Thread: Robert Williams 8/8 Damascus Swayback

posts merged from razor forum into review.

I have over 100 straight razors and in threads posted asking "if you could only have one" I have always answered that it would be like asking a mother which of her 10 kids she loved the most. That was until I got with Robert Williams and asked him to build a custom razor for me. I had gotten a Case Brothers Springville swayback and an Engstrom. I found that I liked shaving with that unusual blade shape and I wanted my custom from Robert to be a one of a kind.

Robert was very receptive to the idea and he was very patient in working with me on the design. I sent photos of the two razors and a drawing of what I wanted mine to look like. I asked for the point end to be exactly like a Wade & Butcher Bow razor and sent a photo of that. When Robert was done I had this magnificent specimen you see in these poor photos. ( sorry, best I can do)

The 8/8 razor is perfect in fit and finish. The pre-ban elephant ivory scales are gorgeous with the subtle figure both unique yet typical of the material. I wasn't sure about the shape of the scales and told Robert to go with what he thought would work the best for the shape of the blade. If you've seen Robert's gallery you know that he is not only a master smith but an artist as well. The scales compliment the design of the blade perfectly.

Robert told me that he would shape the bevel before etching the Damascus. I knew I would have my work cut out for me in setting a bevel and honing this baby up. Here is a photo from Robert as the bevel was when I received it.

Honing this beast was difficult. One of the three toughest I have encountered out of a hundred or so. Because of the radical swayback I couldn't use circles or paint brush strokes in setting the bevel. It had to be rolling x from start to finish. I set the bevel on a DMT 1200 continuous diamond plate. It took time but it was a labor of love. I used the Norton 4 & 8 single grit 1 1/2 X 8 hones and finally the Shapton 16 and 30K. Shave testing and back to the hones a few times to dial it in.

The shave is great. It looks a bit intimidating but once you get it on the whiskers it is smooth as silk and for me it is really an efficient design to shave with. This isn't the sharpest razor I've got but it is sharp enough and it is the coolest. If I had to choose one razor out of the bunch this would be it. I give Robert my highest recommendation for the go to guy if you want a custom razor. [URL="http://www.straightrazorplace.com/forums/razors/33744-discussion-thread-robert-williams-custom-swayback.html#post353515"][B]

That is stunning Jimmy! I love everything about it & you're a lucky man!
Robert Williams.
Enjoy it.
Why were you honing it though? I thought they arrive shave ready & you can't have had it long.

What a razor! Congratulations on that one. Beauty and the Beast all in one.

Originally Posted by ben.mid

That is stunning Jimmy! I love everything about it & you're a lucky man!
Robert Williams.
Enjoy it.
Why were you honing it though? I thought they arrive shave ready & you can't have had it long.

There. I moved this over from the review post.

Thanks for the comments Ben. As I noted in the review, Robert sets the bevel before the razor is etched. It is not shave ready when received. Not mine anyway. The first photo by Robert illustrates this if you look at the bevel. Robert probably would have made it shave ready if I had asked but when he told me that it would be etched after the bevel was set I told him that was fine. I looked forward to the challenge. As an aspiring honemiester I wanted the experience of honing it to shave ready myself.

that is stunning. What a beautifully designed razor that is. I hope it out lasts all of us!

Wow that is a beauty! Both the ivory and the scales. I bet it shaves well too..
Thanks for sharing the pictures with us.

I have to say, that is one of the most bootiful razors I've ever seen!

How the hell do you strop it, though?

Jordan

Honing something of that beauty would scare the crap out of me. You did a nice job though.

Congrats, you did a great job. You simply have the stones to do so.

Have a lot of fun with that beauty!