[Bruce]

This likely will not qualify for a review of the razor as I probably will miss some of spendur's recommendations for content. Ah, well. When subtlety fails...

I was one of the lucky ones: I got drawn for one of the Maestro's razors and it came in yesterday's mail in absolutley perfect condition. With it came a certificate of origin; I'm number 29. The ats 34 inox blade is perfectly centered in its olive wood scales. (How'm I doing so far, spendur?) And it seems shave ready (more on that directly).

This is a BIG razor as it dwarfs all the others I have, in every dimension. The blade is long - the embellished spine thick, the shank is long, and the tail is long. The scales are long and the scales are wide. And the the blade is WIDE; its nominal 7/8 measures 8/8 on my ruler. I'm sure glad the BIGGER is BETTER crowd was talked into being satisfied with 7/8 rather than 8/8. I can envision the 8/8 coming in at close to an inch and a quarter as I have the impression that the Maestro does not want his customers thinking he is a piker with the ats 34 inox.

For many, size matters. For some of us size is only a concern. I was concerned to try shaving with this razor because, as I mentioned, it dwarfs all my other razors. While I figured that the cheeks and chin would be no problem, I did have some trepidation about the tight turn under my nose and the immediately ensuing safety of my lips, upper lip especially. Who knows, I might want to grow a moustache some day and I'd need a lip for that.

I did my usual ablutions of hot water on face, followed by some soap, follwed by another hot water rinse. I, unlike many it seems, shave before my shower as I don't like all that lather residue on my face for the balance of the day. I thought that this marvel of Italian razors should have its country's soap for a christening lather and so I whipped up a bit of some Italian softish shaving soap I had very graciously been given by Martin Nienburg of rasurpur.de.

OK, time for the figurative rubber to meet the figurative road. Folks, we have a winner here! This was an easy, comfortable, smooth shave with neither accident nor near miss form the razor's unaccustomed size. It was a pure joy to use. And it was shave ready. All I did was strop it - last night when I was wondering how much of my face I might have to sacrifice to the SIZE gods.

For those of you who were able to participate in the group buy, you are fortunate shavers indeed. For those of you who wonder about the Maestro's razors and wonder if they are worth the cost: they are marvelous shaving tools and worth the price.

My score: 10 of 10 and we might be able to squeeze in another point to make it 11 of 10. (How we doin' so far, spendur?)

[thebigspendur]

Great review. So your the first kid on the block to get one eh? Mine's in the mail.

I have a few Livi's and have found them all to be exceptional shavers and also they are the only shavers that have always come absolutely shave ready out of the box.

[poona]

Pics?????????!!!

[Bruce]

poona,

I have always been an admirerer (more ers, less ers?) of photography, a great admirerer (same ?) and of those who photograph. Alas, I have not yet crossed the cusp of actually photographing stuff.

Trust me about the razor: it looks really nice and it's really big. Someone will certainly snap a few pictures and post them for you and the others of a curiosity bent to view and comment, "oh yeah, it's really big and really beautiful." Of course, I might get a camera myself and take a few pictures, one of these days. Then, of course, I'd have to figure out how to do the postings of same.

"...dear Liza, there's a hole in the bucket, dear Liza, a hole..."

Yup, I've always admired photography greatly, dear Liza...