Thread: Custom straights

Originally Posted by JohnnyK1988

In the market for spending $800~ on an 11/8 custom. Who makes the best custom straights?

Have you shaved with an 11/8? In my opinion, they are ridiculous. They aren't meant to shave with, but just to show everyone "hey, look at what I have". I made a 10/8 and shaved with it a while & ended up taking it down to a 8/8. That's the sweet spot, you can move them around and enjoy the ride...like a Mercedes or Cadillac.

Like mentioned above, do your research on razorsmiths. Big razors like that, there are really only a few who do quality razors of that size.

Is this just a fishing experiment?

Originally Posted by sharptonn

My advise...They pay-up for them and realize this may not be for them.
After a bit, it wears-off. Good deals on customs all the time in the BST.
Do some research if you want to spend that much.

I have had more than a few through my hands...A few are going nowhere.
If we get a good one, it stays. Make sense?
Good ones are hard to come by.

I've actually steered people away from my razors a couple of times, when they were new to this hobby and hadn't even shaved yet. The chances of them accidentally ruining a lot of money is too big, and they might not even like shaving with a straight, in the end.

No, it is not a fishing experiment... I want an obnoxiously large razor. Shoot me? I didn't start on a 5/8 like recommended I started on a 15/16. In doing so I find going down to smaller sizes only makes for more whittling work. Even if I don't shave with it In the long run, my choice of spending 800 or upwards of it for a conversation/center piece is just that. My choice. Simply asking for opinions on who is capable of creating one perhaps better than others within such a budget
Thanks.

I use and shave with a few custom razors from 7/8 8/8 and a 9/8+, I would say 8/8 to be a nice size blade once you are proficient in the use of a straight razor, and as far as custom makers go well there a quite a few out there, more than enough variety and choice to please even the most demanding individual.

Try Gransfors Bruks...

Originally Posted by JohnnyK1988

No, it is not a fishing experiment... I want an obnoxiously large razor. Shoot me? I didn't start on a 5/8 like recommended I started on a 15/16. In doing so I find going down to smaller sizes only makes for more whittling work. Even if I don't shave with it In the long run, my choice of spending 800 or upwards of it for a conversation/center piece is just that. My choice. Simply asking for opinions on who is capable of creating one perhaps better than others within such a budget
Thanks.

That explains all well. I was a bit concerned that you may not have been going into this quest with your eyes wide open. That does happen at times but not in this case. Hope you find what you are looking for.

Bob

Originally Posted by ScottGoodman

Try Gransfors Bruks...

Great Scott,
Just add another temptation for me.... All this talk of custom razors and now you wanna bring this in....

Originally Posted by coachschaller

Great Scott,
Just add another temptation for me.... All this talk of custom razors and now you wanna bring this in....

I did it with mine just to challenge myself. Did it wtg on 3 different axes: Granfors Bruks, Wetterlings, and Husqvarna. All good hand made axes

Originally Posted by JohnnyK1988

No, it is not a fishing experiment... I want an obnoxiously large razor. Shoot me? I didn't start on a 5/8 like recommended I started on a 15/16. In doing so I find going down to smaller sizes only makes for more whittling work. Even if I don't shave with it In the long run, my choice of spending 800 or upwards of it for a conversation/center piece is just that. My choice. Simply asking for opinions on who is capable of creating one perhaps better than others within such a budget
Thanks.

I think you took this the wrong way. People are asking to be helpful. If you just want a big razor as a show piece, there are loads of smiths out there capable of doing that work in your budget that will look cool and open and close fine for you.
However, if you're trying to find someone to do this work to create something that will give a great shave... that's entirely different. As noted before, there's really only a handful of people who can make a razor that large that would be a pleasure to shave with. At least one of which has already given his two cents here...
This may come as a surprise, but if you want something that large that's actually a great shaver, your budget may actually be a little short. But if you shop around and use the advice here you may get one or two good options. Good luck with the search and please do let us know if you decide to have one made! Regardless of who you choose, it will be an interesting and unique blade

It's like learning to drive. You don't start off with a high priced luxury car, a ford is good enough. Once you decide you like shaving with a straight, it really opens the flood gates. I thought I had experienced the best custom razor makers until I got Bruno's Wootz steel razor. I am in a position I can afford to buy these works of art. If I wasn't, I good get by very nicely with a Aust. The old saying "walk before you run" really applies here.