7/8 Maestro Takeda AS Damascus

**Steelforge** · 12-27-2006, 12:16 PM

I posted this on SRP so sorry for the spam if you've already seen it!

The courier guy rang my doorbell this morning just as I was finishing shaving the 2nd pass with my 8/8 Weyersberg, so I ran to the door still covered in Tabac lather and signed for a much awaited package from Italy.

And here it is, probably the last high end razor I will buy for a long time. A 7/8 Maestro Takeda AS Damascus with olive wood scales.

I had wanted to get one with mammoth ivory scales like Lynn's, but the price is just too steep for me at the moment with possible job changes in the New Year. So I went for a really good blade, on basic yet lovely scales. I guess I could get it re-scaled sometime in 2007 if circumstances improve with my job.

Anyway here are a couple of photo's, sorry they aren't the greatest of quality but you get the idea.

Big thanks to Maestro Livi.

**Joe Chandler** · 12-27-2006, 12:23 PM

Looks pretty crappy. Methinks you should post it to me for proper disposal.

**Steelforge** · 12-27-2006, 12:44 PM

Originally Posted by Joe Chandler

Looks pretty crappy. Methinks you should post it to me for proper disposal.

Really? Ok well you're the expert Joe so I'll pop it in the post tomorrow, now what was your address again......

**berzerkeleyan** · 12-27-2006, 12:53 PM

Ohhhhh-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h

That's purrrrdeee!

**Joe Chandler** · 12-27-2006, 01:14 PM

Iwan,
What are those scales made of? Looks like olive wood to me, but that's just a guess. Frankly, I think they're prettier than the mammoth (but that's just a preference thing). Ya dun good! If you ever decide to sell it, let me know, so I can go mortgage my home or something.

**joel** · 12-27-2006, 01:29 PM

I got something in the mail today just as cool

Looks like a good day for Iwan and I!

**bbqncigars** · 12-27-2006, 03:12 PM

Joe: it not only looks like olivewood, but one piece as well!

Wayne

**AandW** · 12-27-2006, 03:13 PM

Originally Posted by Iwan

And here it is, probably the last high end razor I will buy for a long time.

Nice! Let us know how it shaves.

**doctorsimon** · 12-27-2006, 03:22 PM

Very pretty. Enjoy. Damn expensive too, hope the exchange rate has made it a bargain for you.

**Steelforge** · 12-27-2006, 03:31 PM

at Bruce.

I'm very happy with it, and I can quite honestly say there's nothing else I'm even remotely interested in buying now - thank god! I'm actually thinking of slimming down my collection a little in the near future, I'm giving it some thought over the next few days then may put one or two up for sale.

Yes the scales are olive wood and are one piece, the Maestro makes most of his wood scales like that I think. Olive wood is one of my favourites, which is handy since it's about the cheapest scale option!

**BOGARTUS** · 12-27-2006, 06:17 PM

Nice, Real Nice. Congratulations. The " I am not interested in anything now" feeling will pass.

**Jim** · 12-27-2006, 06:20 PM

Very nice razor! The blade has been blued? I'm not sure I have seen that before.

**Steelforge** · 12-28-2006, 12:14 AM

Originally Posted by Goosemeplease

Very nice razor! The blade has been blued? I'm not sure I have seen that before.

Thanks, no it's not blued. It's a slice of high carbon steel in the centre of the blade, surrounded by damascus steel which has been folded around it and then forged together. The steel is made by Sosui (sp?) Takeda in Japan who makes samurai swords, then it's tempered and ground in Italy by Maestro Livi. The idea being that you use a very hard but brittle steel for the cutting edge and surround it with a more felxible and durable steel to give the blade strength. When the blade is ground it exposes the join between the two steels, the darker part is the high carbon steel which you can also see as a dark line running down the centre of the spine.

It would normally look all silver if it had been polished but this has been acid etched to bring out the patterning in the damascus outer, and to show off the two different metals.

By the way I just shaved with it and it's superb!

**netsurfr** · 12-28-2006, 06:35 AM

Nice... VERY Nice.
I am so jealous! Have been lusting after one of those blades for several months. Sounds like they are every bit as good as everyone says. Did you buy the blade direct from Maestro Livi?

Steve