I had this razor for years & years, it was just the head no handle when i found it, its my favourite razor, i found it in our childhood homes attic few years after my father died (2008)
I started with DE's unlike most teens when i was 14-15 i found my father's Wilkinson sword sticky razor brand new boxed so i used it & i learnt from there, now i just turned 28 & tried many many razors over the years i ain't never liked or shaved with anything comparable to this.
The baseplate is solid tank like looking with some perculiar finish, the ridges protrude out
It has no stamps ingraved just manufacturing numbers one on the baseplate & the other beneath the top caps pin
I use a merkur 33c handle with it because it gives it perfect balance also because under the baseplate it has a round edge which i found aligns perfectly with the merkur handle
The shave with this razor is just above medium aggressive & a tad the behind aggressiveness of the 2011 R41, i tend to favour aggressive razors due to my thick coarse wiry beard, its extremely extremely effective i can't stress that enough you don't feel it being harsh due to the way the way the baseplate is shaped, if you look at it from the side it may look ordinary but it has a large blade gap & the way it has slopes in the baseplate allowing all the lather to be pushed under the razor, i also think the vivid ridges play a big part to how this amazing razor shaves the way the lather scoops off allowing you to rinse less often, you feel the blade but it's so intuitive to find the angle & almost impossible to cut your self even with fast strokes, something i never experienced with any other razor & i can name you dozens from all these moderns ones to vinatge ones i shaved with or had over the years.
The way it looks is not how it shaves it really astoundeds me no matter what blade i use or the length of growth i have (even shaving daily its safe to use just one stroke down so comfortable on the skin yet so effective) i always get a more efficient shave then i do with my other razors not to say that there bad but the razor to skin feel of this beast stuns me.
What razor do you have that you know knowing about but its your underrated unknown first choice to use or you just admire it?
Have a great day gentleman.