis, my hero, makes artisanal razors. His own imagination yields his unique and personal designs. He makes what he wants to make, and they are put up for sale for whomever wants to buy them.

Some razor makers are willing to make custom razors, which as I suggested, are created by interactions and communications between the buyer and maker.

I am thinking that I am confusing artiisnal and custom.

Custom then looses its appeal to me.

I think they both hold equal but different appeal. I consider an artisanal razor to be a creation from the imagination of the razor maker. A custom razor is a collaborative creation from the imagination of both the buyer and the maker. Both should yield a unique product.

Hmmm. I have two razors that were made in small numbers, but there are several others that have exactly the same blade. I have one razor that at this point I have never seen another like it. However it was entirely the builders design, I had no input. While the one of that I have is very unique and I had no design input, I still consider it a custom. I also would say the same of Charlies razors. They is is also the joint design between the smith and the end user. Those are without a doubt a true custom with no room for debate. So I guess we half agree. Anything that is not produced in quantities of more than one I consider custom.

So if someone has a custom made for themselves, with lots of input on the design, and then decides to sell it, does it become an artisanal piece that was created by a collaboration of the original owner and the bladesmith and lose it's custom title?

If Charlie makes a custom for himself, and then decides to sell it, is that any different?

So in that respect the title of custom depends on the ownership staying in the hands of the original person who commissioned the work.

Brian Brown had a thread along these lines.

I would say a one of a kind literally with an agreement with the maker to never make the one you had them design. To me that is a true custom. But like PRC and ohters like Bell & Hat and Jerry Stark razors while are not mass produced, they still make several of the same model so I don't necessarily see them as truly a custom.

Back several years ago to give my wife something special for our adoption of our daughter from China I met with a custom jewler in Asheville NC to design a two part/piece necklace pendant in the form of the Yin Yang symbol with apple jade in each piece for my wife and one day my daughter to give to. That was truly a custom piece......one of kind that does not exist anywhere else and was a collaboration of some time between me and the jewler. And then we searched for the best apple jade on the market to use. I have to say, this was not cheap piece to get made. But truly a custom piece.

But that is this man's view on this.

Let me give you an analogy: I have a custom Waterford Bicycle - the frame was handmade in Wisconsin to my specs (and to my measurements). It fits me superbly. If I sold this to someone else, this would no longer be customized to that person. At that point, it's just a bike frame that was handmade in the US --- not customized to the buyer.

Similarly, as people have said here, if the buyer has input in the razor making process, then the razor is a custom razor, otherwise it's an artisanal razor. If the buyer sells his custom razor to someone else, then the new buyer can claim it was custom-made for the original guy ---- that would be accurate, while not downplaying the fact that the razor may be unique in some ways.

I agree with Ron.

If the maker customizes the razor to the buyer's specs them it is a custom razor.

If you buy a blade at Art of Shaving, that is not a custom razor.

You guys are really breaking this down too much IMO. Artisinal vs custom debate is to me like calling the same thing two different names. I just purchased my first custom razor from bruno. I had input on the design, so by the theory listed it truly is custom. However, even if my input was not put into the design, I would still consider it a custom razor. Custom in the sense that no one else can go buy one exactly like it. Another could be made, but they would be like snowflakes. If it's not mass produced in a factory, by a person who makes hundreds a week, it's a custom in my eyes. A razor doesn't have to be customized to a specific individual to be considered "custom" in my eyes. YMMV

I agree with what most here say.

For me there is even a difference between custom and customized.
A custom item comes from ideas from the buyer who goes to a creator to get his ideas created.
A customized item comes from the creator who gives variable options and variations one can choose from.

I also believe that the term custom is wrongfully used to indicate that some items are a bit different from others.

Originally Posted by prodigy

Custom in the sense that no one else can go buy one exactly like it. Another could be made, but they would be like snowflakes.

But in reality due to my work in the criminal field no two hammers off the showroom floor of Lowes Hardware are truly identical even though they were made the same day and under the same batch when held microscopically for analysis for criminal prosecution. So if the maker reproduces the one he made for you to a "T" then I say it is no longer a custom one of a kind. I would have an agreement with the maker to never reproduce this razor again clause if it meant so much to me. I did this with my jeweler on a piece I had made. Now could they go behind my back and do it............yes. Would it be ethical.....no. Would I have a case to pursue in court due to the written agreement, yes. Would it really be worth my time in legal battle.........NO!

Just my 2 cents again.

I think we are really splitting hairs and trying to say an orange is a apple and vice versa. I think if you have a razor you did a few changes to for the maker to implement and your happy.....be excited about it! If someone wants the same thing, remember the addage about flattery!