Straight Razor from Spyderco

[akapennypincher]

Spyderco is knife company, they have a good knife market share of knife market.

Straight Razor are like buddy whips, yes you could sell a few, but the buddy whip market is shrinking. Not in growth mode.

Think it would be waist of time, money, and resources. Developing a Spyderco Straight Razor, JMHO.

[Doc Dan]

Thanks Sal. I enjoyed that. You are braver than I am, when it comes to shaving. That "cat" comment made me spit out my coffee!! Hahahaha! I can related to it. One of my razors has never bitten me. It is a Japanese razor and for some reason we get along really well. The other is a good French razor and it bites me often. It is getting better, though. I've gotten through a few shaves now without getting nicked by it.

A straight razor is an amazing tool and the edge is so delicate it is easily damaged. I have been so amazed at looking at the edges of my razors versus my knives.

Maybe if the salt pot doesn't work out you all can contract with a good custom straight razor maker? Just a thought. I'd rather see it done in-house.

[Doc Dan]

Spyderco is knife company, they have a good knife market share of knife market.

Straight Razor are like buddy whips, yes you could sell a few, but the buddy whip market is shrinking. Not in growth mode.

Think it would be waist of time, money, and resources. Developing a Spyderco Straight Razor, JMHO.

Nope, the market is growing. So is the shaving soap market, the safety razor market, and the shaving brush market. Even the old time players are getting back into it all.

[JD Spydo]

There are a couple of good websites on Straight Razors that show you how to strop and sharpening them correctly. It's not as difficult as a lot of people let on.

As horribly expensive as these disposable razors are getting to be in the last 5 years or so it only makes sense to consider going for a straight razor.

[Doc Dan]

And that is why the Razor will be named... Wild Cat

This would be a great name and we would know the history behind it! The Spyderco Wild Cat!

[Stuart Ackerman]

Sorry, I did make a joke...Sal and Mike get the naming rights!

[akapennypincher]

Well recall in 1960’s going to Barber School for haircuts.

New students learned to use Straight Razor shaving lathered up balloon.

If they goofed up it was pop, and a mess of lather to clean up.

I have tough beard, it grows in weird directions, and sensitive shin.

Friend was in Barber school, he said grow your beard three days, and come in for shave for free.

He looked at beard, and said no chance I can shave you without bad happening.

Back then I use Gillette Adjustable with Blue Blades, got ok result.

Some people are now east even for expert barbers to shave

[Doc Dan]

Bumping this thread.

@Sal, is there anything we as a forum can do to help this along?

[sal]

Hi Doc,

Thanx for the offer, but at this time, I think the ball is in Mike's (Blue) and Ed's (Schempp) court. What caught my interest in making a straight razor was Mike's offer to help me make one in Bainite. Once that was in motion, we could decide if we want to move forward with other straight razors in other designs or materials.

sal

[CDEP]

As long as it has a Spydie hole, take my money.

[Doc Dan]

Hi Doc,

Thanx for the offer, but at this time, I think the ball is in Mike's (Blue) and Ed's (Schempp) court. What caught my interest in making a straight razor was Mike's offer to help me make one in Bainite. Once that was in motion, we could decide if we want to move forward with other straight razors in other designs or materials.

sal

Would it be possible to work with Thiers Issard, Ralf Aust, or one of the Japanese makers? There are some good custom makers in the USA but they charge a bomb for their razors, I think. Ralf Aust still makes them by hand in Germany out of good steel and they are not too expensive. He even has a stainless option. Thiers Issard uses C135 run around HRT 64 hardness, or so. It is hard enough that I tapped the faucet accidentally with my edge, but the loop showed no damage. Not bad.

An issue that I foresee is having the razor shave ready. I mean truly shave ready, not factory shave ready. How would that be accomplished? Of course, buyers could take care of this themselves.

[sal]

Hi Doc,

Can you give me contact info for the above mentioned craftsmen?

Is there a current manual on the art of shaving with a straight razor?

sal

[Fireman]

I would want a compression lock shaver

[Doc Dan]

Hi Doc,

Can you give me contact info for the above mentioned craftsmen?

Is there a current manual on the art of shaving with a straight razor?

sal

I attempted to email you. There should be two emails.

As for the manual, let me look. I have an old timey one, and there are some good videos that are not full of nonsense. I'll let you know what I find.

[Doc Dan]

@Sal, I have this book in my library. It is not up to date, but it does have some good information: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/43166/4 ... 3166-h.htm

I also have this: file:///Users/docdan/Downloads/SR%20Shaving%20Instructions%20Rev%20F.pdf

Here is a modern guide on B&B:
https://www.badgerandblade.com/forum/wi ... or_Shaving

These are some that I can think of right off that I have. There are some videos, too.

[Doc Dan]

Here's my Thiers Issard straight razor. The steel is 64 or 65 HRT. It is really hard and the edge lasts a long time. I love this razor so much I'm thinking of buying another one to go with it.

[Doc Dan]

Maybe our dream will come true and we will get a Spyderco, full or 3/4 hollow ground, 6/8 razor. A 5/8 is okay. Anything smaller is too small and anything larger than 6/8 is too big, at least for me. I'm just bumping this to keep it alive.

While waiting, I contacted Steve Colling of Prosperine Razor in Australia and asked him to make me a razor. It will be assembled tomorrow, but here is the picture I have of it awaiting the paua shell scales to be attached to the blade.
Think about a Spyderco like this.

[Doc Dan]

Here is mine and it's on the way.
The point being, we could have a Spyderco like this.
Shaving with a straight razor means no ingrown hairs, rare razor burn and irritation, and no cartridges or razors to buy and throw away. You'll get at least 80 shaves between sharpenings, maybe more. All you need is a good leather strop, which is not expensive if you know where to buy.

[Doc Dan]

Here is a modified version of his red bellied black (this is an AUS snake) without the blade etching. Imagine a Spyder on the blade.

[SpyderGrill]

I must have watched to many western movies. Dry shaved? I have zero interest in this and dont want a barber in my face with that lethal weapon.

Cant remember, was it Hang em High when Clint Eastwood was getting a Shave?

Disposables last a few shaves and throw them in the trash when done