Thread: My new Wiliams

I wanted to see what a modern razor made with known steel was like, so I e-mailed Robert. I told him I was envisioning a plain-Jane razor: 7/8 quarter hollow, blacked out steel, square point, Micarta scales. A work horse, not a show dog. The kind of razor you use every day, not the kind you keep in a display case and take out once a month to polish it.

Robert was surprisingly enthusiastic about the project. Surprising because I figured something like this would be boring for him. Instead of blacked-out steel, he recommended a satin finish because it holds oil well.

So here it is. Even a plain Jane Williams is a work of art. The fit & finish of this razor is superior to any vintage razor I've owned. Everything is straight and centered; no subtle warps or twists, no oblong pin hole. It's the best razor I've owned. My Allen 37 Strand is the only vintage razor I've owned that's even in the same league. The Williams is more durable than the Allen, but I'm still touching up pretty frequently, and Robert made this thing about as hard as you can make a razor & still be able to sharpen it practically. I guess there's no hope for my barbed wire steel-eating beard

My collection is now down to the Allen and the Williams, and the Williams is my daily shaver. The project was surprisingly affordable. I think Robert's razors are a real deal if you skip the frills and jewelry & go for function. The only way you're going to get a modern wedge is to have someone make you one, and $350 is a good deal IMO to be able to hire a master craftsman to make something from scratch to your specifications. I look forward to many shaves with my new Williams.