Thread: Wade and Butcher Irontusk

Hello all.

I got a notice through the W&B Facebook page that was quite tantalizing. The new Wade and Butcher "Irontusk" looks to be on the horizon! Pre orders are apparently in 2017. I'm really looking forward to this. To have a W&B that I don't have to restore will be something of a treat.

So, I just wanted to open up a discussion. What do y'all think it will be like? Of course expectations are high, but what would make this new blade worthy of the name? Also, any speculation of the size, grind, scale material and shape of the blade (spoiler alert, the FB page shows the tang)? And of course $$$?

Thoughts? Any insider info would be appreciated

Based on what sells for the most on ebay and the grail thread I would have to speculate they would kill mimicking the ottoman Egyptian and royal windsor, or otherwise the for barbers use. Hopefully rams horn or at least horn scales to channel the heritage. Rigarazor has been selling a lot of razors that resemble the ottoman, he's got the idea, but they're not stamped wade and butcher.

Originally Posted by rickpalisoc

Hello all.



So, I just wanted to open up a discussion. What do y'all think it will be like? Of course expectations are high,

Thoughts? Any insider info would be appreciated

People opinion found on this thread: http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...-comeback.html

Not much to go on.Looks like they will reveal it a inch at a time. http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...ml#post1662966

Originally Posted by wvuhillbilly

Not much to go on.Looks like they will reveal it a inch at a time. http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...ml#post1662966

So, you're confirming it's an 8/8? .... Lol.

I would love it to be an Ottoman Egyptian and Royal Windsor-esque, but really I'd be happy with anything as long as the shave is amazing. Interesting take on the 'tusk' aspect though.

JMO
Powdered metal is a process that will give a good homogeneous steel to temper... but the process is very exacting and can be faulted. The advantage is that the preform can be made to near net shape requiring only a little grinding to finish. In this case, probably on automatic abrasive belt equipment.
~Richard

Yeah, I am not sure how I feel about the two proposed steels mentioned on their social media . I suppose I will take the wait and see approach rather than jump on the bandwagon.http://damasteel.se/files/3514/5986/...rned_Steel.pdf and http://damasteel.se/files/9614/5986/...heet_RWL34.pdf

the only experience I've had with PM steel is from my Lee Valley plane irons. I like them, and find they retain the edge considerably longer, but initially found them a little finicky in creating a burr. With that said, its for woodworking and not shaving.

I'm also on the fence about the damasteel. I love the look but, there is a part of me that feels that the look of a W&B should be traditional. I'm glad to see that they are offering three options, with one being mirror polished. ..... SO EXCITED!

I'm still not sold. I'm not keen on messing with history and new people taking over storied brands. I know its a marketing cash grab and they may very well put out a great product but the whole thing sort of rubs me wrong. At least with TI they never actually stopped production.

Not the traditional method of making a razor that's for sure. The powdered metal pours just like water. It is place in a die and compacted under up to 100's of tons of force in a piece of equipment called a compacting press. The razor will have the near finished shape and dimensions of the razor but very fragile at this point. You can break it in your hands, If you drop it. It will break like a piece of glass. Next it goes to a sintering furnace where the hardening will take place. Over 2000 degrees F. and gradually cooling down till it comes out the exit side of the furnace a hardened piece of steel. From there it may go to a sizing press where the blade would be place in a die and forced down into the die under up to 100 of tons of force and when ejected from the die it is very close to finished dimensions. Hardness will also have changed some. From there on to the grinding process. This type of equipment is very expensive and sintering furnaces cost a lot of money to run. Capital investment for a press can easily exceed 1 million dollars. The advantage to all of this is you can turn out huge quantities of product very quickly.
I worked as a manufacturing supervisor in a powdered metal factory for 14 years. I think I'm too much of a traditionalist to buy a razor made from powdered metal.