Max Sprecher | Premier Line
This is a custom straight razor made in the USA
Pricing includes USA shipping Insured
8/8
1/2 Hollow
Barber's Notch
2.75" cutting edge
Thumb-Notch
Scalloped Spine + Upper Tang + upper Monkey Tail
High carbon core steel: Yasugi Steel - Hitachi shiro-gami #1 (White Steel #1) (Japan)
日立 白紙1号鋼
Low carbon steel outer Layers: 16
Polished finish (no etching)
Paua ALVS scales
Shave ready.
I have forged two blanks from leftover Hitachi white steel. The first blank has already been sold, making this the second and final blank. This handcrafted straight razor can be pre-ordered and will be crafted to the specifications featured on the website.
These will be the last of the in-house forged Hitachi white steel San Mai offerings.
More Info about Yasugi steel can be found on my blog
Yasuki - Hitachi shiro-gami
This steel is super pure, in which it has very little impurities such as phosphorus and sulfur in the steel's make up. Shiro-gami or white paper steel is the closest steel to the traditional Tamahagane steel. Yasugi steel is a high-quality, versatile steel produced by Hitachi Metals, known for its purity, high hardness, sharpness, and ease of sharpening. This steel originates from Japan.
Yasugi (Yasuki) steel is manufactured from sand iron at the Yasugi Works plant located in Yasugi City, Shimane Prefecture. Currently, the plant is owned and operated by Proterial, Ltd., formerly known as Hitachi Metals, Ltd. The company manufactures a diverse range of steels. The company officially changed its name from Hitachi Metals, Ltd. to Proterial, Ltd. on January 4, 2023; however, it's mostly known and traded as Hitachi steel.
Yasugi steel is made in several variations, namely yellow (Kigami #1, #2, #3), white (Shiro-gami #1, #2, #3), or blue (Ao-gami #super, #1, #2). Yellow steel is regarded as a less expensive and lower-quality steel, which is why renowned Japanese blacksmiths typically refrain from utilizing it in their production processes. Yasugi white and blue are considered high-quality steels.
Shiro-Gami is available in three distinct types: #1, #2, and #3. These versions mostly differ in their carbon content and final hardness. Notably, version 1 possesses the highest carbon content and can attain the highest hardness, sharpness and edge retention among the three.
San Mai means "three layers". It can be any billet with a core steel that will harden and sides that vary from plain iron to high-count damascus. Most Japanese san-mai can be made from soft steel or stainless steel. When the core is made from white steel, it's considered suminagashi.
Yasugi steel is not corrosion-free. Always wipe your razor clean and store it in a dry location. For better storage wipe the steel with a protective oil (ex. camelia oil, ballistol, mineral oil, baby oil, renaissance wax, vaseline, gun oil...)
I always recommend not closing the razor when you are done shaving as water and humidity can still be trapped between the razor scales. Let it open for at least 15 minutes or longer before storing away your razor so any water or humidity can evaporate.
The scales are 100% genuine paua shell on a black backing and covered with a durable topcoat of industrial resin making them very sturdy, maintenance free and at the same time protecting the shell.
Abalone/Paua is a common name for any of a group of small to very large sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Haliotidae. Other common names are ear shells, sea ears, and muttonfish or muttonshells in Australia, ormer in Great Britain, abalone in South Africa, awabi in Japan and pāua in New Zealand. Abalone can be found along the coasts of New Zealand, Australia, Japan, South Africa and North America.