Thread: Don't the Pakistani people want good razors, too?

I've read here over and over that SR made in Pakistan are junk.

Well, don't those folks want nice razors, too?

Maybe they export all the junk ones & keep the good ones for themselves

They probably only use the mock 3...

Originally Posted by onimaru55

Maybe they export all the junk ones & keep the good ones for themselves

Or use the revenue from their sales to buy better quality ones

Originally Posted by Toplin

I've read here over and over that SR made in Pakistan are junk.

Well, don't those folks want nice razors, too?

Toplin,

I'm sure that they do. However, the production of high quality steel (ie. Sheffield) and the craftsman's skill set required to create quality str8 razors takes a long time to evolve, but only a generation or two to lose forever.

Consider the examples of England, France, Germany and even the U. S. It took a century or more to develop that skill in those industrializing nations, which probably reached its peak in the 19th century; and all of them had the industrial capacity to produce high quality steel that str8 razor manufacturers could utilize for their product.

Then too, there used to be 100s of str8 razor manufacturers in England, Germany, etc. Now, except for a few individual craftsmen, such as Williams and Livi, we can count them on one hand.

Originally Posted by Toplin

Well, don't those folks want nice razors, too?

There are lots of things that they would like. Pakistan is a very poor third world country. I assume that wasn't meant as a serious question.

Isn't Pakistan a muslim country? And as such isn't wearing a beard more the norm, and being clean shaven the exception?

The Pakistani metal craft is incredibly powerful considering the tools and materials they have to work with. They are able to reproduce just about anything in metal of modern manufacture to a high degree of congruence with hand tools and very simple equipment.

Part of the problem with Pakistani blades is that the "as found" scrap metals readily available were not good enough quality for hardening. Part of the problem is that their overhead is very low which made them an attractive cheap option for folks who didn't want to pay good money for a Western maker's steels. And they could out produce just about anyone except a steel mill. Add together a lot of small shops working on a big job and you find them hard to beat.

Lately the smiths have been taking in feedback and improving base materials and quality of output. They have responded quite quickly and adaptably to market forces. They have also kept the prices low and remain competitive. There is still a lot to learn. I have no doubt they will. They have my respect, even as I grimace when someone buys their stuff over mine.

Originally Posted by Mike Blue

The Pakistani metal craft is incredibly powerful considering the tools and materials they have to work with. They are able to reproduce just about anything in metal of modern manufacture to a high degree of congruence with hand tools and very simple equipment.

Part of the problem with Pakistani blades is that the "as found" scrap metals readily available were not good enough quality for hardening. Part of the problem is that their overhead is very low which made them an attractive cheap option for folks who didn't want to pay good money for a Western maker's steels. And they could out produce just about anyone except a steel mill. Add together a lot of small shops working on a big job and you find them hard to beat.

Lately the smiths have been taking in feedback and improving base materials and quality of output. They have responded quite quickly and adaptably to market forces. They have also kept the prices low and remain competitive. There is still a lot to learn. I have no doubt they will. They have my respect, even as I grimace when someone buys their stuff over mine.

An insightful commentary. I wouldn't have guessed. There must be a market for the Pakistan razors or they wouldn't keep making them. Do you see a time when they might be abe to produce a quality razor? And if so, would they be able to overcome their terrible reputation?

Originally Posted by welshwizard

There are lots of things that they would like. Pakistan is a very poor third world country. I assume that wasn't meant as a serious question.

No, it was a serious question.