Item Description
I am somewhat torn with this razor... while I do like it, and I do think it is well made, it just doesn't do much for me, and personally I feel the "Japanese Style" feather is highly overrated. While again, it isn't bad by any means, it is no better than the folding feather, and while I LOVE traditional Japanese (non-folding) straight razors, I am not overly fond of a non-folding feather. Since feather straights are so fearfully sharp - I feel you lose quite a bit of control with the Japanese version, as the handle is weirdly shaped (it isn't ergonomic - and has contours that look neat/nice - but don't feel right in any position) and the handle is way too thick. The rubbery material around the handle I also have mixed feelings about. While it feels nice, it takes away from your ability to feel feedback from the blade cutting your wiskers, thus further alienating you from the shave, and making it even harder to control in a highly precise manner.
Like all feather straight razors, this will provide you with a scary close shave, although it does take a little getting used to, and is not foriving in the slightest. It's quite convienient to not have to worry/bother with honing, stropping or any other maintenence, and feathers are nice to have around when you feel like having a lazy straight razor shave. For some strange reason, I find blades last me longer in the Euro version feather - but cest la vie, it could just be me.
In my eyes - I feel the folding feathers look better, have way better balance, allow far greater control, are easier to use, and are WAY more travel friendly (unless you carry around the bulky plastic case with the razor - it has nothing to protect the blade). It's a neat little collectors item for the obsessed, and it does change things up a bit and offer a different experience for feather users - but I cannot and will not believe anyone truly gets better results from this version of the feather (in fact I strongly feel it is the opposite) and without the ability to get a wood handle on this razor (from the factory) as you can with the folding feather, I for one think the clear choice is the folding feather.
Overall - it's a "neat" little razor, but there is no logical or functional reason to get this version over the standard folding version... in fact, I feel it's the other way around! Feather A/C Japanese... over priced and overrated!
To discuss this review, please see THIS thread!
