The Copper Safety Razor

Limited Edition Copper Safety Razor

We only make our razors in small batches...our copper collection is no exception, in fact we can't make many at a time. We use C110 copper grade, this grade is 99.9 pure copper. A number of these were released...we have only made a few versions of these releases in addition to a few custom pieces for our customers. We change the design on our copper safety razors periodically.

The first release was in the summer of 2021, we named them after the NATO phonetic alphabet, we named them Cx-Alfa, Cx-Bravo through Cx-Zulu.

Prior to 1956 and during World War 2 every Allied military branch had its own words to clearly communicate a letter over the radio. We named our 2nd drop after some of these words no longer used in the phonetic alphabet, including Cx-Ack, Cx-Easy, Cx-London...we can’t make many of these copper Cx models at a time and can only release them in very small runs.

1956 NATO phonetic alphabet

In 2023 we introduced our web plate in copper and named this small run of copper Cx models after World War Two airplanes who used "Lightening holes" extensively to reduce the weight, yet maintain strength....these were limited to about 30 models.

Later in 2023 we changed the handle design to include our R3 handle with carbon fiber:

This year, we made a few in copper and named them after constellations:

Copper in a Shaving Tool

Some of the earliest wet shaving blades, cutthroat razors (straight razors), knives, and axes were made from copper. The earliest use of copper has been found in the old copper cultures of native Americans within the Great Lakes region of North America (10,000 BC). Copper is one of the few metals that occurs naturally as a metal in nature. As a result, it was likely gathered in solid form and cold worked prior to smelting. The word "copper" comes from the island of Cyprus where it was mined in ancient Greece. I write more about the history of shaving tools and copper here.

Shaving With A Copper Safety Razor

Copper is a high conductor of heat, soft, and is recognized for its antibacterial properties. It is a red/orange color when polished, it is considered a trace element and is essential to life. Copper is heavier than stainless steel by just over 10% and our Cx copper is the heaviest of all the Cx single edge safety razors we have offered. Copper is also a high heat conductor (20 times over Stainless Steel Safety Razors), when in the shower the contact with hot water will be a heat sink as it glides over your face.

The added weight of the copper Cx shaver adds a unique feel to the shave, very little added pressure is needed as a result. I am not able to quantify this but the copper, unlike the polished surface of a stainless steel safety razor or a Titanium razor exhibits more drag. Copper tends to have additional drag across the face adding to its unique and luxurious feel on the face. I have also heard this from the Cx-Copper owners.

Your copper piece is easy to maintain if you enjoy the patina. It is a lot of work if you enjoy a polished surface. A soft scrub using dish soap and a soft toothbrush followed up by soaking in alcohol is enough to keep your copper Cx clean with a patina. For polishing, soak the Cx-Copper in white vinegar (Some recommend lemon juice or ketchup) to shine the knurling and hard-to-reach areas for 7 minutes(max), follow up with a very fine or mild polishing compound, we suggest Cape Cod Metal Polishing Cloths or Simichrome polish with a very soft towel. I talk in more detail here about maintaining a copper safety razor.

Natural patina on copper after 1 year - Photo/Instagram: @agravic1331

We only make a few copper pieces per year primarily because we use dedicated polishing tools for finishing this material. It requires numerous steps to get to a high polish finish...each piece is then hand polished. They will begin to patina immediately and will patina different depending on the environment, use and age.

Copper Safety Razor Patina

What makes copper unique is the patina that develops over time. It is, what is considered, a “living” metal because it will develop an evolving patina in an effort to prevent its corrosion. This chemical transformation will happen as a result of its environment. It will continue to evolve for years and even decades.

Copper patina that has been applied on a tea pot

A patina is a form of corrosion that develops on the surface of the metal, this patina is what helps protect the metal from further corrosion. A patina can be thought of as any aging or discoloration of the surface, and can come in many varying colors, however green is the most stable. The patina is what is considered a cuprite or copper oxide...this patina generally starts as a brown and ultimately turns black depending on the environment. In a coastal area, the salt air adds chlorides to the patina…copper is found in numerous compounds and minerals giving them vibrant colors. Turquoise is a good example of a colorful mineral that is high in copper levels.

Aztec turquoise stone mask with blue and green turquoise

Later the brown and black color will develop a green or bluish color as the layers form on the initial patina...this can take years or even decades to develop and will be impacted by the environment and the frequency of use in the case of a DE safety razor. Copper can form many compounds found naturally on earth, often these colors are red, blue, green, and black. Verdigris is a term used for the bluish, green patina that forms on copper...see Statute of Liberty! This coating can happen naturally or be applied. As early as the middle ages, this verdigris has been applied on copper plates to create the green color.

The rate of corrosion decreases with time as copper grows its patina...some jewelers will coat their copper surfaces with wax or lacquer to preserve a patina but these will not last and will eventually wear off, especially where warm water is used frequently as in shaving.

Copper has been used to line the hull of boats to protect from marine growth. It is also known for its antibacterial properties or “contact killing”.

We make our copper models in limited and small runs, the best way to get notified when we have one available is to enter your email on the product page here. We try to release a few every 2-4 weeks.