Thread: Question About Price of Straight Razors

Originally Posted by AKwildman

One thing that separates a custom from a mass produces blade whether razor or knife is the fact that every step on a custom there is a high degree of control were as on a mass produced product quality control is sketchy at best.On a hand made custom the heat treat and tempering is precise and carefully done .

Well, I'd go yes and no on that. It should by all accounts be so though. WRT heat treating and tempering I'd guess by mid 20th Century, at least, those processes were well controlled in mass produced razors. The thing that has slipped is the QC in most modern production items. A rigorous QC regimen runs counter to production numbers and profit now in mass produced items.

Bob

That's true Bob on QC but the heat treat on custom blades is very controlled and usually no more then 4 at a time,myself I don't do more then 2 at a time in the hardening stage,in mass production they shove as many in as possible and you have some blades getting a little hotter due to being closer to the heating elements.

And let's not forget the supply and demand factor. If 2 guys are wanting the same razor the seller may not be able to get as much as if the same razor was drooled over by 100 guys :<0) All the previous factors stated will influence this of course. Quality wins in my book. You can feel it, you can see it.

Originally Posted by AKwildman

That's true Bob on QC but the heat treat on custom blades is very controlled and usually no more then 4 at a time,myself I don't do more then 2 at a time in the hardening stage,in mass production they shove as many in as possible and you have some blades getting a little hotter due to being closer to the heating elements.

Totally disagree, in mass razor production manufacturing there was people doing razors in stages, forging, grinding,hardening, scale making, honing,etc and highly trained. A custom maker has to do it all by himself most of the time.
Not to take anything from the custom makers at all, but in the end you dont get a better shave because its a custom made razor.

Originally Posted by AKwildman

That's true Bob on QC but the heat treat on custom blades is very controlled and usually no more then 4 at a time,myself I don't do more then 2 at a time in the hardening stage,in mass production they shove as many in as possible and you have some blades getting a little hotter due to being closer to the heating elements.

Yea, that is true about better control with customs but then again that is extremely rigorous QC at work. OTH I have razors going back to around the mid 1800s up to one modern Revisor and none have failed to take an edge and maintain that edge for a reasonable time. So to me the metal alloy used and the heat treating and tempering were more than adequate for the job of daily shaving.

Bob