Communication w/ Wolfman Razors

Yeah, they certainly have no time. I thought James made Guerilla to give more people a chance to own one, uno, 1 of his razors.

This made me thinking.

Until now, I wanted to believe that artisans make no exceptions.

Edit: This must teach us a lesson, by the way.

[quote='Fargo' pid='138979' dateline='1495476153']
Chances are really high that Wolfman has a fair stock of razors sitting in an area, just waiting for final polish before they are posted for sale...

That's pretty much a guarantee. I've always thought this. You know, he's crafted this image of one guy at a machine (computerized mind you) painstakingly crafting custom razors, one by one taking weeks and weeks to finally get it perfect but I guarantee that's not the case. Once a program is written to machine a certain piece, all he has to do is load the stock and hit "go". You could crank out razors by the hundreds in a week if you wanted to. I do agree that the polishing process obviously takes longer, but not all of his offerings are highly polished.

That's pretty much a guarantee. I've always thought this. You know, he's crafted this image of one guy at a machine (computerized mind you) painstakingly crafting custom razors, one by one taking weeks and weeks to finally get it perfect but I guarantee that's not the case. Once a program is written to machine a certain piece, all he has to do is load the stock and hit "go". You could crank out razors by the hundreds in a week if you wanted to. I do agree that the polishing process obviously takes longer, but not all of his offerings are highly polished.

No doubt about it. It's a CNC program. Short of one-off custom razors, the heads are all pre-programmed to specific dimensions and punched out of a single billet, probably a dozen heads at a time or more. Handles are done the same way. This isn't a guy standing in front of a lathe for 12 hours a day to make a single razor, this is a guy sitting in front of a computer with CNC software. Even a one-off custom can be made from a modified prototype in a day.

Yes...polishing by hand takes time. I'll give him that...

And the idea of using a CNC machine does not take away from the quality of his products at all.

It does, however, belie the image of a poor, abused artisan slaving away to barely make ends meet, suffering through the high demand unwittingly placed upon him...

I think that's not the case, Chris. At least from my perspective. If some are able to grab tens with an email and others try years to get one, it arises questions on the transparency of a maker.

I know with empirical certainty of only one owner of 10+ Wolfmans; said individual Ravi one of the more moderate moderators on The Shave Nook. Ravi established an early relationship with James long before the community took notice and yes, he had an 'in' many commercial enterprises extend to said early patrons. I know this, because when a similar plaintive thread appeared among that august company Ravi very foolishly posted a photo of them all along with a recently acquired titanium ( or was it bronze? I can hardly remember zamack anymore) like a alpha wolf who just bred the alpha female in front of the pack.
As to brush collections I assume we are talking Paladin? I have had several delightful phone conversations with Ken. I wish people could get the glimpse I've been made privy to of the incredible hurdles in " pushing a CAD button" and time commitment to any project. I have A Paladin ; ONE. I cannot explain the deep Freudian angst felt at not having two. I understand owners of Lear jets are unfulfilled looking at private 727s. Did anyone even catch James' comment about doing 'other projects'? Perhaps he should have said 'commitments' and there is another group of people waiting for replicated Ross rifle peepsights in case the Americans invade again and burn down their parliament house or something.

I think that's not the case, Chris. At least from my perspective. If some are able to grab tens with an email and others try years to get one, it arises questions on the transparency of a maker.

Questions of transparency seem abnormal to me. He is a manufacturer. We should not expect any transparency to his process, it should be well guarded.

It's the image that has been cast publicly that I am referencing, which I believe to be vastly different than the manufacturing reality. Doesn't matter either way, just an interesting point to ponder...

As for the thinly veiled sour grapes "comment"....it's tough to have sour grapes around an item that truly holds no value to me. I would only take a Wolfman as a gift so I could turn around and sell it on eBay for $400. As a tool or "piece of art", it holds zero interest for me. A DE razor is a DE razor no matter how shiny it is or whose name goes on it. I have three that work exceptionally well, and cost a whopping $40 for all three. No sour grapes here, just a strong sense of irony


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

No thin veil or burkha on my part or toward any one individual. I have expensive tastes; single malt scotch, Persian rugs, hand made silk ties and leather shoes. I want a prewar Phantom II Rolls Royce Sedanca de Ville and a Gaugain painting. I may not get them , but a 20/25 saloon and glicee print may be possible yet.

I was referring to KAV.
I agree that we should not expect anything, that's why I said that this must teach us something. When someone says I have no time to fullfil the waiting list but on the other hand still makes several of them, this is the only thing you need to know about him and move on. It's his business and my money. If I don't want to support him, it's my choice.

This debate has turned into that Lewis Carroll rabbit hole. I'm going to break out my antique Adderley tea service, brew a cuppa and read a Zane Grey novelette.