Joe Chandler Handmade Straight

[xChris]

I've been shaving with straights for about two and a half years, and have accumulated a decent collection of restored, NOS, and new razors.

Here lately, though, I felt like my collection needed to have some representation by some of the outstanding makers we have within our community. For my first, I turned to Joe Chandler. I have commissioned Joe's restoration services before, and his prices are quite competitive. It seemed a natural selection for my first customized razor. Joe, as the artisan, was free to make the scales after I selected the wood.

This is the first blade (knife or razor) I have ever owned with damascus steel -- I so wanted it for this razor! Joe stated the damascus came from Mike Blue, and is made from 1095 and 15N20 in a twist pattern with a hardness of 59 Rc. The wedge and fasteners are made of brass. I will tell you that this is a substantial piece; it weighed in at around 4oz. While this doesn't seem like much, most other razors were weighing in at 2oz, and the closest razor that I found in my collection was a W&B Barber's Use which weighed in at 3.5oz. The scales are nicely polished African Blackwood in a natural finish.

The blade width is 8/8 measured from edge to spine; if you measure to where the hone would touch (edge plus bottom edge of the diamond spine) it is 6/8. I measured thickness around 0.206 - 0.209in. along the blade and tang.