A Few Cool Ideas, and questions

I'm new to straight razors, using the shavette, expecting a dovo spike point with the holiday season coming up , i've recently done alot of looking and admiring of cool straights. I've got a few cool ideas rolling around in my head of what would make a bad ass straight razor, but have no idea what goes into straight razor customization. as far as using a black blade.. i've seen them use steel that is 'blued' to the finish.
Baxter of California ‘Blue Steel’ Straight Razor | Finer Cut
how come I don't find alot of blades finished like that?
and is anyone familiar with melonite finish? i know they use it in law enforcement equipment. it hold ups better than a 'blued' finish, i dont know if it'd be possible to use that for a blade finish.
I'm sure an all out custom razor is no where in my near future, but if i knew a thing or two about razor customization i might be able to put a couple cool things together.

any and all help appreciated.
RG

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Originally Posted by tsa7x13

I'm new to straight razors, using the shavette, expecting a dovo spike point with the holiday season coming up , i've recently done alot of looking and admiring of cool straights. I've got a few cool ideas rolling around in my head of what would make a bad ass straight razor, but have no idea what goes into straight razor customization. as far as using a black blade.. i've seen them use steel that is 'blued' to the finish.
Baxter of California ‘Blue Steel’ Straight Razor | Finer Cut
how come I don't find alot of blades finished like that?
and is anyone familiar with melonite finish? i know they use it in law enforcement equipment. it hold ups better than a 'blued' finish, i dont know if it'd be possible to use that for a blade finish.
I'm sure an all out custom razor is no where in my near future, but if i knew a thing or two about razor customization i might be able to put a couple cool things together.

any and all help appreciated.
RG

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That is a good question....that is one bad ass looking razor. I wonder how she shaves.

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Originally Posted by tsa7x13

what would make a bad ass straight razor?

how come I don't find alot of blades finished like that?

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Ass shaving, maybe this will start a new trend.
Joking aside, I think that the reason that you don't see many blued blades is because many of us prefer traditional shiny ones.
Maybe the Baxter blade, which they say is hardened to Rockwell scale 63 would be a bit too hard for a good razor, but I'll leave that to the honemeisters/metalurgists to discuss.

yeah, i sorta knew that most straight razor users prefer a vintage look.. thats sorta why im interested in the possibility of how much customization can be done.. reasonably that is.. cuz i like a clean, simple, sharp (punn intended) look.

Bluing in the tang often came factory, I've restored/re-blued some. It's a nice contrast. I dont think the blade face so much due to wipe downs and usage will mar some over time.

You're right that a black blade looks mean. I remember recently Baldy did this restore recently bluing the whole blade.

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Originally Posted by welshwizard

Ass shaving, maybe this will start a new trend.
Joking aside, I think that the reason that you don't see many blued blades is because many of us prefer traditional shiny ones.
Maybe the Baxter blade, which they say is hardened to Rockwell scale 63 would be a bit too hard for a good razor, but I'll leave that to the honemeisters/metalurgists to discuss.

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I guess ass shaving could easily lead to BBS jokes eh?

That 'BAXTER OF CALIFORNIA' looks like a knockoff of a HART steel, down to the minor details.

Edit -wait apparenly it was produced by or with Hart steel, in which case it is likely a sweet blade

As someone involved in the medical community I would be concerned with the risk of infection that would occur with bad ass shaving. I recommend that ass shaving should not be attempted until straight razor technique is mastered

That is a sweet razor though, and I would be interested in a blued blade.

it is a Hart--the ad said "produced by Hart Steel"

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Originally Posted by squatman

it is a Hart--the ad said "produced by Hart Steel"

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And if you look at the gallery on Hart's site it looks like they will be numbered
Image

I need to find out where in "Northern Michigan" these guys are.. maybe stop by and pay a visit.

Wacker has also a black blade razor. But still, not too many makers are offering such a finish.

Jubiläums Rasiermesser Mod.3

Mastro Livi over in Italy has been playing with the coloring of blades for a while now. Not a clue of how he does them but the dark blades, the blues and the copper coloring have been spectacular.

As was mentioned, the bluing of tangs and spines has been around a long time.

Charlie Lewis is also doing something with his blades like a pickling of the steel. Maybe he will comment more on that. There is a bunch of very cool stuff out there and more coming I'm sure.

Have fun,

Lynn

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Originally Posted by Lynn

Mastro Livi over in Italy has been playing with the coloring of blades for a while now. Not a clue of how he does them but the dark blades, the blues and the copper coloring have been spectacular.

As was mentioned, the bluing of tangs and spines has been around a long time.

Charlie Lewis is also doing something with his blades like a pickling of the steel. Maybe he will comment more on that. There is a bunch of very cool stuff out there and more coming I'm sure.

Have fun,

Lynn

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That looks like it has a little pitting on it...better send it to me for a full cleaning. I'll even get it shave ready for you.

Is there a disadvantage to having a colored blade? I mean, if I get a blade that has been blued, will it fade after honing or stropping?

I dont know about the effects of honing or stropping on a blue'd blade, but i know blue'd steel does have more potential for rusting/tarnishing, hence why i asked about melonite.. even though i'm sure a blade that is well taken care of shouldn't have too much issues with problems as far as rusting/varnishing/tarnishing.

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Originally Posted by goaT

Is there a disadvantage to having a colored blade? I mean, if I get a blade that has been blued, will it fade after honing or stropping?

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I'm among those who prefer a traditional shiny mirror finish, but considering how much time and effort (and borderline obsession) we put in to maintain that look perhaps a blued/black blade may not be a bad idea afterall :hmmm:

I know Tim Z had been talking about Lake Superior Sand smelt process and that they were tweaking it for a special Hart project wonder if this is what it was for. Be interesting to see if that steel is "colored" of truly black through the smelting process used.

I think the advantage of a shiny polished surface is you can always re-polish it to restore. Re-bluing would be difficult.