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Hey all,
I've been interested in Mastro Livi's razors for a long time, and, I'm thinking of finally plunking down the cash to have one made. Does anyone have experience (or something to say) on how they shave? Id est, putting aside his material craftsmanship, do Livi razors produce a shave much greater than that of a say Heribert Wacker? Thanks for your thoughts.
I have a couple from the Mastro.
Yes, they do shave as well as they look IMHO.
It will shave on par with the best of them out there, then again so will most wackers too.
I don't own a Livi but I will say that in nearly 4 years I've been here I've never heard a bad word about them, they are certainly gorgeous razors. That being said when it comes to shaving I doubt they are heads and shoulders above Wacker or any other exceptional shaver. Any razor that is made from good steel and is well honed will do the same thing: cut whiskers.
But if I had the money you can bet that I'd be ordering one too :D
Livi makes good stuff.lots of folks in the know would not buy a wacker today.
I've only had a couple of his 6/8 regrinds, but they shaved just as well as the Wacker Antik I had, they were just to light for my liking. A bigger Livi will probably find it's way to my collection in the relatively near future :)
I don't have one but I've honed a few, some regrinds as well, in a word, excellent.
I have a Livi new grind and three customs. I like the new grind, and I love the customs. For me, the experience of shaving with one of the Livis is equalled by very few razors.
That's not to say that there aren't a lot of razors that will cut whiskers with equal efficiency. What I mean is that some razors go beyond pure function and achieve a level artistry that is difficult to quantify. Livis do this as do razors from many of the top Makers.
You have a fun decision ahead of you, enjoy it.
I have a few Mastro Livi customs as well and I'm very happy with them.
For the reasons above I am a fan Livi's work. The new grinds are excellent razors and good looking. I have also had the pleasure of a Livi damascus and it was, in all ways, superb. Enjoy.
Livi makes some truly unique razors that look very different style wise from the run of the mill in customs. I have a few and they are wonderful shavers.
I can't add anything else to what has been said. I have 3 Livi's and there is a reason for that.
Thanks for all the feedback! To those that own a one or more Livi blades: have you shaved with one of his "snake" models? I'm torn between this style and a traditional one. They look amazing, but I'm really curious if they have a noticeable difference in feel.
Everything affects feel. The size and shape of the scales and material, also the balance of the razor and the grind and type of blade. I'm not familiar with the snake models. I have pretty standard ones in stainless and carbon damascus and regular.
I have not shaved with one, but I've had the pleasure of having a close look at Birnando's, and I can tell you one thing, it's huuuge piece of razor, it's closer related to a machete really :)
Here's a link to Birnando's post with the Snake next to a ERN 6/8: http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...tml#post891677
I'm sure he or someone else that have tried one will chime in :)
I would go with traditional in Damascus.
I had the monster in Abalone shell, trully a work of art,also had the same in Mammoth,I sold them both.
They shaved to perfection as any good razor will,but they were big and heavy.
They became display pces.
Attachment 100759It is a big hunk of iron. Whether you would enjoy shaving with it or not depends. Some guys like a large razor and some don't. Here is my snake with what else but snakewood scales up against a standard sized Dovo.
Big hunk of iron that is amazingly easy to hone.
Early on I was drawn to a Livi Snake razor and was very close to placing the order. And, now I'm not talking it down or anyone that has one, but I watched this video of Maestro Livi with this razor and I decided that it was just too big for me. I had pictured it as a, maybe 6/8 or 7/8 in my mind as a regular razor size, not, well, you decide! YouTube - SnakeRazor
Just to be fair, I still like the razor, but the dang thing is huge!! I don't see how you shave with it! LOL! It's almost a weapon!!! :jedi:
Regards,
Howard
I've got three of Mastro Livis razors and I'm sure that I'll end up getting more. Materials and workmanship and both excellent.
In honor of this thread I went with a Livi/Silvano with Mammoth Ivory scales this morning. Superb razor.....I think I'll use it again tomorrow.:tu
Funny, I shaved with a ram's horn Livi/Takeda Dam this morning. Great minds ..... :)
For some reason I do not see the pic:)Quote:
Originally Posted by JimmyHAD
I'm at work until later tonight. When I get home I'll snap one and post it.Quote:
Originally Posted by pixelfixed
Love to see it.
:)Here ya go ...... :)Quote:
Originally Posted by pixelfixed
Attachment 100805Attachment 100806
Thx Jim, Is magnificent.love the traditional look.
Just to stay in step with Jimmy who posted both his beautiful Snake in snakewood and his Livi-Takeda damascus I'm going to use this tomorrow. A Livi-Takeda damascus in snakewood (pic stolen from Lynn)
Attachment 100810
Thanks for posting that video Howard; his Damascus steel is stunning. As a shaver and collector (although somewhat new), the price tag on this caliber of craftsmanship seems well warranted. In consideration of prices I'm seeing on eBay these days, I find it difficult to ignore such rationale: “instead of forking-over X amount of dollars, I’ll just save a little extra and own a custom work of art.” To illustrate, I'm writing this and looking at an eBay listing for a NOS Filly Doble Temple (#13)… nine hundred dollars! I thought I was paying a lot for this same razor just a few years ago when Tanowa (who I’d vouch for any day) charged me under two hundred. Her razor and its box were in mint condition. Obviously the purchaser determines the value of a razor—as it’s frequently stated on these forums; but considering that out-of-production razors are sold with warped scales, an intrinsic potency to cell rot, and in some cases of restoration, hollow grounds/singing razors are reduced to brittle compositions, it seems logical to refrain from jumping on the next Buy It Now Puma Gold and secure the means for the likes of a Livi. Sorry to rant, I think the eBay listing set me off… :rant:
Well, to answer the original question (and while I never even held a Wacker) I'd say the Mastro Livi new grind I have is a great shaver. Coincidentally, my last shave last Saturday was with it. I got it from Lynn, and here's a pic I took the day it was given to me:
Attachment 100820
Well alright then, I broke out the bigun this afternoon, this thread inspired me too:)
Attachment 100821
Ok, guys, succumbed to the peer pressure. ;) I'm gonna bust out the 8/8 Livi stainless tonight.
Here's a lousy cellphone camera shot of this fine shaver....
Attachment 100822
Hi Falafel,Quote:
Originally Posted by Falafel
Just wanted you to see it in perspective. If he comes up with a more standard size version, I'll probably be saving for one too. :o
Kindest Regards,
Howard
