Had fun photographing this very shiny, very elvish style blade.
My small shop forges on without interruption.
If you want to check in on your order, or just need someone to chat with, drop a line any time. I’ll try to keep up with email.
Until otherwise posted, I’ve chosen to settle in my shop through this, since it’s a solitary place, where I work with no one, and can responsibly continue what I do.
To all, I send my most heartfelt wishes for wellness during these terrible circumstances.
Please take time to enjoy and support those around you, while noting the simple enjoyments of life that become so important, and clear, during times like this.
-Christopher
Sneak peek at an upcoming post to the portfolio. This blade is made with random pattern damascus steel, and beastly 8/8 sized blade with a classic notched tip. Scales are a resin set alongside buckeye burl, with roughly polished metal backing (to be seen through the translucence blue).
Nice oceanic feel to the design, so I thought the name “riptide” was fitting.
Kamisori Straight Razors In Stock
What Kamisori straight razors look like freshly forged off the anvil.
This batch is done, with some shipping to customers soon, and a few put into stock.
From this photo, the razors have several stages (with lots of sub steps) before they are ready for the shave:
- Forge
- Rough grinding the hollows
- Heat treatment (in-house)
- Finish grinding
- Bevel set
- Engraving
- Honing
- Packaging
Our family lived in this pre-WWII bungalow in Littleton CO.
A Hot summer evening, my sister drawing in her room, with mom and dad watching T.V.
We probably had a oven-pizza for dinner.
Standing in our tiny bathroom (the kind where you needed to step around the toilet and laundry bin to reach the mirror) I just finished brushing my teeth.
Looking in the mirror, I examined my polished braces and noticed thin blonde hairs growing from my cheeks.
As seen on T.V., I ran my hand over my face, expecting to feel some Clint Eastwood type stubble (there was none), and determined it was time to shave.
I opened the mirror cabinet, grabbed my dad’s rusted bottomed can of shave gel, his razor, inflated a small glop of shave goo on my hand and slapped it on my face. Before I understood what I was doing I shaved the upper right cheek with ease. A few swipes in, I noticed my smooth patch of skin surrounded by foam, and stopped.
It was all wrong.
Quickly I washed the razor at the faucet, cleared my face with a towel, and washed away evidence of the blue goo. Patted my face dry, and put all the tools where I found them. Bathroom back in order, I walked into the living room and walked up to my dad.
“Will you show me how to shave?”
Of course he would.
Soon, we were side by side in the bathroom, going through the steps of a proper shave. I know that he knew I started, (my mom pointed this out, with a poking humor) but my dad put her aside, and shaved alongside me.
We did the same techniques I did before, but this time it was much better. It felt as it should.
This was my first shave, and little did I know, years later it hits home what shaving is to me.
It’s all about meaning.
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve discovered there are so many ways to rush through life without sharing, care or attention, and before we know it, life is done, and we’re gone. We’ve run right into the grave in the most cost/time-efficient method possible without even an echo.
In my first shave, I didn’t want the ritual to be something I learned from the back of a can of shaving cream.
Shaving was a skill, and ultimately gift, that my father passed onto me.
Though I did my shave mostly right in the end, I would have never predicted how it would become a metaphor, nor how much shaving would influence the philosophies of the rest of my life.
-Christopher
Thank you to my customers
A quick moment of thanks to all my customers for the opportunity to share what I’ve learned during this journey in an age-old-trade with the next generation. It’s certainly something I owe to my late father, and I’m proud to continue in his tradition.
Mr. Andre is ShaveSmith’s first official apprentice.
At 17 years old, Andre arrived ready to learn, grow, and become an old-school craftsman.
This wasn’t easy for him. In 2018, he progressed through 6 months of education in my shop learning the basics of knifemaking, forging, safety, workshop ethic and more. Once he finished his first knife, I set him to task to line up an official internship that was hosted by our local government. He persisted, working alongside several Larimer County youth internship coordinators, he got it all arranged. Today was his first, well earned, official day of paid work.
Thanks to the program, we have 300 hours of internship time to learn and share an age old trade of razor crafting.
To start today, I sat him down at a 1,000 grit chosera hone, several razors of various sharpness, and let him explore honing. Afterwards, I had him oil all the old Sheffield razors in my collection (a subtle way to show him what quality forged steel felt and look like).
Here’s a bit about Andre, in his own words:
I was born and raised in Fort Collins Colorado. I became interested in blacksmithing because of youtubers, D&D, Anime, Video Games, and because i love working with my hands. I want to learn this trade so i can pursue it as a career and create a capstone project that showcases what I’ve learned.
Seven facts about Andre:
- My favorite music artist is neffex
- I love learning new skills and gathering knowledge
- I’m a gamer
- Play D&D and MTG
- I love reptiles
- Since I grew up in Colorado, I enjoy camping
- I enjoy studying Blades, Archery, and Firearms
More to come about the internship program, and Andre’s progress as a craftsman.
Mr. Pratt sent me his Boker straight razor for a touch up on the hones, and asked me to do an engraving as well.
He asked for a medieval theme to the text, so I did his last name. Fits the German theme of this blade.
Afterwards, I took the edge up from my typical stone progression (1K – 5K – 8K – Y/G Escher, Bridle Strop).
Fine blade, and far more interesting with a touch of personality along the grind.
These are the moments where I kind of feel like a tattoo artist – quite fun.
Custom Engraving Service
Geir from Norway was kind enough to send along a picture of his “Shave of the Day”.
I love seeing my blades being used all over the world, and the gear being used alongside it.
Thanks Geir!
*EDIT: Folks have asked about the soap, and it’s from fitjar islands, in Norway.
A recent favorite piece.
I really enjoy colliding natural materials and processes in ways that I haven’t been done before.
It really show how a little bit of improvisation mixed with my favorite crafting processes can create a blade with visuals that are hard to ignore.
This razor ended up with a great energy, and I plan to do many more.
Get A Custom Straight Razor
Titan – M4 Speciality Steel, Forged Titanium Scales with Natural Oxide Finish – Custom Straight Razor
One of my most challenging projects to date.
The blade is made from CPM M4 steel, a high performance steel that is rarely seen in custom razors, and a steel enthusiast (both in profession and blade collecting) commissioned this razor.
The grinding process took about 3 times longer for this piece compared to other high quality steels, along with hours of honing. In the end, the edge wiped away hair much like my other high carbon steels with a slightly more “snappy” shave. With the level of vanadium carbides in the steel, it should stay that way for a very long time.
The scales are naturally exhibiting the oxide coloration from heated titanium, a result of the forging process. A simple brass spacer separates the scales in the end.
I love how 100% of this razor is metal, in all it’s textures and finishes, but has enormous variety to visuals.
Not to mention it shaves like a beast.