Thread: razor shape/designe

Hi All

I am going to have a straight razor made to me, ,but what shape/designe is best to have for the first razor? A "normal"razor shape or a Japanese styled one?

A 8/8 blade or bigger, like 10/8? Round tip and short blade? Barbers point? It is so hard to make up my mind, so, I need all the help I can get.

best regards

vegard_dino

I like the idea of having one made for you as the first razor.

But I think you should at least try using several different types of razors before you make the investment. There are so many types of hair and shapes of faces that it's hard to pick out a size/shape of razor without using one.


What if you plunk down 400+( on the low side) dollars for a custom razor and you don't like it ? I guess you can give it to me I like a 7/8 round point full hollow carbon blade with scrimshawed ivory handles. Like this one
http://custom.straightedgerazors.com...aw_7%2F8_round

But for the time being, any shave ready razor 5/8 and bigger is good for me.

That's good advice don't wind up with a custom that you will never want to use. decide what styles you like by buying some more modest razors and then invest your money.

Forget about japanese styled razors no one will make those for you anyway.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

That's good advice don't wind up with a custom that you will never want to use. decide what styles you like by buying some more modest razors and then invest your money.

Forget about japanese styled razors no one will make those for you anyway.

Agreed, best to start out with something readily available. And I would recommend against staring out with an 8/8 and surely not higher, because they are a bit trickier than 6/8s or 7/8s (and generally cost alot more).

Seems strange that none of the resident bladesmiths would make a japanese styled razor. My (still limited, but sufficient) experience with bladesmithing would lead me to think they would be easier to make. I don't (as of yet) dabble in Japanese cutlery, so I cant say for sure, but it would seem to be a simpler item all around.

The asymmetrical blade is very difficult to fabricate. Also if your going to really try and duplicate the traditional blade it would be layered steel and there aren't too many custom makers with that kind of skill. Remember Tosuke and Iwasaki were almost legendary blade makers in Japan. There aren't very many people like that in this country. If you were to try and do it with stainless of plain carbon steel I'm not sure what kind of result you would get. besides, is there really that much interest in that type of razor in this country? maybe you can convince Zowada to do one for you.

Well, I don't intend to talk anyone into making one for myself, I was just noting that it is seems strange so few try to make them.

As far as the blacksmithing skills required, surprising as it may be, the same quality of materials are fairly easy to obtain, and there are probably close to 100 men and women in America that are up to the task. The ABS (American Bladesmith Society) has some pretty stringent policies and rigid requirements that have to be met before a person can receive a "Mastersmith" title. Included in those requirements are: demonstrating that you can forge a blade of pattern welded damascus steel of 300 or more layers (whereas the traditional japanese razor and most japanese cutlery is 2 or 3 layers), the blade must be sharp enough to cut a hanging rope of 1 inch diameter with a single swing and then tough enough to chop through two 2x4s consecutively. After that, the blade must still be sharp enough to shave hair (not like a razor, but shaving any hair after such abuse is quite a feat). And if that weren't bad enough, the blade is then clamped in a vice and bent 90 degrees, and if it breaks you fail. There are close to 100 Mastersmiths registered with the ABS, and many more individuals with comparable skills, just no desire to be given a formal title.

I'm not saying that what the Japanese masters do is easy, rest assured it is not. I just mean to point out that there are many qualified individuals that could make an item of similar if not equal quality.

Wow! I'm pretty sure that I can take "become a Mastersmith" off of my bucket list.

Yeah, I would love to set that as a goal for myself, but for now bladesmithing is an enjoyable hobby, and the dedication required to reach that level of performance is staggering. While the underlying principles are easy to grasp, it's far more of an art than a science and one that requires a ton of patience at that.

A man can dream though.

Being left handed I'd like a backwards bevel or a symetrical edge.
I may have to put a feather on my list just to find out.

There is a spot on my neck that is brutal with a traditional straigth.

-Bob