Thread: My Mastro Livi razor, at last: a wonderful life experience!

This is my gorgeous 7/8 Razor Livi Stainless Steel (amboina scales) which was waiting for me at the shop. I am happy as an Italian clam.

A fine example of Livi's damascus in a blade already destined to a lucky fellow enthusiast in Spain.

Razorthin, thanks for the pictures. You look pretty happy in the last one! Glad the new razor is working out.

Can you tell me how his skills and traditions are being preserved? Does he have apprentices/family who are continuing the razor making?

Ten years until my next significant birthday. Time to start a razor fund and ring fence it from the children...if I drink one fewer beers a week between now and then that should do it. These are tough choices...

Originally Posted by razorguy

I talked to Mastro Livi yesterday and told him about this and he told me I should continue stropping it on a loom strop then, as the razor seems to pull - which is not the case yet - I should pass it on chromium oxide - to be used on a loom strop, of course - and repeat this procedures until the razor pulls after passing it on chromium oxide. In this case, he says I should hone it with a stone.

This is very helpful to me, thank you.

It is probably obvious to experienced users, but as a new user I was wondering when to strop, CrO and hone. Do you go back to hone every time it starts pulling, for example. This is a very simple explanation. Go with the feel and switch down when it pulls. When switching down just one level no longer works satisfactorally, go to the next, and so on. A very efficient approach easily applied that will save the razor as much as possible.

Razorthin,
let me express my congratulations for the magnificent razor! it is a Mastro Livi, so it is a masterpiece, no doubt about this! Your razor looks simply gorgeous and, yes, I am a little envious for that...
Also congratulations for the fine pictures of the Mastro at work: I know it has been a remarkable experience. I just know.
And I am also also glad to see now we are two in this thread to have lived the same wonderful experience. It would also be great if you could add comments about your razor and how it works. very good job!

Originally Posted by Apis

Can you tell me how his skills and traditions are being preserved? Does he have apprentices/family who are continuing the razor making?

Mastro Livi has a son, Luca, who is a Mastro himself and makes exceptionally beautiful knives. Of course he is continuing the family tradition which now is centuries old. On this regard, Mastro Luca Livi (son of Mastro Lido Livi, the one we all simply call Mastro Livi since ever) emailed to me a couple of pictures of a beautiful kamisori he had just made with a beautiful Damascus steel.

Originally Posted by Apis

Ten years until my next significant birthday. Time to start a razor fund and ring fence it from the children...if I drink one fewer beers a week between now and then that should do it. These are tough choices...

I believe you should shorten times and make your next birthday a significant one. I believe the day you will meet Mastro Livi and see him at work, you will regret for not having done that before.

Originally Posted by Apis

This is very helpful to me, thank you.

Mastro Livi has the gift of explaining things in a simple and direct way, in this regard, I believe he simply wants to make sure everyone can understand his incredibly deep knowledge about his art, from beginners to experts.
This is what Mastro taught me when he gave me the razor he made for me. Simple, direct, effective.

Originally Posted by Razorthin

came home with great souvenirs. The keyring is a sample of his damascus steel and is signed by the artist...

Besides the fact you have been very lucky in having that signed keyring, you have also been lucky for the other two souvenirs. I am sure you watched both movies already and I guess you have been quite amazed by them, like me.

Originally Posted by Razorthin

This is my gorgeous 7/8 Razor Livi Stainless Steel (amboina scales) which was waiting for me at the shop. I am happy as an Italian clam.

Speaking of clams...how many do you have to part with for a Livi Razor...1500.00 ??

Originally Posted by nessmuck

Speaking of clams...how many do you have to part with for a Livi Razor...1500.00 ??

Clams are best with spaghetti!