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

Dear Razorguy, It's been about 1 year that I have been looking at Mastro Livi's razors , on and on, and reading your compliments on them . But I did not consider to buy one, because I thought they are very expensive for me..But after seeing this kamisori, I completely, changed my mind. I live in Turkey, I have been to Italy (Venice and Milan) two years ago, and this year I was making plans to go to Napoli and sicilia, but nooo, I am going to go to Perugia, Umbria region then Rome. But ofcourse I will make an appointment to see Mr. Livi to buy a razor.
I carefully inspected the pictures of Mr. Livi's razors to see if there is any honing marks on razors , for that Mastro Livi does not use any tape on razors when honing , but I could not find any marks. As the holder of many razors he made , what can you say about it, ( P.S. sorry my English)

Originally Posted by taskind

Dear Razorguy, It's been about 1 year that I have been looking at Mastro Livi's razors , on and on, and reading your compliments on them . But I did not consider to buy one, because I thought they are very expensive for me..But after seeing this kamisori, I completely, changed my mind. I live in Turkey, I have been to Italy (Venice and Milan) two years ago, and this year I was making plans to go to Napoli and sicilia, but nooo, I am going to go to Perugia, Umbria region then Rome. But ofcourse I will make an appointment to see Mr. Livi to buy a razor.
I carefully inspected the pictures of Mr. Livi's razors to see if there is any honing marks on razors , for that Mastro Livi does not use any tape on razors when honing , but I could not find any marks. As the holder of many razors he made , what can you say about it, ( P.S. sorry my English)

Welcome! It' a good idea. Perugia is a wonderful city and To see Mastro Livi's laboratory a unique experience!

Originally Posted by taskind

Dear Razorguy, It's been about 1 year that I have been looking at Mastro Livi's razors , on and on, and reading your compliments on them . But I did not consider to buy one, because I thought they are very expensive for me..But after seeing this kamisori, I completely, changed my mind. I live in Turkey, I have been to Italy (Venice and Milan) two years ago, and this year I was making plans to go to Napoli and sicilia, but nooo, I am going to go to Perugia, Umbria region then Rome. But ofcourse I will make an appointment to see Mr. Livi to buy a razor.
I carefully inspected the pictures of Mr. Livi's razors to see if there is any honing marks on razors , for that Mastro Livi does not use any tape on razors when honing , but I could not find any marks. As the holder of many razors he made , what can you say about it, ( P.S. sorry my English)

Hello Taskind,
first of all, I am glad you are reading this thread and all the things I wrote so far about my "Mastro Livi experience". I am also glad to read you are now considering buying a Mastro Livi kamisori and, even more glad, to read you are planning a trip to Italy.
I believe visiting Mastro Livi workshop is a wonderful experience for everyone interested in straight razors and wet shaving. Not only Mastro Livi is very kind and open to welcome everyone in his workshop, but also for the huge amount of things you would learn from him about razor and shaving.
Moreover, if you are considering buying a razor from him, I strongly suggest you to ask Mastro Livi to watch the making of your razor: not only this is an incredible experience to have, but also a wonderful chance to actively contribute to the making during the process.
As for using tape in honing, I too never use it, saved the case you really need it in order to have a better geometry of the blade, typically for vintage razors and for those showing a considerable hone wear. As for brand new razors, I think it is not needed at all as this may change the angle of the bevel set by the maker.
As for Mastro Livi honing technique, it is very effective and he is capable of getting a super smooth and keen edge on any razor or cutting tool. He has a "sixty years experience" on his side and he hones tens of razors every day, not to mention knives and other cutting tools. He is a master in this and, no, he does not leave any honing mark in the spine or blade.
In case you are planning a visit to Mastro Livi workshop, it is better to ask "Livi Coltellerie" in advance in order to let them organize everything and be sure Mastro Livi can properly welcome you in his workshop. You will not regret the experience!

Taskind, I can only reiterate what Antonello has said. I did the pilgrimage to Razor nirvana last year and they will be memories I treasure forever.

This razor is beautiful and I am not one to say it, you see it alone. But you know that the handle is unique. I think it's impossible to find a piece of wood more 'beautiful than that! Even I occasionally feel the need to let me caress the skin from my first Mastro Livi's razor, a rwl 34 steel that I find unmatched!



I drink a cool beer 'cause today in the morning the Tour of Italy that started this morning from Lugo and the move of the afternoon, I'm a little' tired.

I absolutely like my Mastro Livi damascus steel razor and for many reasons, last but not the least, it is a magnificent shaver. Not to mention the handle of which I have been very lucky in getting a three color amboyna piece, fully revealed after having used oil in order to polish it. I was really amazed by that!
I am glad you had the time to attend to the stage starting from Lugo of our national bicycle race "Giro d'Italia": I am sure you enjoyed that better than the move.
Although I brew beer myself and make wine from my vineyard - and I certainly love both types of beverages - you know I like having wine better, so I expected you to have at least a gorgeous glass of Sangiovese!

When I go back to Perugia for my Kamisori we drink a glass of Sagrantino Sangiovese which is better. Although I must tell you that the sangiovese with cheese pie and ham "Mora Romagna" is amazing! I tried it last night, you should try it!

Great story and a beautiful razor.

Originally Posted by mglindo

Great story and a beautiful razor.

Thank you! I hope to post more Mastro's razors in future. After all, an English gentleman of this forum said I am affected by MLRAD and, as I guess there is no cure for that, I think I will add more Mastro Livi razors to my collection!

Yesterday I went to Mastro Livi workshop and, as usual, he was making razors, forging steel and making carbon damascus steel. Mastro Livi was pretty happy because he received a very special gift from one of his clients. It seems the ones who own a Mastro Livi razor love him! He received a beautiful painting in which Mastro Livi is depicted while he is forging a razor blade. I am partly proud of this because the author of this painting used the images of a video I made to paint this and I must tell I like the painting. Not to mention Mastro Livi! He is very happy and proud of it and he has hung the painting in his workshop in a very special display. The gentlemen who visited Mastro Livi will certainly recognize it is the cabinet Mastro Livi uses to display razor blades in the process of the making, near the main entrance of the workshop.

Mastro Livi happily standing next to the painting

Like I said, Mastro Livi was forging some damascus steel and a lovely billet caught my attention. It has a sort of wood-pattern in it and I admit it has been love at first sight. The decision was very easy to make: that billet must going to be my next straight razor! This is a work in progress, of course, and the razor is not finished yet. So far, Mastro Livi forged the billet, flattened the tang by using a trip hammer, tempered and set the initial grinding. As it was pretty late, we then decided to call it a day. Mastro Livi will hopefully finish this razor within next week, so I will post more pictures of the working very soon, including the finished razor. Gentlemen, I am going to be the owner of my eighth Mastro Livi straight razor! I can't wait to see it finished and magnificently honed my Mastro Livi. Stellar shaves are waiting for me! To be confident, I did not make any decision about the scales, but I know it is going to have a square point and a classic shaped tang. And, of course, wonderfully made by a Mastro Livi carbon damascus steel!

Work in progress: my next Mastro Livi straight razor made of carbon damascus steel. Please notice the lovely wood-pattern



Front of the blade with the beautiful wood-pattern



Back of the blade. A truly lovely damascus pattern



This part is going to be the tang. It was flattened by using a trip hammer. As usual, every razor is hand made and personally forged, hammered, tempered, ground and honed by Mastro Livi himself.



Mastro Livi hand drawing the tang. For this one I wanted a classic shape.

The razor will be hopefully finished within next week. I will certainly post more pictures of the making and I can't wait to hold it in my hands! This is going to be a stellar razor, just another Mastro Livi masterpiece!