Stuart Kerr just can’t help meddling in the affairs of dragons with his custom straight razors.
Priced out of the custom straight razor market, Stuart Kerr figured he’d make his own. A lucky plunge for anyone who appreciates quirky and unique takes on the ol’ cut throat.
The Australian Knifemakers Guild member’s Cu Mai Dragon is a grand example of his deft and distinctive style. Kerr crafted a 2.56-inch blade from Baker Forge & Tool Tsunami Chevron Copper San Mai and offset it with a FatCarbon Dark Matter Purple Marble carbon-fiber handle. Striking enough as it is, but memorable thanks to the dragon scale on the spine and tang.
However, the proprietor of Boxer Custom Razors is darkly playful in much of his work.
“The concept of the dragon motif evolved from a couple of non-folding razors I made years back that were based on human bones. I was asked to design a razor with a handle that looked like a human spine,” the Queensland, Australia, resident said. “This inspired me to push the artistic envelope further and eventually evolved into the Dragon Tail and Dragon Spine razors.”
Kerr got his start restoring vintage straights, and when he made the jump to crafting them in 2011—aside from know-how—he started somewhat from scratch.
“I had a background in metal fabrication prior to studying to be a mechanical engineer, so I had the tools required to make my first belt grinder out of some plywood and an old pump motor,” he said.
Requiring an edge meant to split hairs, Kerr’s honing process on his razors is meticulous, to say the least. After the grinding is done, he works his way through whetstones with grits from 1,000 to 16,000. Then it’s a few laps on balsa loaded with chromium oxide.
“Final step is stropping on a kangaroo hide strop,” he said.
A very Australian finish, indeed.
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NEXT STEP: Download Your Free KNIFE GUIDE Issue of BLADE Magazine
BLADE’s annual Knife Guide Issue features the newest knives and sharpeners, plus knife and axe reviews, knife sheaths, kit knives and a Knife Industry Directory.
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- Cool Custom: Tony Lewis’ Tribute Knife To Steve Dunn
- Cool Customs: Rocco Nawrocki’s Knife For Sergeant Bunker
- Cool Custom: Robert Logan’s Tiny Fighter
- Cool Custom: Lonni Williams’ Steampunk Folder
NEXT STEP: Download Your Free KNIFE GUIDE Issue of BLADE Magazine
BLADE’s annual Knife Guide Issue features the newest knives and sharpeners, plus knife and axe reviews, knife sheaths, kit knives and a Knife Industry Directory.Get your FREE digital PDF instant download of the annual Knife Guide. No, really! We will email it to you right now when you subscribe to the BLADE email newsletter.
