My New Mastro Livi Razor

razorguy

Joined
Monday October 7, 2013
Location
Perugia, Italy
It's Christimas time so I thought it was the right time to think about a gift for myself. Being a passionate traditional shaver, with a passion for Mastro Livi straight razors, I thought this was the best gift ever. Some weeks ago, I asked Mastro Livi to make this new razor and this afternoon he finally phoned me and said he could start making my new razor. It has been the right chance to go to Mastro Livi's workshop and take some pictures of this new razor, both for my memory as well for the pleasure of sharing this experience with you all.
I am therefore posting some pictures of the making of my new Mastro Livi razor and I hope you will appreciate and enjoy them as much as I do.
This new razor's blade is going to be a RWL34 stainless steel, 8/8 full hollow with a French point. I absolutely love how Mastro Livi uses RWL34 stainless steel and I wanted this new razor to be made with this steel. I have another Mastro Livi razor made of RWL34 steel and I am very happy with it: it is a magnificent straight razor always giving impeccable shaves. That's why I wanted this new razor made of the very same steel.
Mastro Livi started cutting the blade and giving it the initial shape. We decided we will meet again tomorrow and hopefully he will finish making my new razor. I am very excited to know I will soon have another extraordinary Mastro Livi straight razor, a remarkable masterpiece like all the straight razors made this great Italian craftsman and artist!
For the moment, I am posting the pictures of the work in progress, hopefully posting the rest tomorrow. I guess this is going to be the very best Christmas gift ever!


The raw RWL34 stainless steel bar from which Mastro Livi cut the blade for my new razor. He actually cut two blades from this bar. Bottom blade is going to me my razor, top blade will be used for the making of razor ordered by another client


Mastro Livi cutting the blades


The two blades cut from the raw steel bar. The blade to the bottom is going to be my Mastro Livi razor​


Mastro Livi cutting the blade and giving it the initial shape





Almost done shaping the blade


The initial shape of the blade is now finished


Drilling the hole for the scales


​
 

At the end of forging and hammering


Polishing and setting the final shape of the blade


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Initial grinding of the blade




At the end of initial grinding​


Tempering the blade


Quenching





The blade at the end of tempering


Polishing the blade



Second grinding


Third grinding


Fourth grinding


Fifth Grinding. The blade is now full hollow.


Polishing the grinding lines.

At this point the day ended and Mastro Livi decided to continue and finish the razor tomorrow.​


Polishing the tang


Polishing the blade


Mirror polishing the tang


Finished blade​


The file work





Drawing the scales profile on an african black ebony wood ledge


Cutting the scales




Shaping and polishing the scales​


The razor is about to be assembled


Mounting the blade


Razor finished​


Honing the razor


Stropping the razor on chromium oxide paste


Stropping the razor


Hand palm stropping of the razor​


Quality test in action: Mastro Livi personally testing the razor


The great moment has finally come: the razor has passed Mastro Livi's test and it can be hand signed by the artist.


Also the scales is hand signed


Ladies and gentleman, Mastro Livi!​


My new Mastro Livi razor at home.
It is a 9/8 Full Hollow, French Point, African black ebony scales


I love the file work!

After two days of work, here it is a new Mastro Livi masterpiece!
This is the fifth Mastro Livi straight razor in my collection and I hope to have more!​
 
Congratulations on a wonderful razor and a fantastic series of pictures. I find it incredible that he can do this in two days having seen the amount of freehand work he does.

Is there just him in the workshop? It would be awful to think these skills are not being passed on.
 
Thank you! I am glad you appreciate my new Mastro Livi razor.
I do agree with you: it truly is amazing to eatch Mastro Livi making a razor and, even more special, when you know that is going to be your razor! On this regard, Mastro Livi is always happy to welcome anyone in his workshop and to watch the making of your razor.
Mastro Livi has a son and he too works in the workshop and makes beautiful knives. Of course Mastro's son has learned the art straight from his father.
 
Burgundy said:
Thanks for sharing these photographs! As a photo documentary, it's really interesting to see the process.
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Thank you very much indeed! It is a plrasure for me to share my experience with you all. Straight razors express an art and we all love this art. Mastro Livi is the greastist artist in this and that's why I believe this is something to be shared with others.

BraveBlades said:
Beautiful razor and unbelievable work from Mastro Livi as usual - I'm officially jealous. I can only wish i could afford such a work of art!
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You certainly will! All I can wish you is to come to Italy and see Mastro Livi making your own razor! Trust me, it is worth it! In case you will plan that, it will be my pleasure to help you with the language.

Helveticum said:
Thanks for the insight, magical!
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You are welcome! I am glad you appreciated my pictures.
 
H has it right - magical! Fantastic photos of the entire process but I echo Rob's concern. Get thyself an apprentice Mastro Livi and pass on your quite staggering skills. The amount of freehand work so skillfully done is art and function in seamless harmony. I wish you all the joy of your new masterpiece of a razor.
 

Thank you for your appreciation. I guess Mastro Livi art is "naturally" passed on to his son which is working with him all day long.
As far as I can tell, Mastro Livi is a remarkable artisan, artist and craftsman, as well as a remarkable and wise man. Seeing him at work is truly magical.
 
You lucky lucky man! This is my next purchase, I must have one for my collection.

I wish you well with your new razor and have a very happy Christmas.

Sean
 
Bismarck287 said:
You lucky lucky man! This is my next purchase, I must have one for my collection.

I wish you well with your new razor and have a very happy Christmas.

Sean
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Thank you! I am glad you liked my new Mastro Livi razor. It shaves wonderfully well! I wish you to have one soon and, in case you are coming to Italy, I will be glad to take you to Mastro Livi's workshop.

My best wishes to you, too!
 
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