I am a forum moron I just found this thread. I do not really have any input to add.
I just wanted to say I am very happy for you and this sounds like a great venture.
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I am a forum moron I just found this thread. I do not really have any input to add.
I just wanted to say I am very happy for you and this sounds like a great venture.
Update: I'm unable to post photos at Spyderco's request until we are closer to production. for now imagine an 8/8 W&B FBU with notch and a slight smile. ;)
For Barbers Use
Pete <:-}
Compression lock or liner lock??
Just kidding.
Congratulations on the collaboration. Sounds like an exciting project!
BTW, do they have thoughts yet on where it will be produced? Those not familiar with Spyderco may not have experience with what each factory is capable of and may make snap judgements simply based on the factory branding.....Golden, Taichung, Seki City, etc...… all have differing reputations and skill levels and fit/finish abilities.
LOL. There is a fellow on the a forum who asked for a lock. I think he wanted to EDC his razor. I don't know where to put the pocket clip either.
Tentatively, we've discussed Golden CO. I have talked to the factory employees and they already have some ideas about what their objectives will be. On a practical basis, one of the limitations is access to the schedule between all the other blades waiting to get into production.
Hello Mike,
Congrats on this project and I hope it works out for both you and Spyderco.
Most of what I want has been stated by the other guys.
6/8 blade width
Half hollow or more
Slight smile on both the edge and the spine. For new guys a straight edge/spine with a round nose would be better.
Spine should be rounded.
Jimps top and bottom.
Well balanced ( no heavy scales).
Small bevel width to make it easier to hone.
Now my major point of disagreement ..... NO BAINITE!
I currently have in my possession a razor from Joe Chandler that you heat treated to bainite. I was either the second or third person to try to hone it.
None of us succeeded. The steel was simply to f'ing tough.
It was the razor that looked like it was made for Worf, the Klingon on Star Trek.
I do not know what steel was used nor the heat treatment but I hope to never hone another razor like that one.
Hope to see you in Texas. :)
Thanks Randy. This sort of feedback is exactly what is needed for this project. When my history with razors begins, You showed up in my shop one day... so this business of un-honeable razors is all your fault.
The intent of using bainite structures is to prevent chips and cracks from accidental dings off the sink furniture. There are several bainite razors out there that Joe Chandler and I collaborated on. I never tracked them to their owners but all those were hardened to Rc59.5 as is the prototype that Spyderco has. It was professionally honed and I have gotten no feedback from them as to difficulty. I've never heard of any of those razors returning to Joe either.
Nonetheless, the Klingon razor may have been one of the experimental group and I don't recall the exact steel. O-1 was a common tool steel that Joe and I used. If it was from a different batch of O-1 (different steel mill, different supplier) it could be possible that some minor alloying change can alter the end result of the process. The Heat Treater's Guide I use indicates that the upper limit of hardness is 60-ish and my recipe dials in 59.5 because of some of the early experimental steps we (as in you were involved) took to determine the optimum hardness for both the shaver and the honer. I did Rockwell test nearly every razor blade that left the shop as a proof of hardness. There will be a small dimple on the blade somewhere. Commonly the tang near the blade.
Watching you hone a blade while demonstrating is so effortless. It's like watching someone butter their toast. It's good for you to have a puzzle once in a while. LOL. I don't have any intention of making anything that hard again.
Randy, can you bring that razor please? I would like to have a crack at it.
If I can get it to shave to my liking and I like the looks (I have no idea what it looks like) I may want to trade it against something I made. Details can be hashed out when we meet if you want to do it.
Should I bring my Shapton Glass stones? Fastest stones I know of.
Interesting, I'm a long time user of Spyderco knives, my edc is a UKPK made for my local knife supply store Heinnie Haynes, I look forward to seeing the final design I could definitely be interested.
Here's one of my Spyderco knives in my SOTD, the knife is a design from the late knife designer Bo Lum, the knife has a 12K Naniwa edge I put on it.
https://i.imgur.com/4yhBbF7.jpg
I think the scale material could be a very important factor, the razor will be a new modern razor, also a Spyderco modern razor, many Spyderco high end knives including sprint run models have carbon fibre handles, I feel carbon fibre would be a good choice for a new modern razor.
Juma is very eye catching and easy to work
The prototype has carbon fiber scales.
I'll add that to the list of requests. I'm sure they can do any handle material. A great many of their knives have scales made of Fiber reinforced nylon (FRN). Those are produced by injection molding and are relatively inexpensive. The mold design can have any texture to the surface. I suppose it will depend on the clamor for a set of particulars. Least cost is one of the criteria and will help keep the cost of the first batch down for the buyers too.
Some of this will be limited to what they can do in Golden CO as I think this is where the manufacturing will occur. Truthfully, every Spyderco associated factory has a backlog right now.
This thread was quite the exciting find.
I’d ask what’s going on with the project, but by looking at the dates, I’ll speculate, Covid.
As a long time Spyderco supporter, I certainly hope it gains traction again.
Wow! Great stuff. I don't know how I missed this. It may have been while I was absent for a little while. I hope this project is still rolling. Congratulations on your collaboration. The FBU shape is great but I hope it's a full hollow in production, or at least 3/4. Anything below 5/8 is too small. Even 5/8 is a little narrow. Anything over 7/8 is just too big to be practical. A nice swoop to the heel to keep the stabilizer out of the way is good. Bellied hollow grind is always a plus. This Henry Sears Queen 7/8 is my very favorite razor of all and a fine, fine shaver. I'm not versed on the steel nomenclature but this thing rings like a bell when you hone, strop and even if the stubble is very long. It is sharp enough to take everything off in one stroke. Something like this would be fabulous.
Attachment 324175
I say the Henry Sears is my favorite but this Wade and Butcher Special round point is neck and neck with it. That is my go-to blade and the first one that I had that I really loved. It is simple , full hollow, no frills but still attractive.
Attachment 324177
Jimps top and bottom are nice. Round, notched or blunt square points I like. Oh! Engraving on the blade face I'm a sucker for. Etchings are nice but kind of fragile.
Good luck in your endeavor and please keep us updated!
Any news on the Spyderco razor? It’s been about 8 mos since Mike Blue last posted! I own and have owned Spyderco knives and would be very interested in a razor, especially if it conformed to the W&B FBU design that was discussed.
Not speaking with ANY authority, but this covid thing and economy may have affected its progress.
Update: Covid19 has slowed factory production over all the projects in the works at Spyderco. Even under optimum/exceptional conditions this will take time. The fastest prototype to production record under Normal conditions was 18 months.
Thanks for the update. Anxious to see something.