Thread: Custom razor on the web

Hi.

just wondering whether anyone else has seen this

Darrel Ralph Custom Straight Razor::Straight Razor::CPM S30V:: Custom Straight Razor::

don't know where it's listed (stumbled on it on google) but it seems he does a
wide range of custom products/designs.

could be worth a look.

Sure is pretty to look at.And expensive.He is a knifemaker,just not sure about his razors.Seems like I heard of him before,anyone know if his razors shave well,or just look like a razor?

I've browsed his site before. I think my tastes are a bit too traditional for his style, but it good to see knifemakers having an interest in straights too.

I bought one second-hand from a member on one of the knife forums (can't remeber which one, but I'm reasonably sure it was bladeforums.com.) It wasn't a damascus one, I think it is CPM S30-V but I could be wrong.

Anyhow the original owner hadn't had much luck honing up his other razors and was selling off his equipment, I'd asked about custom razors previously and he offered me this razor in mint condition and with a pretty hefty discount off of the normal price so I bought it even though I hadn't seen any reviews for them previously.

First things first, these razors are much more impressive in hand than they are in the already impressive pictures. The fit and finish is flawless, not so much as an atom out of place. Even the pickiest, most anally-retentive collector out there couldn't find fault with this razor. However as a daily user there is one major flaw, and that is the balance of the razor. Sure the industrial style of the scales is visually appealing, but the scales are handle-heavy in a big way. It's something you get used to after a while, but it makes the razor feel unusable until you learn to adjust. It's something I've learned to cope with, but I rarely use this razor because of the balance.

Secondly, this razor was a major pain to hone. My 7/8 TI Damascus which came with an uneven bevel was much easier to hone than the Ralph. I tried many different stones with it but they barely scratched the steel. After much frustration and bad-language I made the most progess with circular honing on a 1K Diamond Plate to set the bevel. Honing was a very laborious affair, but as long as it took to get the initial bevel, getting it dialled in was even worse. Resigned to my fate , I spent several weeks switching back and forth between a 16k Shapton and a Nakayama Kiita stone before I finally got a shaving edge.

Generally speaking, I prefer the feel of harder steel razors, I really don't like flexy edges much at all; and whilst the Ralph feels very solid on the face I can't help thinking I still haven't got the best out of it. It's smooth but it's lacking that certain, indefinable something that elevates a razor from being merely acceptable to being exceptional.

In summary these are nice razors, aesthetically very appealing with a flawless build quality, but as a shaving tool it's more than a little frustrating. If you have have to have one, spend the $20 - $30 it would take to have someone else hone it for you and avoid the Herculean effort it takes to hone it up yourself.

Kindest regards,
Alex