Thread: New Blade Production- Unrealistic?

I like this dialogue. Particularly when we discuss the actual process of metal work (molds, CNC production, etc.). I know the general idea has hurdles and I think so many of them have been laid out well here.

On the flip side of the coin, there's a guy in Pakistan and China (they're male-centric countries so I'm assuming a guy is in charge) that said, 'we're going to make a straight razor. we don't know how, but we'll do it. It will be junk, but we'll do it. Heaven knows if there's a market, but we'll invest the capital and do it.' And so, those two countries have product. How is that? I always thought Pakistan had a struggling industry. Are they getting investment from Europe and the former Russian states? Also, will their blades get better with time? Will they push the better makes out of the market on price point alone? Somehow I think it might.

Again, I'm just trying to see the hurdles before I take any kind of leap and I think you guys are truly helping me see the picture a little clearer.

Don't forget that the pakistani market is a wee bit bigger than most other national markets, and the average Pakistani probably can't afford a TI.

And also, investment capital and production costs are significantly lower if quality and consistency are way down on the priority list below shiny and cheap.

Ummmm.... let me get this right.... you're thinking of mass producing a razor for the American market... the market prolific with people who got too lazy to get out of their chairs to change the channel on a TV?? And you're going to... expect them to strop and hone these razors on a regular basis and to carefully wipe them dry after each use?? And you expect them to spend time whipping up lather and rinsing out brushes.

Surely you jest.

I have mailed for a while with Puma to see if they would be interested in producing a number of blades of the same quality as the vintage ones if I guaranteed buying the lot. They weren't really. I was told Puma silver steel wasn't actually anything special at all, at Puma they reckon the Puma razors' reputation was due to the grind. They said they had scrapped the last hollow grinder when it broke and the last razor maker had retired 10 years ago. They actually recommended I buy a Puma 2nd hand.

Looking at the prices Boker ask for their newly manufactured razors I wonder if it is worth the effort. Either Boker is very greedy or, restarting production and training staff is a costly procedure.

My $0.02.

Originally Posted by azjoe

Ummmm.... let me get this right.... you're thinking of mass producing a razor for the American market... the market prolific with people who got too lazy to get out of their chairs to change the channel on a TV?? And you're going to... expect them to strop and hone these razors on a regular basis and to carefully wipe them dry after each use?? And you expect them to spend time whipping up lather and rinsing out brushes.

:Surely you jest.

We just need to get a clever advertising guru interested in promoting straight razor shaving, making the American public believe the extra smoothness of a straight razor shave attracts lots of bimbos and improves sex life.
If the hype catches on lots of straight razors will be manufactured and sold, when people realize it doesn't work that way the market will be swamped with little used straight razors that will lower the prices for us.

Originally Posted by azjoe

Ummmm.... let me get this right.... you're thinking of mass producing a razor for the American market... the market prolific with people who got too lazy to get out of their chairs to change the channel on a TV?? And you're going to... expect them to strop and hone these razors on a regular basis and to carefully wipe them dry after each use?? And you expect them to spend time whipping up lather and rinsing out brushes.

Surely you jest.

Every man (and at least one woman) on this forums does...