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
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
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
Hope everyone had a great Father’s Day, and enjoyed good time with people they love.
This weekend I was generously gifted a fine antique book by my brother.
I thought I’d share a page of it’s highly technical procedure on steel temperance.
I searched through this book for the “website updates for blacksmiths”, but couldn’t find it. It may be in a future edition.
You’ll note that I’ve been posting photos of work to my website, and making updates. It’s been fun, but not as much fun as working at the anvil or grinder.
Also, I spent some time with family recently to help out.
This put me behind on my emails, and I’ll be catching up with these through the week.
Fine steel being posted soon, and more.
Happy Monday, and happy summer,
-Christopher
Egyptian goddess engraved into D2 steel, paired with blonde ox horn scales, and greek engraving.
I really enjoyed completing this piece because it reminds me of the old masonic style razors.