Thread: What is your definition of a custom razor?

Originally Posted by feltspanky

So 32T: If you were to contact one of the artisan razor makers (PRC included). Send a hand drawn picture with blade dimensions, scale materials, etc, agree on an final design and price. Would you consider your razor a custom or an off the shelf artisanal razor?

Custom made means made to order, nothing else. I started this thread away from any mention of PRC to avoid my thoughts on their business model.

Originally Posted by Substance

ok what is this classed as:
I ( the maker) take a piece of 25*6*100 bar with no design as in mind
heat & beat the steel to a shape that evolves as I go
then grind & finish this RSO into a razor

is this a custom, an artisan or just a fluke razor ??

it is a 1 off,
it may be similar to another somewhere (manly because nearly every razor shape has probably been made by now)
but is different to all others and unique.

since this is not hypothetical, this is it so far

Attachment 203962Attachment 203963

This is not a Custom razor because it was not made to order.

Nice looking razor!

Originally Posted by edhewitt

Let's take our very own Bruno, I would say that his small run razors would fall into artisinal, even if I were to request a scale option that he didn't usually offer, or even if I purchased an unfinished blade and finished it myself or sent it off to someone to finish.
If i purchased an unfinished blade, changed it significantly and got it finished that might be customized but not really custom.
However if I were to design or even just rough out a razor and have it made by him as a one off then that would be a custom.
I see a lot of posts about custom razors that are really just made up from off the shelf parts, such as Hart razors etc. I don't believe these really are custom, but in the razor world "restoration" can encompass completely changing the look of a razor with sparkly acrylic and mirror finishes etc, so maybe definitions can be less rigid than we are otherwise used to.

I agree. Discussing restoration would open a whole new can of worms. These terms have been broadened so much that they don't mean anything.

So 32T; Why is PRC's business model any different from (for example Brian Brown's business model).

The concept here is custom is an ordering state. It really has nothing to do with quality. I, technically speaking can melt down some old tin cans and forge a razor from it and make some scales made from cardboard and if someone ordered that and I made it for him it's custom. It may be junk but it's custom all the way.

Originally Posted by feltspanky

So 32T; Why is PRC's business model any different from (for example Brian Brown's business model).

Reread post #41

32T: I'm just trying to understand some of the thoughts and reasoning behind some of your post. For instance, why do you consider Charlie Lewis's razors custom productions but not those produced on special customer order from PRC.

I get the feeling you don't like me asking questions about your post. I'll respect your #46 post. Just remember when you make comments in other threads, they may come home to roost an you may be asked to defend them.

Originally Posted by feltspanky

32T: I'm just trying to understand some of the thoughts and reasoning behind some of your post. For instance, why do you consider Charlie Lewis's razors custom productions but not those produced on special customer order from PRC.

I get the feeling you don't like me asking questions about your post. I'll respect your #46 post. Just remember when you make comments in other threads, they may come home to roost and you may be asked to defend them.

reread post #11

Originally Posted by feltspanky

32T: I'm just trying to understand some of the thoughts and reasoning behind some of your post. For instance, why do you consider Charlie Lewis's razors custom productions but not those produced on special customer order from PRC.

I get the feeling you don't like me asking questions about your post. I'll respect your #46 post. Just remember when you make comments in other threads, they may come home to roost and you may be asked to defend them.

I may not agree with you in a previous thread. I moved away before it got into a shouting match. If you would like I will start posting back there........

Would custom be considered made to your specific specs? As opposed to ordering a ready made razor from a "custom" razor maker...which in a sense makes Dovo, TI, RA not custom razor makers, just razor "manufacturers" - that would be my definition - has to be ordered to personal specs??