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

Gentlemen,
I am very glad to read about your appreciation. This is one of the reasons why I am shooting these videos and also because I do strongly believe the art, talent, passion and craftsmanship of Mastro Livi is a wonderful story to tell the world.
It is not because I was born and live in Perugia and here is where Mastro Livi has his workshop as well, I know Mastro Livi is a pride for my city and for Italy, he is also a remarkable and kind gentleman: I believe he is a pride for everyone interested in straight razors. I am proud to say I personally know him: he taught me a lot about razors and shaving, more than what I could ever know and wish to know. I am confident I will learn a lot more from him and this is priceless.
And I believe his story and talent is something worth telling the world.
In case you gentlemen will ever come to Perugia and visit Mastro Livi workshop, I will be very happy to help you, also with the language, in case you need that.
This is what I wish you all to come true one day soon: to meet Mastro Livi, to enjoy his company, knowledge and wisdom, as well as watching him making your razor; it is a wonderful experience.
I hope to be of help, in case you decide to do so.
Meanwhile, I hope you all will enjoy the video.

Man, I would love to go there someday! Perhaps some time in the future...

I had your very same concern when I watched this video for the first time, some years ago. At those times I did not know Mastro Livi in person and I too wondered about his technique. From the video it may be seen as "rude" and "care-free". I however always thought to myself that he is Mastro Livi and he is renowned all over the world both for his razors and his "absolutely stunning edges".
Then I got to know Mastro Livi in person and I had the chance to see him honing and stropping a razor. The video does not do justice to both of them. I can tell for sure he uses a very "light hand" and does both jobs very quickly and, yes, very very effective. His hands seems to fly over hones and strops. And he is very far from rude or careless.
I asked him about my concerns - the same you had - and he answered that what he sees on the internet, in particular "x-strokes", are to be considered techniques for beginners, they work for sure - he says - but it is for beginners and it takes a long time compared to his technique. He says he needs to do the job very quick and in a very effective way: he hones tens of razors every day. Add to this he has more than 60 years of experience in honing knives and razors, I guess you get the picture. He told me he honed his very first knife when we was 5 year old. His father gave him a knife and told him "hone it!". This is how he started this job.
I am into straight razors and honing since ten years now, I honed hundreds of razors (and, of course, I do not consider myself an expert) I have also shaved with razors honed by professionals, but nothing compares to a Mastro Livi honing. Absolutely nothing, or at least, to nothing I have shaved with.

Gentlemen,
The same question as Pighog asks was in my mind after watching the video that Razorguy added to this thread on the 9th of September. According to this video Mastro L. uses exactly the same technique as performed in the video Pighog refers to.
In the 9 Sept. video Masto L. hones the razor using various stones devoid from any slurry application. Direcly after that he flaps the razor over a Ch.O loaded linen side of a strop and repeats this action on the other also loaded side.
Mind that he does not use the rolling over the spine technique. He lifts the razor at the end of each half stroke to prevent the edge touching the strop at each turn. I apply that too but the move it is not generally recommended.
After completion the Ch.O action Mastro L. does a final stropping on the palm of his hand instead of applying a plain leather strop.
Then he tests the razor on his jaw simply wetted with a few drops of water.

I quote Razorguy: "I have also shaved with razors honed by professionals, but nothing compares to a Mastro Livi honing. Absolutely nothing, or at least, to nothing I have shaved with."

I think none of us will have the slightest doubt about Mastro L's capabilities in re but the thought occurred to me that thousands of straight razor addicts including many newbies repetitively watching this fascinating videos might conclude that the performed way is the way to obtain and checking a 100% edge.

In my humble opinion is such a conclusion a bit premature and maybe for some of us somewhat misleading.
Joost

I understand you gentlemen, I understand you very well as I did have the very same concerns you have. Absolutely the same. After having met Mastro Livi I had to change my mind about many things. You may say his technique is not orthodox and seems to deny what we all know about honing and stropping. But there is the fact a razor made and honed by Mastro Livi shaves like paradise. I can tell this because I had the luck to see him honing and shaving with a razor made and honed by him.
I told Mastro Livi his technique may be misleading for us straight razor lovers who are used to quite different techniques. He said it can be misleading but it is a technique he developed in the course of his remarkable and long experience. He in fact told me he would not advise anyone using his technique because he understands it takes quite a lot of skill and experience.
Mastro Livi did not say our "basic" technique is wrong, he says it works for sure and gives good results, but he says it usually takes a lot of time for getting the job done.
I too had many doubts about what I watched on Mastro Livi videos, but I had the luck to see him doing it in front of me. His technique and hands are far from being rude: he absolutely has a truly light touch.
As for leather, Mastro Livi says that leather is the worst material to be used for a strop and this is something he learned from his father and every time I talk to him about stropping, he always ends up telling me we all have the very best strop and it is always at hand: the palm of our hand.
Of course, I do not have the experience of Mastro Livi (and I am hopelessly far away more than one millionth from his) but I can tell his teachings have been "enlightening" to me. Now I use just one strop and it is Mastro Livi strop (which is not made from leather) and I use the palm of my hand quite a lot. Well, my razors shave better!
Mastro Livi always stresses on the fact his technique is not for beginners or newbies (and I guess he is right) and he suggests us keep on using "our techniques" because they certainly work and give excellent results, but he says they also take a lot of time in order to get the job done and as he is honing tens of razors every day, he just needs a more efficient technique.

I understand your concerns because I too have the very same concerns, but I saw with my own eyes and can tell his technique works wonders on a razor's edge. Of course I cannot do what he does and I am afraid I will never be capable of doing the same. This is why I sincerely wish to all the straight razor lovers to meet him and see how he works in person. He is a remarkable man always willing to teach anyone passionate about straight razors and he is very good and patient in this. It is a wonderful life experience, or at least, this is how it has been for me. Mastro Livi absolutely changed the way I see stropping, honing and shaving with a straight razor. All I can say he is right. Absolutely right.

Gentlemen,

I'm very, very desirously awaiting the strong comments of the razor addicts populating the fora Hones and Strops.

Keep it Livi Razor related.

Joost

I'd just like to share Antonello's expression of gratitude to Mastro Livi for being so generous with his time and letting us into his workshop. I'm in the process of writing up my experience and will post it in a separate thread with a lot of pictures detailing the whole process from raw metal to finished masterpiece.

I would also like say how indebted I am for Antonello's help with everything. He was a true gentleman and helped me throughout the whole process that started almost 6 months ago. It was also fantastic to spend time with someone as passionate about straight razors as myself.

Here's a few pics of the final razor set and the "defective" second razor that I also came away with.

Dear Jody,
let me express my admiration for your astonishing razors: that was truly amazing for me too sharing my passion with someone as passionate as I am. Let me also express how I liked to spend almost three days with you and your lovely girlfriend, including the pleasing dinners we had together.
I sincerely hope we will meet again in future: I am sure we will have a lot more to share about straight razors. It has been a truly amazing experience watching the genesis of your shaving set and it has been a honor for me to help you and to make your birthday wish come true. I hope to offer my help and support to all the other gentlemen who want to watch Mastro Livi at work and making razors: we do understand how amazing it is and, I am sure you agree, it is such a pleasure to watch such a remarkable artist at work and to shave with one of his razors.
Let me also express my admiration for the "so called" defective razor (something giving it a truly unique character) in particular for the gorgeous scales: I guess I will have something similar quite soon (and, yes, you may consider yourself responsible for that! Including the brush! )

By the way: are you still sure you want to buy those two razors?

Happy to enable your MLRAD
I look forward to hearing the spec of your new Damascus razor.

I finally made my decision and the work for the making of my next Mastro Livi razor have been started! Last night I went to Mastro Livi's workshop and he started forging the billet from which he will make my new razor. The billet is a San Mai Double Mastro Livi Carbon Damascus and I am very excited to know I will own a new gorgeous beauty!
For the moment, Mastro Livi made the San Mai billet only because I am still a little undecided about some of the razors specifications, point of the blade and tang, among the many. But the billet has been made and next week Mastro Livi will continue making my next incredible razor. I can't wait to see it finished and to shave with it. The razor will have a matching Mastro Livi badger brush as the razor's scales and brush's handle will be made of the same material. (Jody, look what you have done! )
I am posting some preliminary pictures of the making of my new Mastro Livi razor. Billet forging and finished billet for the moment. Stay tuned! More pictures to come!