Titanium? Blackbird? Blackland Skunkworks is on the move....

I wonder if they the machined version will darken over time? I think it will look nice.

As part of the “vocal minority” that prefers OC, my enthusiasm for spending that kind of money for SB is waxing and waning. I totally get it as a business decision though.

I wonder if they the machined version will darken over time?  I think it will look nice.

My expectation is that it should slightly darken, but I haven't seen a difference in the razors I've been using for a couple months. Not sure how long that will take. Also possible that it has darkened and it's just a subtle change and I haven't looked closely enough.

As part of the “vocal minority” that prefers OC, my enthusiasm for spending that kind of money for SB is waxing and waning. I totally get it as a business decision though.

But do you really?

I wonder if they the machined version will darken over time?  I think it will look nice.

I have had three titanium razor handles, for approximately 3 years, now, and I haven't noticed any darkening, unless it is extremely subtle. Maybe, it depends on the type of titanium used.

Shipping notice received.

I gave up... Order placed... But still hope for a 101mm handle...

I’m feeling the pressure for sure, lol

As part of the “vocal minority” that prefers OC, my enthusiasm for spending that kind of money for SB is waxing and waning. I totally get it as a business decision though.

But do you really?

I’m not sure I understand what you are asking or implying. I do understand that if Shane thinks he won’t sell enough OC plates or assemblies to be profitable, he won’t do it. Neither would I, in his shoes (and after 30 years in product development, I know a bit about those shoes myself).

On the other hand, if I need to rob parts from my stainless bird or buy an extra stainless OC plate, it may not be worth the cost to me. Time will tell.

Either way, I’m sure it is spectacular, and I hope Shane does well with it. I also hope more people ask for an OC, but I’m not holding my breath.

I would certainly buy an OC plate if available

As part of the “vocal minority” that prefers OC, my enthusiasm for spending that kind of money for SB is waxing and waning. I totally get it as a business decision though.

But do you really?

I’m not sure I understand what you are asking or implying. I do understand that if Shane thinks he won’t sell enough OC plates or assemblies to be profitable, he won’t do it. Neither would I, in his shoes (and after 30 years in product development, I know a bit about those shoes myself).

On the other hand, if I need to rob parts from my stainless bird or buy an extra stainless OC plate, it may not be worth the cost to me. Time will tell.

Either way, I’m sure it is spectacular, and I hope Shane does well with it. I also hope more people ask for an OC, but I’m not holding my breath.

Right. It's about resource allocation and maximizing the impact of those dollars. Blackland is healthy, profitable, and not cash-strapped, but it's still decidedly a very small business. So the calculus is how long does capital sit on the shelf before I can get it back and put it to work? Behind the scenes, I'm changing the criteria for making those decisions and you'll begin to see more of those changes poke through to the surface just like it is in this discussion. I also have a project that I've been working on for the past year+ and it's neither a cheap nor risk-free endeavor. So tightening things up a bit helps mitigate the overall risk and makes the project more viable. Ultimately, that's a good thing for you guys because we'll see some cool new products that otherwise might not make as much sense.