Thread: Joe Chandler Razor

Joe's Razor arrived today.
His pictures don't do his work justice.








The style of this one is very practical with no excess. It has the look of a well crafted tool rather than some of his other work that has more artistic embellishments. It is a 6/8" round tip with the heft of the old Butchers and is made of CPM154CM stainless steel.

I'm not used to a razor with no sign of previous use so it's a real pleasure to inspect the makers work rather than the shavers rust and drops. How Joe managed to ship it to me with no finger prints or signs that it had been touched amazes me. I keep wiping my fingerprints off the beautiful finish as I am inspecting. Note that where I find fault it is because I am looking (including pulling out my microscope) very carefully at a gentleman whose work I admire and appreciate.

The blade is shoulderless and has a really nice heft. It balances almost perfectly just behind the thumb notch. The jimps are even and consistent except on the last cut I can see where Joe wasn't sure whether to go with one more or to stop. The polish is a soft mirror and is extremely nice and is perfect from one end to the other except for the presence of some small machine mark on the end of the tang. If not for these smaill marks I woud have thought the steel came this way out of the ground rather than being ground, tempered and polished.

The domed pins are a perfect look on this razor and it is nicely tight except for the first centimetre of opening where it is a little loose. This is likely a factor of the blade being off centre by about 1/100 of an inch. I'm learning that this can be an unforgiving part of the scale making process. The middle pin has a nicely finished standoff that sits in the middle of the thumb rest. I would have never picked the micarta from a picture but in person it has a depth and finish that is a mix of ebony and carbon fibre (beautiful). The brass spacer is perfectly cut and fitted with a mirror finish that matches that of the steel.

The grind is reminiscent of the wapi and is not quite a wedge but rather 1/4 ground. When I look at the bevel I think that if I knew more about forensics it would be possible to tell whether Joe is left or right handed. On one side the bevel is unreasonably perfect from end to end. On the other the bevel is wider at the toe the the heel by a hair's width. From either side the bevel is well done and again it is only the tiny assymetry that would have me guess that the razor was made by a human being.

The edge is pretty impressive under the scope. Joe's honing skills leave me knowing I need to keep practicing. I will likely update this post in the morning on it's ability to shave but my thumb and my forearm tell me that this is the sharpest razor that I've met yet. I'm going to have to get some lessons before this one meets the hone again. Happily I have a 16k on the way.

I am pretty sure that if I don't hurt it that I will be looking for someone to give it to when I am old. I could easily joke that this is the best free razor that I have but it is simply the best razor that I have.

Thank you for your work Joe. You are a fine craftsman and I'm looking forward to your future work.

-Bob