You know - no big deal...

[joel]

:biggrin: just an 8/8 Damascus "Bois de Rose" Wood Maestro....


http://www.badgerandblade.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=4413

http://www.badgerandblade.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=4414

http://www.badgerandblade.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=4415

http://www.badgerandblade.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=4416

http://www.badgerandblade.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=4417

http://www.badgerandblade.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=4418

http://www.badgerandblade.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=4419

http://www.badgerandblade.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=4420

http://www.badgerandblade.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=4421

http://www.badgerandblade.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=4422

http://www.badgerandblade.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=4423

http://www.badgerandblade.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=4424

[slcsteve]

Now THAT'S a straight. It'll look great just as soon as you get all those lines off the blade.:biggrin:

[Austin]

Joel, very nice indeed.

[Dinder1]

Yeah, I bet a Dremel tool would buff out those funny lookin squiggles .:lol:
But really, that is one awesome razor Joel!
Cheers, DJ.

[Xert]

http://www.so-cool.co.uk/Resources/item1d.gif

[Darkcloud]

A dream! :drool:

Congratulation Joel!

[bearbeard]

:drool: What type of wood is that Joel? The blade is absolutely beautiful.:001_tt1:

[ada8356]

That's the blade that God shaves with.....

[Rik]

Beautiful Razor Joel! :thumbup1:

[soulshine]

i am soooo tempted to try a straight.

nice razor my friend.

s~s

[Mama Bear]

Wow, that is SEXY... but, you don't really use that on your face do you!!!! ? :eek: OMG!

[PalmettoB]

Um, WOW! :thumbup:

[Jim]

Sweeettt!
:biggrin:

[joel]

:drool: What type of wood is that Joel? The blade is absolutely beautiful.:001_tt1:

"Bois de Rose" Wood

[Lyrt]

"Bois de Rose" Wood
Which simply means "rosewood". Congratulations and don't forget to tell us how it performs.

[Mama Bear]

Which simply means "rosewood". Congratulations and don't forget to tell us how it performs.


And it is gorgeous.. That is a hell of blade Joe. One hell of a blade. I am having a hard time with putting that blade to your OWN throat tho. It is simply spectacular and I would keep it in the safe...... :eek: or in my boot.... :cool: If I had to shave with that I would have to move to France........ :crying:

[TimmyBoston]

Joel, now that a razor for a real man! :thumbup: Friggin' Beautiful. :001_tt1:

[kuzmo]

when reading posts like this I regret money spent on food ... :lol: GREAT looking straight :001_tt1:

[htownmmm]

That is a bee-yoo-tee-ful razor!


:drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool:



Marty

[drP]

A gorgeous razor indeed......!!

Until recently i had this same razor on my wishlist; but i switched the blade to ATS 34 steel when i got to know that Mastro Livi doesn't use Wootz damascus but Damasteel of Sweden, which isn't "genuine" Damascus.

The only factory in the world known for using Wootz damascus steel is Thiers-Issard. However, currently they don't manufacture 8/8 damascus blades afaik;current highest measure is 7/8

But Joel, this is nothing new to you; and it doesn't distract anything of the beauty of your acquisition.

I'm still making my mind up wether to purchase the rosewood 8/8 in ATS 34 steel or this beauty (http://shaveshop.co.uk/images/Mammoth_Crust_Ivory%208-8.jpg)

Peter

[Suzuki]

Reminds me of my meat cleaver!

Seriously though, that's a beatiful razor and I hope it shaves as good as it looks.

[joel]

A gorgeous razor indeed......!!

Until recently i had this same razor on my wishlist; but i switched the blade to ATS 34 steel when i got to know that Mastro Livi doesn't use Wootz damascus but Damasteel of Sweden, which isn't "genuine" Damascus.

The only factory in the world known for using Wootz damascus steel is Thiers-Issard. However, currently they don't manufacture 8/8 damascus blades afaik;current highest measure is 7/8

But Joel, this is nothing new to you; and it doesn't distract anything of the beauty of your acquisition.

I'm still making my mind up wether to purchase the rosewood 8/8 in ATS 34 steel or this beauty (http://shaveshop.co.uk/images/Mammoth_Crust_Ivory%208-8.jpg)

Peter


Peter,
Unfortunatly - the TI razors are not true "wootz" either - that is/has been a rumor, I used to own one - and I will probably pick up another (I collect razors like you brushes :tongue: ) but rest assured... not true wootz either. Also - the TI damascis razors are not stainless steel, and the properties of the edge in the TI razor, are not optimal for shaving.... it is long and drawln out, but basically the edge in the mixed and already "jagged" steel (inherent in damascus) rusts awful quick at the microscopic level, thus making it not as smooth as it should be, and they require touch up honing more than a carbon steel razor as a result.... i'd have to give mine a few laps on a hone once every week or two - but I have a realy tough beard, so a razor has to be in it's prime for me to get an enjoyable/comfortable shave. The Maestro damascus razors are inox/stainless, and because they are both "damascus" and "Stainless" they are hard as all hell.... I mean REALLY, REALLY damn hard - which is the desired properties of damascus for shaving - as the tremendous strength of the steel allows you to get a finer edge without it getting brittle or soft. Also - these razors do not need to be honed NEARLY as much as a standard steel, or standards stainless steel razor. Ask lynn however.... these damascus Livi's are a heck of a lot harder than the ATS-34 Livi's, and to boot they look nicer.

As far as the handle, I'd personally be weary of mammoth bark. It is known to be quite brittle (if you were to ever drop it :eek: it would be toast) and since EVERY handle is markedly different - a lot of mammoth ivory/mammoth bark handles look "broken" and kinda "dumpy." These pictures really do not do this rose wood razor, or damascus steel razor justice, as in person it is really striking, and has a tremendous appeal - as it is sophistically elegant. Some of the custom razors are mighty, mighty flashy (not my style) but this razor is a lot "quieter" elegant in its own way.

Best of luck deciding which Maestro to go with.... I know it is a toughie! :smile:

[boboakalfb]

Sure is purdy...is that one of the $20 straights you scored off of Ebay for the beginners? I'll tell you what...I'll give ya $40. :wink2:

[Padron]

Wow!!,

That thing is Incredible, Congrats on a lovely acquisition. :smile:

[sphughes]

A beautiful razor Joel. I definitely have some razor envy happening. I'm very satisfied with my ATS 34 Livi and think it looks just fine (and the shave it gives is amazing).....Since 'looks' are entirely subjective, I'm glad there are so many options available to everyone. That just means the RAD list can keep growing.

-Scott-

[joel]

A beautiful razor Joel. I definitely have some razor envy happening. I'm very satisfied with my ATS 34 Livi and think it looks just fine (and the shave it gives is amazing).....Since 'looks' are entirely subjective, I'm glad there are so many options available to everyone. That just means the RAD list can keep growing.

-Scott-

Scott,
I am thinking about picking up an ATS-34 as well, but I have a custom Takeda on the way (hopefully) once I hear back from Lynn, and I have my eye on 2 other razors as well that i'd like to pick up first (before I commit to a 3rd Maestro) :thumbup:

[Xert]

Would you mind describing the shave you got with it this morning, Joel?

[joel]

Would you mind describing the shave you got with it this morning, Joel?

Outstanding shave today. With most things however (just like shaving brushes) higher cost does NOT equal more performance/superior results. It feels a lot different when shaving, and due to its hardness, heft, and the damscus steel is well suited for REALLY tough beards.

All in all - it is one of my better shaving razors, but if you are SIMPLY looking for results, isn't necessarily the BEST option. You are buying this sucker for the looks, the size, the heft, and it being totally handmade by an artisan. It is like a Mercedes (Dovo, Henckels, etc) versus a Rolls Royce or a Bently.... they'll arguably deliver the same results, with the same performance/style - but there is more "soul" in a fully handmade QUALITY product. The quality of the Maestro's are SEVERAL standard deviations above that of the Wacker razors and TI razors.

Of current/new razors offered today, I'd say the quality goes #1 Maestro #2 Dovo #3 TI #4 Wacker

As far as order in which I prefer/would buy my top 2 choices would be Maestro then TI, in that order. A well honed TI thats seen a few trips down diamond paste lane will shave every bit as well as a Maestro and at a fraction of the cost.... unfortunatly though - it'll look like it was assembled by a drunkard.

[Xert]

So a Dovo would be higher quality than a TI, but you'd still prefer a TI as your number two despite it's poor build quality, no? Do you find that a TI shaves better than a Dovo, or it purely an aesthetic consideration?

[joel]

So a Dovo would be higher quality than a TI, but you'd still prefer a TI as your number two despite it's poor build quality, no? Do you find that a TI shaves better than a Dovo, or it purely an aesthetic consideration?
After purchasing some VERY expenisive honing equipmentI finally found the right "tune up" for TI's, and now I am really enjoying their shave quality. Previously, I had never gotten that great of a shave from a TI - even ones that were sent out to be honed by the "pro's" but I found a complex system/combo of pastes, barber hones, japanese high grit waterstones, and ceramic stones which really allows me to get a really smooth shaving edge on a TI.

While the quality of Dovo WAS markedly superior, some of the razors I have seen/experienced as of late from dovo have not been up to snuff - but even then, yes I think the quality of dovo's is superior to that of TI. I do think however TI's (for the most part) shave better than dovo's - with one exception - the dovo stainless #41 blade - which really takes one hell of an edge, and provides an outstanding shave.

[acb13013]

"Can't seem to get it dry - that is, it's dry to the touch, but it ripples like a brook in the sun."

Eliza answered with a scrap of verse:

Watered steel blade, the world perfection calls,
Drunk with the viper poison foes appals,
Cuts lively, burns the blood whene'er it falls;
And picks up gems from pave of marble halls.

...or so says the Poet"

Anyone interested in the origins of Damascus steel (and deeeeeep, deep minutae, among other things) might enjoy The Baroque Cycle by Neal Stephenson.

Sweet razor!

[rikrdo]

How many hours does it take to create such a beautiful piece ??

Breathtaking, to say the least !!

[roughrider]

Congrats buddy. That is a beautiful razor.

[joel]

How many hours does it take to create such a beautiful piece ??

Breathtaking, to say the least !!

It takes just about the entire day for the Maestro to create each razor - depending on the materials and the complexity of the razor.... the one I've got on order from him might take him 2-3 days though :biggrin: :biggrin: it should be quite a jaw dropper.