Thread: So what is a custom razor?

If I had to define it:

"The collaboration between customer and craftsman in the execution of design elements to produce a unique piece specially for the customer, with particular importance placed on the creation of the blade"

What this means to me, in a nutshell:

-Being in communication with the craftsman is essential. (can't be a custom if you didn't have any say in the design)
-The blade has to be ground from scratch. (ie You take a piece of steel and grind away anything that doesn't look like a razor)

For inquiring minds, I would NOT consider the following to be custom:

-Buying "off the rack" (ie a TZ or Livi from classicshaving, or a JC from Lynn...these are high-end or handmade)
-Rescaling (this makes a razor "customized"...big difference)
-Regrinding (this makes a razor "restored"...big difference)
-Grinding a razor blank (makes a razor "finished"...sorry Livi)
-Spinework to an existing blade (again being customized)
-Buying someone elses custom razor! (I don't care if you paid $1200 for it, if you got it off eBay or BST, it ain't custom)

Let's break it down a little further:

You have to talk with the craftsman and say "This is what I want!" and he makes it for you. Done deal

If a maker makes a blade for his own purposes, yup it's a custom...until he sells it to someone, at which point it becomes handmade.

Those are just my thoughts