R41 2011 GRANDE

NOTE: The review below is the same as for my original R41. The GRANDE differs only with respect to the handle. The new nandle is heavier and longer and shares the excellent quality of the original.
It has excellent balance and feels substantial in my hands. Its size fits my grip nicely. Given the angle I use to shave with the R41, however, the additional length required an adjustment to my shaving technique on my lower neck, a tiny inconvenience. I also found that th GRANDE handle fits on many of the razors in my collection, which is a BIG PLUS!
Would I recommend this razor: [color=FF0000]YES[/color]
The original R41 Review still applies:
My initial reaction to the new Muhle R41 razor was that it’s a stunning piece of craftsmanship, with flawless, shiny plating that reminded me of polished sterling or rhodium. When I picked it up for the first time, I found it lighter than the heavyweights I normally use, and with a shorter handle than my barber-poles, but with a size and heft that felt good in my hands. The balance was perfect for easy use and made holding it very pleasant.
I opened it to insert a new blade, and turned it over to examine the alignment. When I saw the blade exposure, my jaw dropped. This was not like any DE I’d ever seen before.
The new R41 appeared to be beautiful, lean and quite possibly—mean. I was surprised again when I put it to my cheek and took a few light practice strokes and heard scratching sounds as if I hadn’t shaved in a day. I had just had a fine BBS shave two hours earlier. I touched my fingers to my face and felt nothing.
I decided to do a quick shave. I was a little intimidated at first by the blade exposure. I loved the pronounced audio feedback. I relaxed after a minute or so and began to enjoy being guided as much by sound as sight. All the way through, the sound of whiskers being mowed down was a helpful guide. I took care to use only feather-light strokes. After the second pass, I stopped and cleaned up. No sting at all from my alcohol-lased Booster's aftershave, and none from the Tabac cologne that always highlights any irritation that Booster's might have missed. I developed an appreciation for the effective job the razor had done. This was an awesome shaving tool.
During the month that I’ve used it a daily, the R41 became my favorite DE razor. I am a fan of aggressive razors and sharp, smooth blades. I also prefer substantial razors with longer handles. The Muhle, while shorter and lighter than my barber-poles, felt very comfortable and well-balanced in my hands. It was significantly more nimble than the long-handled models. I was surprised that the normal blade life I usually got from Iridiums was cut by at least a third. This held true with the next five brands I tried. I finally found that Perma-Sharps and Personna Med Preps worked best for me and would give me at least three good shaves per blade.
This review is my impression of the Muhle R41 2011 after a month of daily use:
Price: The cost of this razor depends on how carefully you shop. I bought mine for $45, and I’ve seen prices ranging from $36-$61*. No matter what the price, the razor offers high value for the money. I gave it a "10".
Quality: This is a beautiful and functional piece of craftsmanship. Muhle is known for high quality manufacturing standards and Rolls-Royce quality plating. I found the R41 to excel in every dimension of quality. I wouldn’t be surprised to see it win manufacturing awards or find it displayed at the Smithsonian in Washington or Museum of Modern Art in New York.
User Friendly: I gave it a "10" because I actually prefer two- and three-piece razors for ease of cleaning. The extra few seconds it takes to replace a blade every few days I find negligible. The grip and balance contribute to great control and performance. I felt this razor made sure, close and comfortable shaves easy.
Grip: The grip and its finish are two of the R41's finest features. The texturing is attractive and provides a secure grip under slippery conditions. The handle is large enough to be well-suited to most users, but small enough to be very nimble. A "10".
Ease of Blade Replacement: Personally, I like three-piece razors, especially this one. The quality of construction is even evident in the cut of the threads that bind it together. It is so well fitted that it screws into the head as smoothly as if it were coated with grease. A "10”.
Aggressiveness: This is an aggressive and effective razor capable of giving really fine shaves. With a sharp blade like Feathers, Perma-Sharps or Personna Med Preps it is arguably in a class by itself. I own a number of razors that are considered aggressive, and I generally use adjustables at their highest settings. Other than a straight, I haven’t used anything that compares with this. One of the pictures in this review shows the blade exposure from underneath and may explain why. This razor does give really fine, close and comfortable shaves. If the rating scale went higher than "10" it would deserve it. However, it is not for everyone. I’ve seen “For Sale” offers on B/S/T from users who didn’t like it and found it too aggressive.
Adjustability: This is a non-adjustable razor. "N/A" (shows as “10” because “N/A” is no longer a rating choice and I think it’s perfect the way it is).
Balance: I like the overall weight and balance of this razor very much. It is perfectly balanced for ease of use. A "10"
Overall: I still have difficulty holding back my enthusiasm for this razor. It’s just that good. It is a beautiful piece of craftsmanship and for me, shaves better than any DE or SE razor I’ve ever used.
I would hesitate, however, to recommend it to anyone who doesn’t like very aggressive razors. I also think it would be irresponsible to recommend it to a new shaver, or anyone whose shaving skills are not fairly well tuned. This is as close to a straight razor as DEs have come, at least in my experience.
I should point out the one issue I’ve had with it: it can be hard on blades. My Iridium Supers that work so well for me in the other razors in my rotation have 30-40% less life in the R41. Other owners have had similar experiences. Collectively we’ve tried many potential candidates, and for the most part agree that sharp, smooth blades seem to work best. Feathers, Personna Med Preps and Labs, Russian Perma-Sharps and Gillette Yellows work well for most of us.
I have never before come across any other DE that would deserve a perfect score.

The R41 Grande is a better size than the regular R41 for guys like me who have big paws. The first thing you notice about this razor is that it's beautiful - and beautifully made. The second thing you'll notice is the feel when you screw the handle onto the head. I can't explain it, but you'll know what I'm talking about the first time you assemble it.The new head design is sort of a hybrid between open and closed combs. The bar that connects the teeth of the comb eliminates the irritation I have felt with other open comb razors as the teeth raked across my face. So despite its aggressiveness, it feels very comfortable against my skin.So now let's talk about the actual shave. Gents, this is a very aggressive razor so, despite the comfortable feel, you must treat it with the utmost respect. To this point, it is the most aggressive razor I have used and gives me an amazing 100% BBS shave most of the time. When it doesn't, it's my fault, not the razor's. BTW, it does an amazing job on my neck, which has always been a problem area.In comparison to the three other open comb razors I have experience with, it is much more aggressive than my Gillette "New" and my Ikon OSS and slightly more aggressive than my Joris Godren.I have an average, slightly sparse beard, so you might think that an aggressive open-comb razor is overkill for me, but I get a better shave with 2 or 2-1/2 passes with the Muhle than I can with 3-1/2 passes with a Jagger or Merkur.Be prepared for a couple of nicks or cuts the first few times you use it, but once you get a good feel for the razor, you may never want to use anything else.