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Robert Williams: The Naked Blade
Robert calls this "The Purist." I call it the Naked Blade. And, in my hands, I call myself Edward Razorhands, as this is about the closest a razor has ever come to feeling like a physical extension of my arm.
The blade is an 8/8 quarter hollow, 2.2 inches in length with an overall length of six inches in HCS steel.
Robert Williams is well celebrated for his exceptional craftsmanship with scales in materials from the old standbys to the downright abstruse exotics. But just as the true test of a chef is a roasted chicken, the measure of this razorsmith's aristry is what he can do with a naked blade sans scales.
This is a pure lump of steel. To talk about its balance is a bit like trying to describe the engineering of a human knuckle. Everything has been engineered over a lifetime of experience to fit just so. It doesn't hurt to have deeply cut jimps both upstairs and downstairs to secure the grip on this scalpel.
I'd be lying if I didn't admit I nicked myself twice on my first shave. But chalk that up to the fact that I've only shaved with a Japanese style razor once before, and I'm use to anvil-heavy scales. On my second attempt I obtained a shave that can best be described as surgical.
When understanding the complexity that goes into a design that is a bastion of simplicity, one must remember that Robert is a man who is so exacting that he BUILDS HIS OWN MEASURING DEVICES just to ensure that blade thickness is uniform throughout. These forgings are so painstaking -- he won't win any awards for breaking the sound barrier -- but they are worth every minute and month of the wait, if you can make it onto his coveted waiting list.
I confess I'm tickled that my Purist is stamped 001. Hopefully for all of you there will be a 002 and a 003, etc. This is a razor any straight razor afficionado must have in his arsenal. There is truly nothing else like it.
Hold it in your outstretched hand for just a moment and you'll understand instantly every word I've written.
A masterpiece.
- Mark
