Thread: Wade and Butcher Irontusk

Originally Posted by MichaelC

Can you imagine trying to form the razor into near-net-shape using expensive dies etc. That is quite a crazy assumption an earlier poster jumped to...

No, we simply receive the strip steel from Damasteel and grind away everything that isn't a straight razor, then heat-treat and finish-grind and polish..

These are high-end handcrafted precision shaving implements after all - not pre-formed items of cheap jewellery

To be honest I don't see much difference between a near net shape form and stock removal of PM steel, the process to make the steel itself is still the same. I would consider them equally precise methods, as near-net-shape processes will require some final grinding at the end as well. (and I'm not sure about the knife/razor maker world, but to anyone who has experience/a degree in metallurgy, PM does come with the general assumption of near-net-shape operations, as that is what it was originally advantageous for). Densification should be the same (near 100%) as it looks like Damasteel uses hot isostatic pressing to make their stock.

Forging the pieces is another story and achieves a different microstructure - see picture below. Though honestly I'm not sure how much the stronger grain structure of forging would be advantageous in a razor application.