Thread: Who would you recommend for custom straight?

Ok... so you want a fine custom. but you don't want to try different types because you'll adapt to whatever some TRUE artist come up with. (by the way that's kind of like saying give me a Rolls Silvercloud or give me a Countach I don't care, I'll adapt). Money is no object.

Fine we got the requirements. Frank Warner, Butch Harner, Mastro Livi, Bill Ellis, Robert Williams, Josh Earl, Joe Chandler. Send them all an email saying "I would like to commission a custom razor. I don't have a preference. Do whatever YOU would really like to create. Tell me what the deposit is you require." Send a check to the first one that responds.

...and quit wasting our time. I'm sorry but you haven't made it out of 100% pure troll status with me.
Show us pics of your new custom razor and we'll all drool over it with you. You'll be a god around here.

Just took a look at Classic Shaving's website. They have some mighty fine looking Zowada's in stock here.

CS has one less of the 7/8 ebony scaled razors - it arrived in Nova Scotia today and will be tried out tonight. That makes three Zowada's that I have and I love them!

Chris

If money is no object, Jim, I would do the following: buy a nice vintage or new razor of each size and grind, have it professionaly honed, try them out for a couple of months and decide what it is that you really like. Maybe it's a 5/8 wedge; maybe a 8/8 hollow grind. Find what suits you. The Feather, being a good razor is not very flexible (as most disposable blade straights are) and flexibility is a very important issue in a non-disposable straight razor. I for instance, have mostly hollow groud razors and all are about the same size. However each and every one of them have a different feel and personality and despite the similar sizes and grinds, all give me different shaving experiences. That is something that you might be lacking because you've been using mostly one razor, no matter what razor it is. Therefore I supose that you don't know the difference between sizes and grinds, therefore not knowing what your fancy really is. Sure, one can always adapt... but I, for one, would hate to have to adapt to a thing that costed me a bunch of money and with which I am "stuck" to. That's a bummer in my book...
Once you really know what you like - for sure - you can sell the "try out" the razors you bought. Someone will buy them. You can fund the custom and be sure that what you choose or design yourself is exactly what you want. I know, I know... this is not what you wanted to hear, but since we are all friends... there's an old saying in my country that goes as follows "he who warns you is your friend..." And if you want one razor to be a lifetime piece and some sort of heiloom, what is a year or two to decide what you want?

That said, back to topic: you said that money is no object. That is great; it gives you a lot of space to decide. If I were in your position I would order not one but a set of two matching razors, custom made. That is both practical and valuable. You would need two razors anyway, I guess... and that constitutes a plus in both value and heirloom-ity (that is not a word...). My choice would be, at this precise moment, a Mastro Livi. I guess... There are plenty of razor-smiths out there that would, for sure, create a masterpiece for you. But my personal choice would be a set of two razors, mathing exactly or having, each one, a distinct set of features but with a classic look. I would stay away from any "spacey" feature, snake-like appearence or whatever. I'd want a spike point, 6/8, carbon steel (maybe damascus steel) with real tortoise scales. Each one of the two would have some distinct feature. And I'd like to have them in a nice, small size, elegant box made for them. But that's me...

Good luck and take care!

Fp, yes alas you are correct. My impatient nature can sometimes be unreasonable. However reponses by you and others had convinced me to get a couple different designs to try, as by the time I got back here to read the responses I already had several on order. However, I am still going to be moving forward with Tim Z. It will take time and I will be working with a master so I am sure that he will have great advice as well. But I like the responses I am getting because things that are important to some are not to me, but some that I hadn't considered are getting re consideration, so this is good. I know that everything can be found on this board by search, but that would not be any fun now would it? And it is always good to refresh opinions.

Anybody want to take me up on my Feather Club contest? I chopped my face good yesterday on a new blade, but only a few nicks this time. I am thinking that soon I will be getting a sponsorship from Feather and traveling the world, and I will only have one or two pieces of toilet paper stuck to my face when I have to meet a new Head of State! The Japanese are going to be SOOoo Lucky! I would love to see the person's technique that can do at least a two pass shave with it on a new blade with no cuts. I am sure that there are many, but there is just no vid on those blades. That is an unforgiving edge.

Originally Posted by JGUNS

Fp, yes alas you are correct. My impatient nature can sometimes be unreasonable. However reponses by you and others had convinced me to get a couple different designs to try, as by the time I got back here to read the responses I already had several on order. However, I am still going to be moving forward with Tim Z. It will take time and I will be working with a master so I am sure that he will have great advice as well. But I like the responses I am getting because things that are important to some are not to me, but some that I hadn't considered are getting re consideration, so this is good. I know that everything can be found on this board by search, but that would not be any fun now would it? And it is always good to refresh opinions.

Anybody want to take me up on my Feather Club contest? I chopped my face good yesterday on a new blade, but only a few nicks this time. I am thinking that soon I will be getting a sponsorship from Feather and traveling the world, and I will only have one or two pieces of toilet paper stuck to my face when I have to meet a new Head of State! The Japanese are going to be SOOoo Lucky! I would love to see the person's technique that can do at least a two pass shave with it on a new blade with no cuts. I am sure that there are many, but there is just no vid on those blades. That is an unforgiving edge.

I can just imagine us all making videos for YouTube. Standing at the sink; wearing shirts with logo patches and looking like NASCAR drivers. Hey, why not? Don, would SRD like to sponsor me?

Jordan