Thread: A Spyderco straight razor is in the works....

I am pleased to announce that Spyderco, the knife company of Golden Colorado, has a prototype straight razor of mine. It has been accepted for evaluation for production. This is my market research.

My good friend of many years, Sal Glesser is the owner of the company. Sal shaved for decades with a straight blade. He says he stopped when his "eyes would no longer let him see his face." He has not given up interest in razors.

We've discussed this project for several years now. A great many variables have already received consideration. The prototype is a blade made of O-1 and heat treated in my shop to become Bainite phase material instead of the usual Martensite phase. We've discussed two options. More in a series of American made O-1 steel in Golden CO and potentially the use of CPM154. This is a very good stain resistant option for shavers that don't want the Bainitic treatment.

I know, and Sal does, that taking a knifemaker's reputation into the razor world is not something done lightly. Here's what we are asking for. Please make any comments suggestions or discussion that you feel a need to make. What works for you? What doesn't? This really is a community chance to push all the variables around before a blade is first ground.

I'll suggest that the prototype is a 4/4 size blade, within W&B FBU general outlines. Yes, there is a hole in the blade, it's Spyderco's trademark. That's tucked up under the spine toward the tang. It has been professionally honed. Feedback by a select group and guidance during prototyping is already in place. As you all know, this is not the firm limits of how things could be. Success will likely breed more successes. You can have a part in that.

This is my first foray into the commercial world. I'll do my best to be impartial and without conflict of interest as before. However, I am a Spyderco collaborator/designer. The appearance of conflict is obvious.