Update 08/28/2022: The second round of pre-orders is LIVE!
Dear Friends of Portland Razor Co, Hunter here with some exciting announcements and a reflection on our last update:
Introducing the Portland Razor Co X Thiers-Issard Straight Razor
We are proud to announce our latest product release made in collaboration with Thiers-Issard: an upgraded straight razor handmade in France to our specifications, honed here in Portland by our razorsmiths. 7/8, mirror polished, half-hollow ground, set in stunning desert ironwood or ram's horn scales, and shipping with a calfskin sheath, the razor is a sharp upgrade from the T-I's we've carried thus far. Like all razors sold by Portland Razor Company, each blade is inspected for quality, honed to shaving-sharp, and stropped by our razorsmiths before shipping. Razors are available now for pre-order at a discount.
Why We Made a Razor with Thiers-Issard
A lot has changed since we last checked in. Importantly: we're spending more time doing things besides making razors. Scott is coaching and mentoring Portland youth, Alex got her dream job(!!!), and I'm back in school working towards a healthcare career. These changes have, understandably, pulled us away from manufacturing work.
Portland Razor Co isn't going anywhere, but I'm filling orders solo these days, and there isn't much time to make razors between school and getting enough sleep. However, we still want to offer high-quality razors with our name behind them, and one way to do more of that is to make a razor with Thiers-Issard. So, we designed a razor with Thiers-Issard that we feel checks all the boxes, and we're offering it at a steep discount for pre-order to see how it lands with our fans.
The Razor
The straight razor is everything we would expect in a superior straight razor: an heirloom-quality blade in a friendly and familiar shape, handmade with premium materials with exceptional fit and finish.
We chose a hefty 7/8 blade width to last hundreds of honing sessions (several lifetimes, even) and a half-hollow grind for a balance of stiffness and ease of honing as the blade narrows, translating to a predictable shave and consistent hone wear over time. An upgraded, mirrored polish makes the C135 carbon steel blade more corrosion resistant and easy to maintain; wipe clean and apply a drop of light oil to keep it shining brilliantly for generations.
Customers can choose between Desert Ironwood (our favorite) and Rams Horn for scales materials. Both are natural materials known for their durability and longevity without the need for harsh finishes or treatments to preserve them. To restore to their original luster, clean the scales and buff them with terry cloth and a drop of light oil. Each razor ships with a luxurious calfskin sheath for storage and protection during shipping.
This razor is perfect for discerning straight shavers looking for a beautiful and reliable daily shaver backed by our shaving-sharp guarantee. We're proud to offer our loyal fans early access at a steeply reduced price.
How to Pre-Order
You can place your pre-order here. Once sales hit the required threshold, we will place the order with Thiers-Issard, and pre-order prices will increase. Once we start honing and shipping pre-orders from our workshop, the price will be updated to full MSRP. We will post any updates to the product page and our newsletter. Finally, if too few folks pre-order within 60 days after the date of this announcement and we never place the order with Thiers-Issard, then everyone gets a refund.
UPDATE 3/31/2022: Razors have arrived at our workshop in Portland, Ore. and are being honed and inspected individually prior to shipping. If you pre-ordered a razor, keep an eye on your inbox for a shipping notification; orders will be fulfilled in the order they were received. Thank you all again for your patience and support!
UPDATE 3/23/2022: Our friends at Thiers-Issard requested we re-send the engraving files, so razors are currently being made but are behind schedule. Thank you all for your patience! You can still pre-order at a discounted rate until razors arrive from France, at which point prices will increase to full MSRP.
UPDATE 2/2/2022: WOW! We hit the pre-order threshold in under 24 hours following the release! Order placed, prices increased (still heavily discounted), will update again once razors are in-hand for honing.
SPECS
- 7/8 Round-Point Straight Razor
- Shallow Jimps and Deep Thumb Groove for Added Grip and Control
- Desert Ironwood or Ram’s Horn Scales
- Half-Hollow Ground C135 Carbon Steel
- Mirror-Polished for Enhanced Corrosion Resistance and Luster
- Brass Pinned by Hand
- Shave-Ready: Hand-Honed to 12K Grit and Stropped Before Shipping