Interview: Hunter Lea of Portland Razor Company

(2020) A few weeks ago we occupied the start of the COVID-19 lockdown exchanging messages with Hunter Lea of Portland Razor Company, which is near the epicenter of the virus outbreak for the United States. One social media message led to another and soon we were talking to Hunter Lea who runs the straight razor company from a downtown shop. That shop has since temporarily closed and the company’s headquarters has returned to its beginnings: his apartment - where he handles honing and assembly - and at his business partners’ houses, Scott and Alex, where other operations take place, respectively. 

A bespoke straight razor company that resides in an area full of bespoke cycling shops is sure to have some stories. We sat down over Instagram and interviewed Hunter Lea about his company, his cycling, and his life outside of both. If you have followed creakybottombracket.com, you’ll know we love Portland Razor Company’s wet shaving tools and services. Portland Razor Company is still cranking out custom razors. Support small businesses like razor companies and bike shops by reaching out for a custom order or service? Who knows, you might find a lot in common with this company.

Portland Razor Company’s Hunter Lea riding his bike.

creakybottombracket.com: First - tell us about Portland Razor Co. and its mission. How does PRC make a place for itself in the community?

Hunter Lea: We make handcrafted, modern straight razors and shaving supplies right here in Portland, Oregon USA. We are one of only two production straight razor makers left in the States. These days, we offer more semi-custom and bespoke work as well! Straight razors are the ultimate shaving tool; they are beautiful, useful, a joy to own and care for. Straight razors demand respect and responsibility of their owners, and we feel we could do well with a little more of that in our world—care and respect and personal responsibility.

cbb: Why are quality and waste reduction so important to PRC?

HL: As consumers, we are trained to prioritize convenience above all, which I think has resulted in a culture of disposability. It’s fairly self-evident how untenable that model is for our economy, our planet, and our culture, especially in the current moment. Products like straight razors are an antidote to the disposable worldview; it might cost 10 or 100 times more than the most affordable alternative, but you only but it once! And then it lasts 100 or 1000 times longer and never gets thrown away. It’s an item folks enjoy owning, using, and taking care of. And, it’ll probably be around long after we’re dead, which is cool to me.

cbb: Why is heirloom quality something worth investing in from a consumer standpoint?

HL: Anything that is used regularly and lasts more than a few years starts to show the mileage. Every stain and crack and repair becomes part of the story of that object and of its owner. When you invest in an heirloom-quality product—cast iron pans, nice leather boots, a fancy wristwatch, a custom straight razor—you’re investing in your own story and legacy, which goes way beyond the utility of the object. But “Heirloom” connotes more than just longevity. These objects are going to be around for a long time, so they might as well be beautiful and a joy to use!

cbb: In reference to your motorcycle - Where does your repair instead replace drive come from? Does this resonate at PRC?

Hunter Lea has also invested time in his motorcycle, posting videos of repairs completed.

HL: It’s twofold: waste-reduction and what I’ll call storytelling. Repairs require fewer resources than the manufacture and transport of replacements, and repairs cost even less if you can do them yourself. That’s just math. Being your own mechanic SUCKS. It’s hard, dirty, tiresome work and I mess things up pretty frequently. AND, overcoming those challenges comes with tremendous pride. That absolutely resonates with what we do at Portland Razor Co: it’s much better to repair a razor and keep using it than to throw it away. Sometimes it’s the same amount of work to repair as to make a new one, but it’s worth doing just for the story and for keeping it out of the landfill, if nothing else.

cbb: Pivoting to cycling, how many people work at PRC and how many of them are cyclists? What are some of the backgrounds of the cyclists? How many ride into work (in a normal year)?

HL: Today, the company includes me (Hunter), Scott, Alex, and Robin. We are all cyclists of some kind and to varying degrees of enthusiasm. 

cbb: What are some of the cycling events you have taken part in?

HL: My last Triathlon was the Aspen "Zoot” sprint triathlon in 2012 or 2013. I am a pretty casual cyclist these days. I use it to get around 50% of the time. Two summers ago, I rode from Vancouver, BC to Calgary. The 1,1000 km journey crosses the continental divide a few times and is mostly uphill—things I did not know when I started pedaling. 

Scott has competed fairly regularly in cyclocross and has an enviable quiver of bikes. Last year he competed in a 24-hour mountain biking race which was cut short at 12-ish hours due to dangerously icy conditions. 

I know Alex and Robin both ride, but I’m not up-to-date on their latest exploits. Robin pilots helicopters in his spare time and just acquired his instrument rating, meaning he can fly a helicopter without looking out of the cockpit, using only the instrumentation panels for direction. He just might be cooler than the rest of us.

This custom Damascus steel straight razor by Porltand Razor Company is an example of what they are capable of.

cbb: Cycling sports a history of shaving, aside from the obvious, pros insisted on freshly shaved faces prior to each Tour de France stage. How can cyclists be some of the best people for a straight razor/ wet shaving lifestyle?

HL: If you need to shave, wet shaving is the coolest and most sustainable way to do it. I also happen to know that cyclists are all certifiable gear heads (I include myself in this sweeping generalization). The appreciation for quality, form, and function is already there, and straight razors check all those boxes. Most people shy away from straight shaving because they’re afraid they might cut themselves. But how many skinned knees and broken bones did you brave when learning to ride a bike? You’ll figure it out without too much bloodshed, I promise. 

cbb: Once this pandemic is over, where does PRC see itself over the next few years?

HL: No idea. Ask me when the situation has evolved again in a few hours. Whatever happens, we will still be making razors and taking care of our customers. Our job right now is to adapt and see where our skills fit into the new normal.

cbb: Any bike adventure lined up/ talked about for the future?

HL: I’ll be picking up face masks a friend is sewing for donations on my bicycle this week. It's guaranteed to be a coronapocalyptic adventure!

We want to thank Hunter Lea for taking the time out of a hectic schedule during a trying time to answer our questions. This interview occurred over Instagram and through email.