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

Razorguy, you tell a wonderful tale. So good in fact that by the end I'd forgotten it wasn't me owning this razor and came out of the story looking for it only to be disappointed

Originally Posted by Apis

Razorguy, you tell a wonderful tale. So good in fact that by the end I'd forgotten it wasn't me owning this razor and came out of the story looking for it only to be disappointed

Apis, I am very glad you appreciated my tale despite at the end it disappointed you. I guess this can be fixed in a way or another: just own a Mastro Livi razor! I understand it is not easy for you to come to Italy and to visit Mastro Livi's shop (although, let me say, the visit to the shop and meeting Mastro Livi in person would be worth the trip) but I am sure it would be a remarkable experience for you as much as it was for me.
In case you make such a decision, I will be more than happy to assist you in that. For the moment - in the hope this will not disappoint you even more - why don't you take a look at the new Mastro Livi web site he recently started and dedicated to his wonderful razors? You can find it here: Mastro Livi custom straight razor site

I do sincerely wish you to become a happy Mastro Livi razor owner soon. Very soon.

All the best to you and long live the straight razor!

By the way, I'm an official convert to the use of olive oil as a post-shave treatment/balm/oil/whatever.

You really don't need much at all; it seems to be quite soothing and keeps any redness/irritation at bay and best of all, it makes your face REALLY soft and smooth.

Originally Posted by razorguy

Apis, I am very glad you appreciated my tale despite at the end it disappointed you. I guess this can be fixed in a way or another: just own a Mastro Livi razor! I understand it is not easy for you to come to Italy and to visit Mastro Livi's shop (although, let me say, the visit to the shop and meeting Mastro Livi in person would be worth the trip) but I am sure it would be a remarkable experience for you as much as it was for me.
In case you make such a decision, I will be more than happy to assist you in that.[/url]

Thank you, Razorguy. I hope someday to take you up on that offer and enjoy beautiful Italy in a new way. I am far to inexperienced at the moment, I think it will be at least another ten years and need more razor acquisitions. I am too new to shaving with a straight to know what I like, everything would seem good and there would be no finesse to my conversation with the Mastro.

I think I will hold the thought and save this for a significant birthday!

Originally Posted by PigHog

By the way, I'm an official convert to the use of olive oil as a post-shave treatment/balm/oil/whatever.

You really don't need much at all; it seems to be quite soothing and keeps any redness/irritation at bay and best of all, it makes your face REALLY soft and smooth.

I am very glad to read that! A new convert to His majesty the Olive Oil!
To me, Olive Oil is the best post shave I can get and I am very glad to read your feelings and sensations for using it. You are right: you don't need much at all; just five drops are enough but work wonders on the skin. Also consider Olive Oil is very rich in tocopherols, which are very good for your skin.
Using Olive Oil as a post shave treatment, or as an after shave, was a very common practice in Italy and this is what my grandfather taught me. And it works!

Originally Posted by Apis

Thank you, Razorguy. I hope someday to take you up on that offer and enjoy beautiful Italy in a new way. I am far to inexperienced at the moment, I think it will be at least another ten years and need more razor acquisitions. I am too new to shaving with a straight to know what I like, everything would seem good and there would be no finesse to my conversation with the Mastro.

I think I will hold the thought and save this for a significant birthday!

I believe a conversation with the Mastro would be the highest finesse for any straight razor user/lover, either beginner or experienced.
"Mastro" is the contracted form of "Maestro", and its meaning is "one who master an art and is capable of teaching it to others". Mastro Livi is really like that, a maestro who can teach about straight razors and shaving. And he is very happy, kind and willing in this. If you believe you are too new to shaving and need to learn a lot, well, Mastro Livi is the right person for you. He is very kind and gentle, he is a real Mastro, a master and teacher. You would enjoy the conversation very much, I just know.

I wish you will hold the thought for a little more and have a significant birthday soon!

Razorguy:

I was at Mastro Livi's shop earlier this month while visiting Italy. His wonderful Italian hospitality is amazing. I took many pictures, including several of the ones you posted eralier. I had the chance of watching him in action while putting together a couple of razors and a Damascus steel blank. He is a true artist. I came back with my custom made ATS34 steel razor with amboina scales and some nice souvenirs. Mastro even treated us for lunch at his favorite restaurant (he likes macrobiotic food). Pics will follow. Stay tuned.

Razorthin:

I am sure you are the one Mastro Livi mentioned to me yesterday while I was talking to him. He said he received the visit of a gentleman from Texas earlier this month.
I am very glad you had the chance to see Mastro Livi in action: I know it is a remarkable experience. And I also know you had a special "souvenir" he made for you guys: a very special keyring (lucky you, guys! )
I can't wait to see the pictures you took and, of course, I will stay tuned!
Enjoy your Mastro Livi razor which I will certainly look forward in seeing a picture of it soon.

Yep. That was me (and my father-in-law who came along for the trip). I enjoyed seeing him in action and being able to explore the "Razor lab" where you find all sorts of interesting materials and projects. My Italian is very basic but we were able to communicate since I also speak Spanish. The autographed Damascus key ring was icing on my cake. So far, I've shaved with my Mastro Livi razor twice and is a sweet blade, possibly the best razor I've ever tried. I will try to upload some pictures of my visit tonight.

This is amazing. Whoever tries a Mastro Livi razor always ends up saying it is the best razor ever tried. There must be a reason!
I can't wait to see the pictures of your Mastro Livi razor! And yes, the "razor lab" is truly amazing. Mastro Livi also told me you shoot a video of him making his damascus steel. That too would be nice to watch.