Thread: Mastro Livi... Is it just me?

Joking aside I'm sorry to hear that...

“Attached is a custom razor he made for me that is Damascus, with bone scales”


That looks like horn, not bone. I have rescaled several razors in horn just like that. Hope it was not sold as bone.

Nice pattern welded blade, but always found the shape of his razors and scales a bit off.

Bottom razor is one I am rescaling in the photo.

Well, I got one in to hone today and it went .... normally. I set the bevel with a layer of Scotch 700 since it had been honed with electrical tape, on a Shapton Glass HR 4k, then Shapton HC 6k then jnat+tomo. Seems fine. Test shave in the morning.

I don't like to be contrary, and maybe my experience is different as my Livis are all older. I have nine of them, the last bought in 2006. There was a tenth, but I gave it to a nephew. The oldest dates back to the time he used rivets rather than torx screws, and my fascination began because they are big razors and yet are very light. All of mine are Damasteel in the Bluetongue pattern. None have had any issues, and all are pleasant shavers, though not always the easiest to hone. That Damasteel is rubbery stuff, but when you get it sharp it stays that way for months.

I'm sad to hear that quality may have suffered later on, but the poor fellow was getting on. I hope he has survived Italy's recent trying times.

I know that beauty is in the eye of the beholder - some people like stuff I don't and vice versa.

I have experience with some Livi razors but like drmoss they're from ten years ago or so.

I can't say whether the quality has changed, but I know that that theory was actively promoted behind the scenes by a former business associate of his after their relationship soured. I don't know who is wrong and who is right but it was certainly wrong to attempt to use this forum in such way.
Thankfully that's in the past with the offending member deciding to take his ball elsewhere.

I have posted pictures of my latest Livi razor showing how the blade was misaligned with the scales, almost touching them and requiring more attention when closing than properly constructed razor. I resold it for significant discount and the new owner was very happy with it.
I will also say that I have a single 7/8+ razor that I enjoy using and that is Livi. I prefer smaller widths ~6/8 and the Livi is certainly the next size, but for whatever reason it really handles differently than any other large razor I have and as I said is the only one I enjoy using as much as my preferred size. Its style is more 'rustic flare' than 'precision', which works for me for that razor, but this is really matter of personal taste. No functional issues on the grind and it was well honed back then.

So, I guess in many ways my experience parallels the one of drmoss.

I had this made and it is carbon steel with stag scales. I originally asked for 6/8 but Maestro Livi emailed me and said in order to keep the proper balance he prefers to make it 7/8. This is a very big razor but he was correct, when I am shaving with it, it feels like a smaller razor. Holds a great edge. Just takes some getting used to handling a razor this big.

The one that I got in for honing was well made except that the stabilizer went to the edge and a small heel hook was forming. This is not a big deal if you know how to deal with it, and many brands have the same problem. Otherwise, it was a good razor as far as I could tell, the fit and finish were fine. It is of the vintage when he used torx screws instead of pins. I wouldn’t pay what the razor probably sold for new, but others might, it is a unique and handsome razor.

Originally Posted by Steve56

It is of the vintage when he used torx screws instead of pins.

They one I posted with the bad geometry had a pivot pin only with a glued wedge. On the tang was written "34" after his initials, so I assume it was the 34th razor he made. Not sure if that means it was older or younger. I know I bought it used in late summer of 2015.

It is probably rwl34 steel. It's probably more the reason for your troubles vs the variance front to back. That stuff fights you.

Originally Posted by kcb5150

It is probably rwl34 steel. It's probably more the reason for your troubles vs the variance front to back. That stuff fights you.

AH, yes! Looking at the pics I have, I thought it was saying MRL assuming it was Livi's initials (which is odd since his name was on the other side of the tang). But yes, indeed... it says RWL 34.