Straight Razor from Spyderco

[Doc Dan]

Hi Doc,

Don't have a name yet. Open to suggestions?

sal

I suggested the Spyderco Occam in another thread and I think a few people liked that.

Checked that out when it was first mentioned, but it was already in use.

sal

I still think Wildcat is a great name only because of your funny story. That makes me laugh everytime I think about it because I can picture it in my head.

Other than that, Vestal, which means pure, because it is the pure essence of shaving. Spirit carries the meaning of essence. The Latin essentia means essence, as well. This is the essence of shaving.

I know. I'm bad with names.

Can't wait on these to come out.

[VashHash]

Spyderco Hollow. Ho)(ow
Use the 2 Ls) ( for the logo so they mirror the hollow grind of the razor between 2 Os. I'm sure someone with could draw it better than plain text parentheses.

[Stuart Ackerman]

I really like VashHash name for the razor

[juggler]

I'm not surprised that the Occam name was already taken, but maybe SpyOccam could work?

[Stuart Ackerman]

Nice to see the final product

[sal]

Talkin' story;

I had just shaved with a straight Razor for the first time. I was staying in a camper at the Hammer Inn in Dubois. I had a lot of cuts so I had little piece of tissue stuck to my face. Looking back, I had to look odd to the group (Bill Bagewll, Don Hastings and Bill Moran were the instructors.)

It was a custom maker from Canada. Don't recall his name. What he said was; "What you doing sal? You look like you've been trying to shove butter up a wildcat's *** with a hot icepick?

sal

[VashHash]

The first time I shaved my face with a knife it was a dragonfly tattoo model. After that I started shaving with a ZDP stretch at about 8000 grit and a bare leather strop. I thought it was a decent shave until I bought an actual straight razor. It was night and day. The straight razor could easily cut free standing hair. If I pushed the razor against my beard it would just cut the hair. Didn't push it to the side just cut through it. I also enjoy how precise it can trim if you want your beard or side burns crisp. No guessing like with a cartridge razor.

[Jeb]

Now let's make one thing here clear first, I am not offering to do so, but; I feel confident I could shave with my Nand with its, M398 steel easy enough. I ain't going to though cause I am sure I would have tissue paper all over me as well.

But what I am saying this little Nand is quite the knife and it does hone out really well. It's a really cool little knife.

I got a couple of Dragonfly knives around here and while they are honed sharp, I would sure hate to think I had to shave with them lol. Maybe one of my Police4 with the K390 steel, one of those might have a better chance than a little Dragonfly, one of them would be really hard I would think lol.

[TimButterfield]

I also enjoy how precise it can trim if you want your beard or side burns crisp. No guessing like with a cartridge razor.

I enjoy that aspect of my DE razor, though perhaps the Feather blades help. Just a slight press and they are nicely trimmed.

I have bought and tried a straight razor, but ended up selling it. It just seemed higher risk compared with my DE and needing to strop instead of just replace added effort. I did enjoy the process of badger brush, lather, etc., but even that has gotten more efficient now with just a hand lather of some trumper's lime cream for my DE shave. I do think they are really cool and wish I liked using them more.

[Doc Dan]

Talkin' story;

I had just shaved with a straight Razor for the first time. I was staying in a camper at the Hammer Inn in Dubois. I had a lot of cuts so I had little piece of tissue stuck to my face. Looking back, I had to look odd to the group (Bill Bagewll, Don Hastings and Bill Moran were the instructors.)

It was a custom maker from Canada. Don't recall his name. What he said was; "What you doing sal? You look like you've been trying to shove butter up a wildcat's *** with a hot icepick?

sal

That's why I thought Wildcat would be a great name. So funny!

[Doc Dan]

The first time I shaved my face with a knife it was a dragonfly tattoo model. After that I started shaving with a ZDP stretch at about 8000 grit and a bare leather strop. I thought it was a decent shave until I bought an actual straight razor. It was night and day. The straight razor could easily cut free standing hair. If I pushed the razor against my beard it would just cut the hair. Didn't push it to the side just cut through it. I also enjoy how precise it can trim if you want your beard or side burns crisp. No guessing like with a cartridge razor.

A straight razor is a specialized knife made specifically to cut whiskers, and at this it excels. There is a night and day difference, for sure. Also, when use my straights for a while, my whiskers seem to get softer to the touch for some reason. I don't get any razor burn or shave bumps or ingrown hairs.

[sal]

Hey Doc,

I guess we could use a thread as a tutorial? Questions & Answers? Tricks?

The razor will come with the tutorial pamphlet (Written by our own Doc Dan), but for those that want to experience the adventure of straight razor shaving, expertise helps.

There is a learning curve, but worth the effort. I couldn't find any instructors so it was trial and error with microscopes. I'm glad I did it.

sal

[Fireman]

Occam or Ockham was the town in Surrey England where William of Ockham was from. Coincidentally my Dad was raised in Surrey. Being a Franciscan monk, I’m sure he could have used a razor a lot because they would shave their scalps as a sign of humility. Here are some fun facts about William of Ockham.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_of_Ockham

I do like the ghost name though. It would be amazing if it were made in Magna Max steel. Larrin’s Razor

[zhyla]

There is a learning curve, but worth the effort. I couldn't find any instructors so it was trial and error with microscopes. I'm glad I did it.

Straight razors are hugely popular now. YouTube is full of videos. Probably the best way to learn for most people.

[bobnikon]

The Ghost

or

The Apparition

Well, given the shaving skills of the general population, how about the
.
.
.
Ghost Maker

[VashHash]

The first time I shaved my face with a knife it was a dragonfly tattoo model. After that I started shaving with a ZDP stretch at about 8000 grit and a bare leather strop. I thought it was a decent shave until I bought an actual straight razor. It was night and day. The straight razor could easily cut free standing hair. If I pushed the razor against my beard it would just cut the hair. Didn't push it to the side just cut through it. I also enjoy how precise it can trim if you want your beard or side burns crisp. No guessing like with a cartridge razor.

A straight razor is a specialized knife made specifically to cut whiskers, and at this it excels. There is a night and day difference, for sure. Also, when use my straights for a while, my whiskers seem to get softer to the touch for some reason. I don't get any razor burn or shave bumps or ingrown hairs.

When I shave with a straight razor I usually prep my face. When I used to shave with cartridge razors I just wet my face and put canned shaving cream. I think the preparation is very important for the final result when shaving with a straight. No hot towel for me but a hot shower before hand or just washing my face with hot water and letting it soak. Then a nice lather of shave soap with a brush.

[Doc Dan]

The first time I shaved my face with a knife it was a dragonfly tattoo model. After that I started shaving with a ZDP stretch at about 8000 grit and a bare leather strop. I thought it was a decent shave until I bought an actual straight razor. It was night and day. The straight razor could easily cut free standing hair. If I pushed the razor against my beard it would just cut the hair. Didn't push it to the side just cut through it. I also enjoy how precise it can trim if you want your beard or side burns crisp. No guessing like with a cartridge razor.

A straight razor is a specialized knife made specifically to cut whiskers, and at this it excels. There is a night and day difference, for sure. Also, when use my straights for a while, my whiskers seem to get softer to the touch for some reason. I don't get any razor burn or shave bumps or ingrown hairs.

When I shave with a straight razor I usually prep my face. When I used to shave with cartridge razors I just wet my face and put canned shaving cream. I think the preparation is very important for the final result when shaving with a straight. No hot towel for me but a hot shower before hand or just washing my face with hot water and letting it soak. Then a nice lather of shave soap with a brush.

Amazing shaves. I rotate my razors, including my straights. I just got out my Colling 6/8 Spanish point. I am so looking forward to tomorrow's shave.

[VashHash]

The first time I shaved my face with a knife it was a dragonfly tattoo model. After that I started shaving with a ZDP stretch at about 8000 grit and a bare leather strop. I thought it was a decent shave until I bought an actual straight razor. It was night and day. The straight razor could easily cut free standing hair. If I pushed the razor against my beard it would just cut the hair. Didn't push it to the side just cut through it. I also enjoy how precise it can trim if you want your beard or side burns crisp. No guessing like with a cartridge razor.

A straight razor is a specialized knife made specifically to cut whiskers, and at this it excels. There is a night and day difference, for sure. Also, when use my straights for a while, my whiskers seem to get softer to the touch for some reason. I don't get any razor burn or shave bumps or ingrown hairs.

When I shave with a straight razor I usually prep my face. When I used to shave with cartridge razors I just wet my face and put canned shaving cream. I think the preparation is very important for the final result when shaving with a straight. No hot towel for me but a hot shower before hand or just washing my face with hot water and letting it soak. Then a nice lather of shave soap with a brush.

Amazing shaves. I rotate my razors, including my straights. I just got out my Colling 6/8 Spanish point. I am so looking forward to tomorrow's shave.

Yeah I miss shaving my face. I just trim now but nothing beats a straight for that too. Eventually I'll probably go back to a moustache and goatee and not a full beard.
I only keep one razor. It's a vintage German one. It's a full hollow I believe.

[Sterling454]

Hey Doc,

I guess we could use a thread as a tutorial? Questions & Answers? Tricks?

The razor will come with the tutorial pamphlet (Written by our own Doc Dan), but for those that want to experience the adventure of straight razor shaving, expertise helps.

There is a learning curve, but worth the effort. I couldn't find any instructors so it was trial and error with microscopes. I'm glad I did it.

sal

Sal, if there's an alpha/beta test group for these, I would absolutely love to participate in it. I have a strong beard and it grows fast! I would be happy to make regular use & maintenance reports too!!

[Doc Dan]

The end of a glorious shave. This S.K. Colling razor has a deep hollow grind with a belly (horizontal stabilizer) that swells out before returning to the hollow ground blade. This makes the razor very smooth shaving and the edge is stable. The point (end of the blade) is done in a Spanish point. The soap is Cella sweet almond oil and is rich and creamy, with good secondary slickness. The sweet almond oil is good for the skin, too. The brush is a custom made brush by Rudy Vey and has a 25mm Mühle Silvertip fiber knot (hair). Excellent kit.

I got a near baby butt smooth (BBS) shave in two passes with touch up (safety razor takes four passes) without any irritation or bumps.