Hand-Forged Grooming Gear from Studebaker Metals

By Drew Prindle Dec 22, 2019 3:25 PM

Ready to ditch disposable razors forever and get yourself some grooming gear that’ll last a lifetime? If so, we highly recommend you check out Studebaker Metals — a Pittsburgh-based operation that makes hand-forged grooming accessories.

Yeah, you read that right: hand-forged. Self-taught metalsmith Michael Studebaker pounds this stuff into shape the oldschool way-with a hammer, anvil, and a few other basic hand tools; which gives his creations this sort of raw, imperfect, and undeniably badass look.

Recommended Videos

This kind of craftsmanship is hard to come by these days. Usually when you come across something that was made by hand, it’s made from a soft, malleable, and otherwise easy-to-manipulate piece of material like wood, leather, or cloth. Nowadays most people leave metal work to CNC machines, so it’s both rare and refreshing to see somebody making high-quality metal gear with their hands.

Check out the collection here.

Drew Prindle is an award-winning writer, editor, and storyteller who currently serves as Senior Features Editor for Digital… Read Full Bio

Grooming

A natural marvel helped Coco de Mer become one of the rarest fragrances on the planet

Colognes are a dime a dozen. There are always new ones popping up, and old ones fading away (literally and metaphorically). But it is truly special when something unique hits the market. This one isn’t new, but the story remains one of the most fascinating in the industry. Tucked off the coast of East Africa on the island of Seychelles, a coconut provides one of the most unique and rarest scents you will have in your collection. It grows only there. And it is illegal to poach it. The Coco de Mer provides a citrusy and musky scent unrivaled across perfumery, and the only place you can buy the true scent is from Coco de Mer Cologne Company. Sharon Bonne, the founder, told Forbes last year:

Sometimes it’s sweet, but it has so many layers. At its base, there’s this woody, tobacco-like tone. That’s when we started thinking, ‘this would be amazing if it could be translated into an essence, the essence of the sea.’ It embodies all the fragrances you could imagine in a tropical scent, and that’s where we began. – Sharon Bonne, the founder of Coco de Mer fragrance

Grooming

No-Shave November vs. Movember: There’s a difference between these 2 causes

It is November yet again. And yes, while the most important cycle you may be preparing for is the defrosting of Mariah Carey and her All I Want for Christmas domination of the airwaves, there is another you are likely hitting right now. No-Shave November is in full swing. So while all your friends are a few days into tossing their razors and trimmers away for thirty days, others are focusing on a completely separate engagement: Movember.

Most people use these two phrases interchangeably, but they are entirely different, with different origins and focuses. So what is the difference between No-Shave November and Movember? Well, sit back and let me walk you through it so you know which one you are participating in and who exactly you are supporting when you do.

Grooming

Live on the Cutting Edge with expert shave advice

When a man is coming of age, there is a rite of passage he must go through. If he is lucky, he has a father who will teach him. But he must learn to shave. Whether you are a guy who loves the Harvey Specter clean-shaven look or a guy who wants to look like the wild man in the wilderness, you still need to perfect this process. Every man needs some good shaving tips. If you are a father of a son, this is a ritual you are looking forward to teaching your son. And you will cherish that moment, among others, as they move on in their life.

If you aren’t someone lucky enough to have a father or grandfather you can look to for the wisdom of the shave, then you’re the person we’re looking for here. I remember my father teaching me. So it is important to pass on the information to you. In true Mark style, I reached out to my friends at Cutting Edge and got expert information from a leader in the industry.