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

Sunday 29 May 2016



Mastro Livi Damasteel Ladder, 6/8 Full Hollow, French Point

I admit I like Damasteel. Not only for its mesmerizing patterns but also for its keenness ability to shave. Although it is true it is somewhat aggressive on your skin, this steel is however impeccable in giving a close and smooth shave. This Mastro Livi Damasteel straight razor is enchanting for the ladder pattern used for the blade, not to mention the charm of amaranth buckeye burl used for the scales. Simply beautiful. Today's shave has also been the chance to try this Omega S-Brush, a super cheap synthetic brush however delivering a very good performance. If we consider the very cheap price, you can't be wrong in getting one of these Italian synthetic brushes.

• Pre-Shave: RazorGuy Pre-Shave Oil
• Soap: Weleda Shaving Cream
• Brush: Omega S-Brush S10108 Blue, 27mm knot
• Bowl: Gerby Bowl
• Strop: Mastro Livi Medium Loom Strop "Coramella Italiana" and Hand Palm
• Razor: Mastro Livi Damasteel Ladder, 6/8 Full Hollow, French Point
• Post-Shave: Alum Block
• Post-Shave: Argan Oil
• After Shave: Geo F. Trumper West Indian Cologne

Thursday 2 June 2016



Mastro Livi CarboInox Snake Razor, 8/8 Full Hollow, Snake Point

Today in Italy it is national day and we are celebrating the republic day, so today's shave consisted in Italian shaving items only. Every item has been made in Italy, a tribute to all those Italians who gave their life and ideals, who fought in the hope to give us a better Country and a better place to live in. Italy certainly is not the best country in the world - as I believe there is no best country in the world as each one has its wonderful things to share and to give, after all we are living in a wonderful world if we only could respect it and everyone better - however Italy is an amazing country rich in astonishing beauty, unsurpassed art and history, breathtaking views, luscious food and wonderful wines, elegant lifestyle marked by our "worldwide well known and appreciated" Italian style and fashion, traditions and culture, this country gave birth to marvelous geniuses, craftsmen and artists. Viva l'Italia! (Long live Italy!)

• Pre-Shave: RazorGuy Pre-Shave Oil
• Soap: Cella
• Brush: Omega Brush #89
• Strop: Mastro Livi Travel Loom Strop and Hand Palm
• Razor: Mastro Livi CarboInox Snake Razor, 8/8 Full Hollow, Snake Point
• Post-Shave: Alum Block
• Post-Shave: Umbrian Extravirgin Olive Oil
• After Shave: RazorGuy Bay Rum

Sunday 5 June 2016



Traveling with a Snake

In my usual monthly business trip, I decided to take with me a snake. A particular snake. Well, I should better say "the snake". A rare and unique masterpiece by Mastro Livi having the blade made from his well known CarboInox consisting of a stainless steel cutting layer and the outer layers made from Mastro Livi twisted carbon damascus steel. He also inserted in the stainless steel layer some awesome and breathtaking carbon damascus dots, giving the blade an incredible and beautiful "dripping paint" effect. As for the shave, this beautiful straight razor is keen like a snake giving a very close and super smooth shave. The incomparable refreshing and finishing touch of Floïd Blue gave me the most luxurious shave.

• Pre-Shave: RazorGuy Pre-Shave Oil
• Soap: Negozio Leggero Hazelnut and Lavender Shave Cream
• Brush: Omega Brush #10275
• Strop: Mastro Livi Travel Loom Strop and Hand Palm
• Razor: Mastro Livi CarboInox Snake Razor, 8/8 Full Hollow, Snake Point
• Post-Shave: Alum Block
• Post-Shave: Argan Oil
• After Shave: Floïd Blue

Just got my new Mastro Livi 6/8 barbers notch point damascus razor with buffalo horn scales and all I can say is WOW! A work of Art I may just put in a frame. A shame to shave with it. I thought Mastro Livi could not surpass my other razor with the Antler scales but this one is magnificent. I attached a picture of both.

Beautiful, both of them.
Last time in Italy I was tempted to order a Mastro Livi with antler scales, as razors like this are much harder to find than razors with horn scales.

In my childhood it was quite common for huntsmen in the Alps to have hunting knives with antler handles.
Seems to be a very good material for handles and scales that provides a secure grip.


B.



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From what I was told by some members doing custom scales, it is hard to work with because of the dust. I was very surprised when I got the razor how big and heavy it was compared to all my other razors. I asked for 6/8 and he made 7/8 because he felt the balance would be better. How right he was. I thought it was the greatest razor I ever saw or used until this one.

Thursday 9 June 2016



Shaving with a Snake

Yet another snake shave, yet another superbly smooth shave. I am so glad I took with me this Mastro Livi Snake Razor in my monthly business trip. I like everything about this straight razor, and I must admit the "snake point" - or "Mastro Livi Point", as it was conceived by him - is incredibly efficient and precise in shaving the hardest spots of my face. A very special mention to the Palmolive Shave Cream: a super cheap soap however delivering an excellent shave and performance. At least here in Italy it is very easy to get a tube for less than one euro and - at a such competitive price - it is one of the very best soap around, one you can trust for its reliability and smooth result.

• Pre-Shave: RazorGuy Pre-Shave Oil
• Soap: Palmolive Shave Cream
• Brush: Omega Professional Brush #48
• Strop: Mastro Livi Travel Loom Strop and Hand Palm
• Razor: Mastro Livi CarboInox Snake Razor, 8/8 Full Hollow, Snake Point
• Post-Shave: Alum Block
• Post-Shave: Umbrian Extravirgin Olive Oil
• After Shave: Pinaud Clubman Classic Vanilla

Beautiful razor, very unusual in design and colour.

I agree that Palmolive is an exceptional value, either as cream or as shaving stick (if you can find it, because it has apparently been discontinued some countries).
The shaving stick is very convenient for travel, and both creams and stick work very well.
In northern Europe you find the standard cream in a green tube, in Italy the standard cream is in a red tube (as in your picture) and the green tube is the menthol one.

Never understood why Palmolive did not standardize the colours and packaging, but for less than one Euro there is not much else to complain about, is there?


B.




Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
(typo corrected)

Ladies and gentlemen I am very proud and happy to show you my latest Mastro Livi razor. Yesterday I went to Mastro Livi's workshop because he finally had the time to make a new razor for me. Not to mention, I wanted to watch the making as I usually like the process of Mastro Livi and I sharing ideas which he then perfectly and magnificently turns into reality. I am sure most of you know Mastro Livi makes kamisori razors and, in particular, he conceived three models based on the original kamisori. One of them is a kamisori to which he mounted "western style scales" in order to protect the edge and make it safer to handle when closed. I wanted this very model of razor as it was still missing in my collection. The blade is made from Mastro Livi CarboInox with a breathtaking pattern and colors whereas scales are made from abalone mother of pearl with coral and white mother of pearl inserts. I wanted the insert to have red and white colors as they are the colors of Perugia, my beloved city and where I was born. The blade is basically a kamisori, with its well known straight handle and, in this one, Mastro Livi wanted to add some lovely features, such a symmetrical grinding and a snake point, that is the point Mastro Livi conceived for his famous snake razor. As for the name, I am very proud to say it has been conceived by me. While I was watching Mastro Livi making this razor, I was thinking to myself it deserved a proper name and I told Mastro Livi we should think about one. He was grinding the blade and he said: "well, think about a good one". I promptly replied "KamiRazor", as it recalls a kamisori but looks like a western straight razor. I thought it also sounded nice and Mastro Livi has been enthusiastic about it and decided to adopt it to call like that every kamisori with scales he is going to make from now on. I am very proud for having conceived another name for Mastro Livi's works and this makes three: Grifetto, CarboInox and now KamiRazor are names I conceived for Mastro Livi's works. Of course I am super proud of this razor because it is a CarboInox KamiRazor: two names I conceived used for a single razor. Ladies and gentlemen, here it is my Mastro Livi CarboInox KamiRazor!

Mastro Livi CarboInox KamiRazor

• Blade: 13/16 Full Hollow, Snake Point (Mastro Livi Point(
• Steel: Mastro Livi CarboInox (Artisan martensitic damascus steel made of carbon and martensitic stainless steel)
• Scales: Abalone mother of pearl with coral and white mother of pearl inserts

Back side of Mastro Livi KamiRazor




Front side of Mastro Livi KamiRazor




Back side of Mastro Livi KamiRazor




Mastro Livi KamiRazor with paired key chain. Every Mastro Livi razor made of his artisan damascus steel comes with a key chain made from the very same billet used for the making of the blade

Sunday 19 June 2016



Mastro Livi CarboInox KamiRazor

What a smooth shave! Yesterday I went to Mastro Livi's workshop and he made this magnificent straight razor for me of which I am very proud of. It is made of CarboInox - the artisan damascus steel Mastro Livi conceived by using both carbon and martensitic stainless steel - and for which I conceived the name: KamiRazor. It basically is a kamisori blade to which has been mounted "western style" scales in order to protect the edge and make it safer to handle when closed. This is the third name I suggested Mastro Livi for his works - Grifetto, CarboInox and now KamiRazor - and I am very proud of this. This KamiRazor has abalone scales with coral and white mother of pearl inserts having the color of Perugia, my beloved city where I was born. As for the rest, my shaving soap proved to be, once again, a super performing soap, absolutely velvety and giving a super luxurious lather. Superb top notch shave!

• Pre-Shave: RazorGuy Pre-Shave Oil
• Soap: RazorGuy Shaving Soap
• Brush: Mastro Livi Super Silvertip Badger, Padouk handle, 24mm knot
• Bowl: Gerby Bowl
• Strop: Mastro Livi Medium Loom Strop "Coramella Italiana" and Hand Palm
• Razor: Mastro Livi CarboInox KamiRazor, 13/16 Full Hollow, Snake Point
• Post-Shave: Alum Block
• Post-Shave: Argan Oil
• After Shave: Myrsol Blue