OC Open Comb Razor

Everytime I use this thing I get nicks.....and I'm a straight razor guy.

Simply the finest razor I've used, and the most pleasing to the eye and hand.
I believe it and the solid bar model are the finest DE razors ever made.

Perhaps the most perfect DE razor ever made.

I find the Tradere Open Comb without any major fault. It is easily the smoothest OC razor I have used or owned. That title formerly went to an iKon OSS.
The shave angle is consistent and easy to find.
The head is wider than most as it not only covers the blade tabs, but extend further with end caps, yet its’ height is shallower than other similarly styled razors. This makes navigating tight areas easy enough.
I to prefer a very slender long handle and though I am very happy with the design and implementation of the Tradere’s handle, I do wish a longer, thinner version was available.
I do use it with a host of handles.. iKon Deluxe Classic, BRW Deluxe Long, Bull Mastiff and Ultra Light.. and in each case the head balances well.
From reviews I had read, I expected the OC to be a real crooner, but it’s a very quiet shave. In all respects, I see this razor in my inventory for years to come.

The quality of this fantastic open comb razor is the first thing you see and feel with this totally milled solid stainless steel marvel. The shave is close and comfortable with the maneuverability of a perfectly balanced head/handle combination. Your pinkie will naturally rest against the flare tip of the handle as you glide through your shave. The closed contour ends of the top plate with its sure grip milled ridges make it easy to remove the blade and adjust the blade gap. It helps to loosen the head slightly while rinsing to remove the soap residue that may get trapped. You can also increase the aggressiveness by watching the blade gap as you tighten the handle. I like to add 1/3 turn of the handle after it contacts the base plate for my desire of added aggressiveness and snug it up when I desire a milder blade geometry. This way I receive the most comfortably close BBS. Every blade I tried worked well. My favorite was the PermaSharp blade (cardboard sleeve not plastic). The knurling of the handle gives the most positive sure grip and the flat bottom of the flare tip will allow you to stand the razor upright. The durability of this razor is obvious with its solid center post of the milled top plate that can't come loose like all other two piece top plates. The handle also fits most other razor heads to see if this added flexibility enhances their characteristics. Works great on EJ and Muhle heads and a Fatip base plate with the EJ top plate. I consider this razor as the best of the best. I am so happy to own a quality razor that is manufactured right here in the USA. It will always be at the top of my rotation. I currently own 137 razors with 51 being open combs. You will feel that the $169 price is a bargain for the quality you will see and feel with this razor.

I feel cheated looking at other peoples reviews they got really nice tradere razors i bought mine from connaught shaving and sent it back without using it they replaced it with another ikon oss it had been a present for my son in law who is in the raf in afghanistan i wanted the tradere to be the best razor i had ever seen but it had dent in top plate gullet of comb teeth wher rough and poorly finished as was the underside of the top plate it looked like it had been carved out with a dremel but the desighn was fantastic really like the look.

So I've been shaving with this for a few months now and I LOVE it! I am not going to repeat all the great things said in the other reviews about the superb quality and craftsmanship of this thing, but it's all true. I used a EJ DE89 prior to the Tradere and I think I've used it 3 times since this beast came in the mail. Now I loved my EJ and anyone who has one knows how darn pretty it is, but as stated in another review, other razors kind of feel like a toy after the Tradere. I also was using Feather blades and have now switched to Personna "lab blue." Two come with the razor and they are a great match-up. I also love the fact that it makes it a full on American made set-up. I can't really compare it to any other high end DE razors since this is the only one I have used, but I don't have to drive a Porsche to know a Ferrari is a fast car. One thing is for sure, this thing is a beast as far as weight goes and I love it. I did have to learn what "no pressure" really is after having only used DE razors that weigh about half as much as the Tradere. Once learned though, it was and is BBS shaves all day long. I could't be happier and I hope to see the Tradere name in the safety razor business for years to come.

The Tradere OC is an all-stainless steel, machined, 3-piece, open comb razor of extremely high quality that is manufactured in the US. The handle is a long, weighty handle with a flared tip. It has a nice, fine curling that provides plenty of grip over a satin finish. Its flared end provides a nice base and unique appearance. The head has a mirrored finish and open comb design. The sides are closed and feature 3 etched grooves that aid in grip and also add to its aesthetic quality. Together, the razor is well balanced and sits nicely in my hand. The blade has a good amount of exposure, sits evenly and securely, and, as previously described, has a fairly flat angle.

My shaves have been very smooth and a tad on the aggressive side (6 or 7/10). I haven’t had any difficulty finding a good angle or maneuvering the razor into tight areas beneath my jaw or nose. The razor felt very solid and sturdy in my hand compared to my other DE (which is a cast razor). Blade removal took a few times to get used to as the closed side design doesn’t let you grab the ends of the blade. It is the only downside I can think of and a minor inconvenience. I haven’t had any issues to date.

The Trader OC is my first open comb and is most definitely my favorite razor. It is a beautiful razor and solidly crafted. I love its look. I love its shave. And, I love that it will not flake or brass in the future. I would not hesitate to recommend the OC to anyone wanting a new or first open comb. If I can wield this beauty and get such a wonderful shave, anyone can.

All members of this forum appreciate the luxury of shaving with a double-edged razor. And we obsess over every detail of the experience. Some of us make custom brushes, some take scanning electron micrographs of razor blades, and some of us spend far too much time watching B/S/T and the bay. Richard has chosen to leverage his interest in our world to start his own razor manufacturing company.
I was happy with my lonely Merkur HD until coming across Richard and the adjustable razor pass-around in the Contributors’ Corner. He was always the gentleman while igniting a small AD under my feet. When I saw his introductory post offering Tradere handles, I signed up immediately.
The razor head arrived in the complete travel case. The plastic case isn’t very aesthetically appealing, but it provides excellent protection for shipping. Although it is only the size of a paperback book (well, maybe a Harry Potter book), it is much larger than the travel cases commonly found with vintage razors. I’ll probably use it to protect the razor in case of earthquake or tornado, and take a more pedestrian razor with me when I travel.
The Razor
Every detail of this razor has been meticulously planned and executed. The handle feels substantial, maybe slightly long for my preference. The knurling is exactly as advertised - subtle, yet deep enough to afford a firm grip even with soapy wet hands. The flare at the end can be used as a rest for the pinky to provide better control of the razor. Its flat bottom can be used to stand the handle on the counter during blade changes, so the handle doesn’t roll away. It’s probably better to lay the handle on a towel, but the option is there.
The finish of the handle is satin, but the flat on the bottom is as shiny as a mirror. The head is highly polished, and some have commented that they would prefer that the finish be the same for both parts. I happen to like the look of the razor. The shiny end ties the handle to the head. And the satin finish in between seems to be carefully chosen to provide a better grip.
The razor is a traditional 3-piece design, although the head is more substantial than any razor I have seen, without a hint of looking industrial. The top plate has a comfortable amount of curvature without being so chunky as to make shaving difficult in tight spots such as under the nose. The ends of the top plate are convex and ribbed, providing a sure grip when tightening or loosening the handle. Bevels at the corners facilitate close work with a maximum comfort level. The underside of the top plate is a little rougher than the rest of the razor, but the dimensions are perfect - blades fit onto the posts perfectly, with zero play. The threaded post for the handle is machined from the same block of stainless, rather than being welded on. This is surely an expensive step, especially since a lot of stainless has to be machined away, but the extra strength of the post is assuring.
The bottom plate is highly polished all around. The mating surface includes slots for the posts in the top plate, so there is no play once the razor is assembled. The comb teeth are substantial, and protected against falls on the corners by the end tabs of the plate.
When the head is assembled, the comb teeth have a generous amount of space between them and under the top plate to allow lather and clippings a path to escape. The carefully planned open areas behind the teeth make it easy to rinse the head clean during the shave.
When the razor is assembled, the handle does make some circular marks on the bottom of the bottom plate.
The Shave
With just over six months’ experience DE shaving, I subscribe to the theory that technique is more important than equipment. Surely horrible equipment can make a good shave nearly impossible, but a BBS shave is certainly achievable with nearly any vintage Gillette or quality modern razor. That being said, various design elements can enhance the experience.
For example, the open areas around the comb make rinsing soap out easy. There is one corner, where the bottom plate comes into contact with the blade, that seems to take just a little more rinsing. You can just do a good job rinsing at the end of the shave, but I find myself making sure the area is completely clean after each rinse.
The blade exposure is just where Richard said it would be, affording a medium aggressive shave. It feels like a 5-7 setting on a Fatboy. There is some magic associated with the geometry of the top plate that allows a bit of blade exposure without feeling dangerous at all.
While not particular to this razor, the open combs leave some soap on the skin after the razor passes, which means you can cheat and do a minor touch-up stroke if you like. And by not removing all of the lather with each stroke, some remains on your skin until you rinse. This extra time seems to leave me with a smoother feeling during the day.
While a modern Jagger, MÜHLE, or Merkur is a fine razor, they feel like toys after using the Tradere. The heft of the Tradere allows you to control the balance by adjusting the location of your grip on the handle.
For the WTG pass, I tend to hold the handle with my thumb and first two fingers. Sometimes my pinky rests on the end of the handle for additional control. For the ATG pass, I hold it like a pencil.
To change the blade, unscrew the handle just like any other three-piece razor. Pick up the top plate by the ends, and tap the threaded post on a towel. Sometimes the blade comes off with the bottom plate, and sometimes it stays in the top plate until you tap it. Occasionally the blade cants at a slight angle between the finger grips at the ends of the top plate, and requires a few taps to release. When that happens I am tempted to grab the blade by the ends and lift it out. But the ends of the top plate prevent access to the ends of the blade. The only exposed parts of the blade are the edges themselves. Don’t grab those! This isn’t exactly a complaint, because the top plate is wonderfully designed for grip during assembly and for comfort during the shave. But I am accustomed to removing blades by the ends, and it is something to be careful about with this razor.
Conclusion
This is a solid, well-built razor with fantastic attention to detail. The precise angle and exposure of the blade relative to the top plate, the solid comb fingers with ample space for rinsing, and the surprising amount of grip from the knurling pattern make the Tradere razor my favorite razor by far.
While the price is high relative to modern cast razors, there is no comparison when you actually hold them in your hands. The cast razors feel like toys. And compared to other modern machined razors, the Tradere is well-priced. The razor is sure to retain its value or even appreciate, so you have the option of selling it on B/S/T for close to your purchase price if you aren’t completely satisfied.