Are there any thoughts on Jerry Stark razors?
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Are there any thoughts on Jerry Stark razors?
Had to look them up. Be interesting to see if there are any users here and their experience with them.
Personally and just from looking they are not too appealing to me as I like more traditional looks. They also appear from the photos to be mostly heavier than full hollow ground but can't really be sure on that.
Bob
I had to look them up to.
His website is here: Home
I like his choice of steels and he has he will buy it back if you don't like it.
I'd be interested in hearing more about it from someone who owns one.
Never heard of 'em until just now. We'll just have to see if someone on here gets one & tells about it.
The only place I have seen them was on TSS web site. I have looked at them but there is something that just does not click with me on them. Not saying they may not be a great razor......just something to me I am in the dislike of. Can't put my finger on it exactly.
Looks good... the thickness is not apparent... maybe the appearance first thing is too strong...
At least when his close... the heel doesnt stick out the bottom of the scales like some other "razors" I recently saw... i asked the knife maker how does he get his stainless razor's sharp enough... he said i don't... nobody uses them anymore they just collect them...
Yea, knife making and knife sharpening are much different from SR making and sharpening. You can run into real problems when a knife maker starts making SRs thinking they are just a funny shaped knife. That would make me hesitate to buy a razor from someone new to it coming from a knife making background.
Bob
At least i shave with the rso i made... but i am slowly cottoning onto the fact that i may just be better with kitchen knives
I am not saying that a skilled knife maker can not make a good razor, many do, it is just that if they initially approach the making of a SR with that attitude that it just a different shaped knife you could wind up with geometry issues for a start. I'd hate to pay good money for a custom razor only to find that the geometry is wonky.
Also have seen a lot of posts from newbies with experience sharpening knives take for granted that honing a SR will be a piece of cake because of that experience. Lots have come back asking why they can't get a comfortable shaving edge.
Razors and knives are similar but it is in the details that they are different. If that is not fully appreciated it leads to trouble.
Bob
Agreed... i can get a easy to shave hairs off my arms edge with 15deg per side... not so easy to do with 8 deg per side...so am surely still folding edges over...
Late to the party. I bought one and have about 50 shaves on it. Reminds me of the old big Le Grelots shave wise. Easy to hone and keeps an edge. Whether they are aesthetically your thing is YMMV
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I have used this Jerry Stark razor for 5 weeks now and just love it. It is in D2, 7/8 wide and has a very functional and comfortable non slip G10 handle (especially for my large hands).
I have been shaving for almost 50 years, and my all time favorite razors have been a Joseph Elliot 7/8 hollow, and a Joseph Rodgers and Sons 7/8 smiley face wedge. But, this D2 keeps a great edge for a much longer time than either of those, and it gives a very comfortable and reliable shave. It took some work to touch up the edge to get to HHT 4/5, but once there, it has kept that level of sharpness for a very ling time, much longer than any other razor that I ever used from any source (over a dozen SR8s, including the modern Feather straight, and a dozen of the highest rated Double edge safety razor blades.)
This Stark razor is so good that I am going to be selling several others that I no longer need, and if I buy another straight, it will be another Jerry Stark. What more can I say than that?
Nice to hear from actual users. That's a good looking razor
On his site it says he will buy it back for what you paid if you don't like it. That's a hell of a statement. May be worth a look.
One would not expect D2 to make good razor steel... interesting...
I had some concerns about the D2 as well. Only very few D2 knives that I had from many makers in the past were able to take and keep the kind of edge that makes me giggle (a Queen Trapper was one of those few.) But, based on the reviews, I decided to give it a try. It does work just fine. Must be Jerry's particular cyro and heat-treat that does the trick.
Wid posted: "Nice to hear from actual users. That's a good looking razor."
Thanks Wid. Jerry let me custom order just what I wanted in blade style handle material. The combo works really well.
Well there are the carbides that are larger than the edge width we are reportedly after... and the retained austenite that can get out of hand which is important for thin edges, he might be ising the particle metallurgical version of d2 which might help, or he is just using it at a hardness where you dont get carbide tearout... either way he knows his stuff if he can get a razor edge from d2
I know at first I posted I saw nothing that tickled my fancy of JS razors. Well, I take that back for I found and am ordering one of his razors in a Micarta scale material. I contacted Jerry direct about his razors and like those here have said, he stands behind them. I am going to take a plunge and see what happens.
Will post up when it gets here and after the first shave to give initial impressions. I will update as well as to how it holds an edge overall but that will be sometime of course.
Mine are carbon. The oldest has 50 shaves and still shaves great. Have not had to touch it up yet. The OOB edge was very good. I felt no need to take it to the stones. Easily passed the HHT and tree topped arm hair
I will take an slightly OT position on this as it seems the OP has made up his mind.
I feel generally that it is very difficult to improve on what has been done with straight razors in the past. I do think metallurgy is one area where there might be room for improvement. But design? So the conundrum for makers...hey, look at me or death to creativity by full on imitation.
Plenty of people feel otherwise and that is how it should be.
But I find myself looking at modern creations saying things like...why spikes all around, the tang is hellishly beefy, the tail is too thick, the scale materials are vacuous....I guess I'll go all in: The vintage razor is dead. Long live the vintage razor. IMHO....YMMV...and, keep evolving the craft.
I agree with WW on the basic design of the blade is maybe as refined as it gets or needs. I do like seeing new scale options. I am not a fan of those crazy medieval looking custom jobbies one bit. I like traditional looks to a blade itself.
One thing I have to say after looking at his razors is that they are very nice looking and it looks like he put a fair amount of work and skill behind each one. I know my 2 cents does not mean much since I have been a SR shaver for a whole 2 months. The thing I really notice is that he does not really charge a whole lot for his work pieces. I would think 3 or 4 houndred for a custom razor is not a whole lot of money. Just something to think about.
I agree and while I see some bevel edges under the magnification that seems uneven on some; I also see that with a few of my German beauties as well. I am willing to try it out and see and now like I stated I found one that appeals to me, I am going to give JS a try. Not sure about micarta scales however but time will tell. I assume he would not use the material if it was not robust. The material under magnification reminds me of when I was in a aerospace program at school and we built a small single engine experimental plane and built the fuselage and wings out of layered fabric material that we coated and dipped with a liquid chemical that would make it harden to that of like fiberglass consistency.
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Thus one is on the way to me, nice guy to deal with I,m sure the razor will be of great quality and to be fair a very reasonable price
Gary
Micarta is very durable... that razor looks good.
I met Jerry quite accidently while travelling cross country. I stopped into the Knife City Outlet in Arizona after much begging from my sons. I was surprised to see a razor on display there from a small American company (no longer in business) and inquired about it. The gentleman, Jerry, informed me he was the one who made the razors for that company. They parted ways and he struck off on his own. After about an hour of speaking with him I bought razors for the two sons who were with me and another for my oldest son in California who we were on our way to visit. While I was there I asked if he could put Micarta scales on our Dovo Bismarck razors as all they had was the faux mother of pearl ones. What he did was amazing.
Fast forward a few months. The razor I had bought from the defunct company tarnished for some reason - I keep it in an airtight enclosure in gun cloth so it is a mystery why it happened. I contacted Jerry, he offered to fix or replace it. I received it back about two weeks later looking like brand new.
Okay, service was superior. How does it shave? Better than my Dovo or my 40 yo stainless Henckels. It is a bit heavier but is easier to use and gives a better shave than either of the others but I think this is a good thing. This is independently confirmed by my 20 yo son who is home from college. He likes Jerry's razor better. It has less drag, shaves closer, and nicks less.
I started my 16 yo son on a similar razor. No blood bath when he is done. My Dovo is only a few years old but it took me awhile to get used to it, it did not shave any better than my Henckels - razor burn, nicks, etc.
He tells me he is now hand forging his own blades.... Razor number 4 may soon be purchased. No regrets, excellent product, superior service.
I found Jerry when I was looking for someone who could help me make some steampunk scales for my first razor, and that evolved into planning a whole custom razor from the ground up. I passed his info onto the person who may or may not be getting me the razor for Christmas, but even if I have to wait until the New Year and buy it myself I am excited to be getting something from him. At one point he even offered to send me one of his razors to use while he rescaled mine, before I decided to go the custom route. From all I read, both from him and from others, he seems to be a top notch vendor.
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I have a couple Jerry Stark razors. They are indeed one of the most meticulously crafted razors I have ever seen. They are easily as finely made as my Zowada (which is kind of the Gold Standard in quality razors). His "extra hollow" grind is interesting. It affords its user a good, close shave for sure. I'll be re-doing the original edge sooner than later; plan on using a coticule as that is my hone of choice. Should prove interesting.
Oh, and Jerry himself?? He is a true gentleman and a real pleasure with whom to do business. He's surely someone to consider when the time comes to perhaps buy a new razor. Doubt you will be disappointed.
Took another trip out west. This time Jerry was a destination. I ordered a custom from him, we emailed back and forth, he sent pictures of the work in progress. It is a 7/8 Spanish point D2 steel blade with G10 scales. It is now number 4 in my collection (Henckel's stainless, Dovo Bismarck 6/8, and a Bell and Hat 6/8). This is the best of the bunch. The Bell and Hat was my favorite. This shaves nicer, smoother, much less drag - and I thought the Bell and Hat had less drag than the Dovo. The first shave was a little awkward owing to the increase in size, getting used to such a different type of blade, etc., but the second shave was great. It glides across my face and I don't have to make as hard of a second pass as I used to with some of my other razors (I make a second pass just because I can, it makes me feel alive. Isn't this why we do this anyway?). All in all, it is a pleasure to deal with Jerry, who delivered it to me himself. He makes a superior product and stands by his work. Thank you.
Dan Peters
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Just received my new Jerry Stark yesterday and used it for the first time this morning. All I can say is that
it is simply magnificent! It is a 7/8 using 52100 steel and is quite "hefty" (75 grams). Ebony wood scales.
To say I am pleased with it would be a gross understatement!! Here's a picture (from Jerry's website):
http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/...ps22xsjyfm.jpg
I contacted Jerry and also found him to be very nice to work with. I told him I am not a big fan of the thumb notch having 2 Austs with them. He sent me another design which I really like. He has some very interesting scale material. One is made of birch wood which looks fantastic. I got a Mastro Livi coming with Poplar which I think is really sharp but the birch just looks perfect. In next 2 weeks I will order the razor and once I get it I will post a picture and review. I admit, I am sucker for American Craftsman even though they are hard to find. By the way I think his pricing is very good.
Got my razor and I wanted something simple. Observations: The grind from the tip to the tail is heavier then most razors. Jerry has a real quality product that feels good in the hand and gives a great shave. After shaving with the razor, I wanted a change and contacted Jerry. He is a true gentleman to deal with. Told me to send it back with no argument and we agreed on what needed to be done. I will definitely buy from him again.By the way, the birch scales are amazing and unique.Attachment 244350Attachment 244351
What do you mean when you say the grind from tip to tail is heavier than most razors and what were the changes you requested? That is one pretty razor!
QUOTE=jkatzman;1662371]Got my razor and I wanted something simple. Observations: The grind from the tip to the tail is heavier then most razors. Jerry has a real quality product that feels good in the hand and gives a great shave. After shaving with the razor, I wanted a change and contacted Jerry. He is a true gentleman to deal with. Told me to send it back with no argument and we agreed on what needed to be done. I will definitely buy from him again.By the way, the birch scales are amazing and unique.Attachment 244350Attachment 244351[/QUOTE]
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I have 1 Stark and another on the way. It is a great shaver and Jerry is a pleasure to deal with.