LR Harner Prototype(s)

Here are 2 of the blades Butch (LR Harner) sent me to "Play with :D " They arrived today while at work so I got a nice suprise when I got home. I was expecting a new sujihiki from JCK but I think this was better :)

After getting them unwrapped I looked them over to see what he has done. The green burl mycarta blade is the longer of the two that reminds me of the Boker I sent him to play with while the black mycarta (length wise) reminds me of the DD Dwarf. After that comparisons end :p

As you have seen the black one if wide...

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forged W1 1/4 inch thick spine
G10 with iron wood spacer
stainless stop pin
3/16 folder pivot with phos.bronze washers

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While the green one is more typical in size.

Butch remind me, the green one is cpm154? I didn't see that post right before I started this.

While I haven't played with other customs I can't say how these stack up to whats out there. But compared to vintage feeling blades these feel good. While there is a couple random grind marks on the bodies the edges are flawless.

One note on the black one, as thick as it is the bolster seems a bit larger than I think it needs to be. While the green one is pretty good. Over all his grinds seem to be a spot on.

On a whim I did a HHT just to see where the edge was. To my suprise they both cut the hair. So all I did was strop and prep for the shave test. I only shaved with one tonight and I'll shave with the other next shave.

While I was a bit nervous with the shear thickness of the spine it only took a few strokes to get the hang of it. Balance didn't seem to be an issue. I didn't feel the blade wanting to pitch about at all. So even though it's stout it doesn't seem unweildy.

The shortness of the blade vs the thickness of the spine really makes this one a mental mind trip, but the shave was FANTASTIC. So I can pass the oddity of it, for that kind of shave.

This was only day one and I haven't even contacted Butch yet so I need to get with him to let him know they made it. I think he'll guess the rest when he sees this :D

Very respectable
I definitely like the look of the green one better,
The tail looks too thick to me, but if He's putting out shave ready razors, He's doing very well...
I look forward to seeing what he comes up with in the future.

well the boker was the pattern i used for the cpm154 /green burl razor

so 3/16 thick spine is about where i want to be? 1/4 is just a bit much

the black G10 is a little more finished so far as handle work the green was just to see if i could make a razor shaped object
things to ask
rounded spine?
saw a thinner tail thats no problem

how bout the non tapered scales how big a deal is that
i have a stop pin in there so the blade can not pass through but so far as handling the razor in use
is the taper a benny or just for looks or tradition

Nice work Ilike them both now I just have to save a while.Paul

the tapered scales is for looks comfort and balance... It's one of those form and function things...
But I wouldn't worry about scales right now if I were you, your blades look decent, not spectacular, but far better than I could do. :D
I would say concentrate of refining your blade design and get a few sets of premade scales...
It sounds like you made some good shavers, once you get your blades looking as good as they shave then look into making some nice scales.

+1 for the green one. Very smooth looking.

One note on the non-tapered scale, thats a huge hole under there, posable edge damage from something bumping in to it.

Shaved with the green one with cpm154 steel tonight, part ways anyway...

I think stainless steel (choke) just doesn't like me much. Knowing the steel would need alot more stropping to get to shave ready I went ahead and did about 60 strokes. This was still not nearly enough for a good shave. The cheaks where ok with light pulling but the chin area was why to tough for that edge. So I ended up finishing the shave with the black on with W1 carbon steel. Still a great edge on it.

Machanically the green one feels good and has very nice balance. It's got a long blade so some care is needed there :p No problem with the scales or the size of the blade, just needs a better edge. I'll see what happens after a good hone job.

Oh ya and as far as SS not liking me... this bugger bit me twice... the curr...

i wasn't overly happy about the honing i did on the SS blade
i then read more about how to do it and talked with a few people before i tried the W1
so this all is helpful to me getting better next razor will be better yet
are there pass arounds here like over at the kitchen knife forum?

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Originally Posted by L R Harner

are there pass arounds here like over at the kitchen knife forum?

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If you do that, I'm in! Would love to try your creation. Looks like a terrific effort!

Ken

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Originally Posted by kbuzbee

If you do that, I'm in! Would love to try your creation. Looks like a terrific effort!

Ken

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I'd be interested in that also.

Hey there Butch,
I definitely like the looks of the black razor. It looks to me to be a very solid, no-nonsense shaver.
Kurt

Yup... SOLID is the word for it :D The scales are good feeling so keep up on the designs :p

Tomorow I'll see what I can do on the green cpm154. (if my stones get the kooties....)

I'll give your razors a whirl... pass them over to Brooklyn...

Well I honed up the green one... yup stainless (sneeze) hates me, took about half an hour to get it set right. The spine to bevel set just fine on the stone, nice and flat.

Going to shave tonight and see if I whooped that bugger :p

thanks DC im sure ididnt do well on the honing of that now that i know better

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Originally Posted by L R Harner

thanks DC im sure ididnt do well on the honing of that now that i know better

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The hone job was not really that bad, I was more interested in seeing that the spine to edge angle was flat all the way across. It was flat and honed up well enough. Just as I expected from stainless (itch) it was a bear to get sharp... unfortunatly I need to the stones again as I didn't quite get the bevel set all the way across... seems I missed a hairline here and there... frigging stainless steel hates me....

well at least it didn't bit you
least not bad enough to bring it up;)
im looking for the right high carbon in the right size to order
looks like W1 W2 or 52100 will be the picks there if someone wanted stainless i know where i can get cpm154

any new updates DC

Nice work! They sure look better than my first bunch of razors!:)

Sorry for the delay... work has been insane... to say the least :p

Today has been spent surfing shaving goodies and bought more TGQ's goodness... can't resist that desert ironwood :D

I'm going to hone up the black one just to see how it feels on my stones. Being a friendly kind of steel I don't see any problems comming.

I played with the green one again and it seems to have it out for me... I'll give it another round of the stones and see if we can come to some common ground, if not I'll just have to call it and never trust another high chromium blade :p Not that they like me to beguin with HAHA

I'm also setting up some vacation time, going out to the ranch to work on scales and such... bookshelf as well... books are taking over the dining room...