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

I would not believe it could have been possible. After having shaved with my Mastro Livi Damasteel straight razor and my Mastro Livi kamisori, I would not have believed I could try anything better than that. Well, it happened. My new Mastro Livi straight razor gave me the very best shave ever, absolutely impeccable and perfect. As usual this is my post for the shave of the day thread: http://straightrazorpalace.com/shave...ml#post1200888

I must say Mastro Livi was right and I too was right to ask him for his guidance and advice when I had to choose the type of steel to be used for this razor. I read a lot in this forum about stainless steels and what you gentlemen consider to be the right one for a straight razor and I asked Mastro what he was thinking about each of them. Mastro Livi has a remarkable experience about carbon and stainless steels and, at the end, we opted for two types of steel: RWL 34 and CPM 154CM.
Mastro Livi has a considerable experience on both steels and he uses both for making straight razors and knives. Both RWL 34 and CPM 154CM are being used by Mastro Livi since a very long time now - CPM 154CM since 2006 for sure - and he suggested me to have my new razor made from RWL 34 because of the type of my beard and the better results I, as a user, can obtain from honing. Not that RWL 34 is worse than CPM 154CM, but Mastro explained to me that CPM 154CM is too hard for a straight razor and it would take quite a long time for honing and get a perfect edge, in case I would ever get one.
RWL 34 is very hard as well and, as Mastro said it, it is however easier to hone, it keeps a very good edge over time and responds very well to stones and honing. He said a RWL 34 straight razor needs to be honed every one and a half or two years of shaves, provided you take good care of it during shaves and make a good use of both strop and pastes. He always stresses on the importance of stropping and to use a good strop. To him this is one of the fundamental "secrets" in order to give a razor's edge a long life. He is the Mastro, he is Mastro Livi, so I did not doubt him, I trust him and followed his advice: I opted for RWL 34.
This morning I shaved with this RWL 34 straight razor and I am very happy for the shave it gave me, something I would not believe to be possible. This razor is a real feather on the skin, it shaves like a charm and gave me the best BBS shave. A real feather I could not notice on my skin, a velvety caress. A magnificent razor. I am sure it will give me more incredible and satisfactory shaves. With this razor it has been love at first sight. Maybe it is because I feel this to be "Umbrian in soul" or even because I watched it taking life step by step from a bare steel bar, but when I saw it finished and mounted on its scale, it was love at first sight. I really like it. I like it a lot. Now I can't wait to shave with it again!

Good show, razorguy. Most informative and well done. Keep it up.

Originally Posted by Obie

Good show, razorguy. Most informative and well done. Keep it up.

Thank you, Obie. I am very proud and happy to be a Mastro Livi straight razor owner. As you try a Mastro Livi, you will forget about the rest and get addicted to it.
The truth is that I enjoy tremendously the company of Mastro Livi and visiting his workshop. He is a peaceful, kind and nice man, a real teacher always ready and willing to teach you everything he can about his art, straight razors and how to properly keep an edge.
I know I learned a lot since the day I met him for the first time. It is true he demolished many of my "strong beliefs" about straight razors, but he has also been very patient to explain and to teach me why what I knew was not "truly correct". And I must say he was right.
He is a real "Maestro" and I wish you and every straight razor lover to meet him at least once in his workshop: I know you will never forget the experience.

I would look forward to that interview Obie. I think the Mastro would make for a great interview and would have lots of good advice and information.

Thank you very much for posting this! Great video.

The time now is 20:25. It's raining cats and dogs at Scheveningen. But I'm ready to give my wife a kiss; hang my cases to my BMW 1200K, put on my leathers and ride the night through to Perugia. When I'm on my motorcycle in about fifteen minutes from now, I'll have an espresso tomorrow morning the 7th at 11.20 sulla più bella piazza di Perugia.
Why don't I do this? I might be dead next week!
Joost

Very true. That is a good way of looking at it.

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.