A Timeless Summer - A Comparative Assessment of Timeless Razors

[BigAlVista]

May be a while on this one, Guido. I'm finding that I really like both the Blackbird Lite and the Timeless OC 68. I want to use up the two Personna's I have in them, then switch to a mile blade (probably a 2023/2024 Wizamet).

• Facial Impact
  • The Blackbird feels like its scratching up my face, but isn't - it's blade forward, but not aggressive.
  • The OC 68 feels like a glide fest, but when using it for the same amount of time and pressure as the Blackbird, it is more aggressive than the Blackland razor - Not more efficient, just a bit more aggressive.
  • Both razors can get aggressive - It's harder to overdo it with the Blackbird because the blade forward feel provides more of a warning when I am spending too much time on an area, relative to the Timeless.
• Efficiency
  • The differential in closeness is such that it varies day-over-day, and the closer shave is more likely driven by inconsistencies with my technique than the razors themselves - At least with the 2023 AccuTek Personna Comfort Coated
• Lubricity
  • I think this is an undercommented on metric when folks review razors. I find that the angle-specific razors (like the Blackbird and Henson) require rewetting after every pass over an area. I find that a minor annoyance that does not happen with the rounded head razors, particularly those with an open comb. Simply put, I can go over the same area two or three time before I need to re-apply soap or water with a rounded OC razor like the Timeless OC 68. I actually considered if this may be why the Timeless feels more aggressive after the shave. That is to say, was I doing several strokes with the Timeless but only one with the Blackbird? I've been trying to pay attention to that. Tomorrow, I won't go over an area twice on a given pass and will note the findings.
• Net impression after three days: While the Timeless may have a bit less facial impact, the differential is slight. They both seem similarly efficient. That said, the differential in lubricity is significant between them and this makes the Timeless more of a joy to shave with. If there's a bit of moisture on a given area, I can take a pass with the Timeless. If there is just a bit of moisture on an area with the Blackbird, the razor is likely to tug or pull.

Today's findings:

 

[Guido75]

Thank you! And take your time! I will be around.

 

[BigAlVista]

Day 4: Timeless OC 68 vs Blackbird Lite

Finished another comparison shave today. Noting the differential in facial impact between the Blackbird and the Timeless, I tried to do as similar a shave as possible with each razor. I did not take multiple strokes over the same area within each pass, but I did add a second XTG pass (from the other direction). Each pass was about 45 seconds and the balance of the time was for some minor cleanup.

Both razors left my face nice and smooth this morning, with negligible facial impact. That said, 10 hours later, the Blackbird side of my face was noticeably smoother. Here are today's results:

 

[LRod]

I broke down and ordered the .95 Timeless!
Brand new Matte .95, scalloped top & bottom, Pineapple 100mm handle & the matching stand.
Used a coupon and got a good deal on it!
Also, I took a look and the Slim SB baseplate and it's $85 on it's own. The Slim baseplate works with the .95 top cap which means I can just buy the Slim baseplate later on for $85 if I choose.
Looking forward to it!

 

[Guido75]

You are going to love it Larry @LRod

 

[BigAlVista]

I broke down and ordered the .95 Timeless!
Brand new Matte .95, scalloped top & bottom, Pineapple 100mm handle & the matching stand.
Used a coupon and got a good deal on it!
Also, I took a look and the Slim SB baseplate and it's $85 on it's own. The Slim baseplate works with the .95 top cap which means I can just buy the Slim baseplate later on for $85 if I choose.
Looking forward to it!

Great razor, Larry. Enjoy it!

 

[BigAlVista]

The past two days, I tested the Blackbird Lite and the OC68 with Wizamet blades, swapping the blades after the first shave. The Wizamet blades did not materially change the performance of these razors, compared to the AccuTek blades.

I would note that changing blades, swapping blades and adjusting the duration of the shaves did not have a huge bearing on the differentials between these two razors. I have updated my early findings on them as follows:

• Facial Impact
  • The Blackbird feels like its scratching up my face, but isn't - it's blade forward, but not aggressive.
  • The OC 68 feels like a glide fest, but when using it for the same amount of time and pressure as the Blackbird, it is more aggressive than the Blackland razor - Not more efficient, just a bit more aggressive. While I prefer how the OC 68 feels while I'm shaving, I prefer the reduced razor burn of the Blackbird Lite.
  • Both razors can get aggressive - It's harder to overdo it with the Blackbird because the blade forward feel provides more of a warning when I am spending too much time on an area, relative to the Timeless.
• Efficiency
  • The differential in closeness is such that it varies day-over-day, and the closer shave is more likely driven by inconsistencies with my technique than the razors themselves
• Lubricity
  • I think this is an undercommented on metric when folks review razors. I find that the angle-specific razors (like the Blackbird and Henson) require rewetting after every pass over an area. I find that a minor annoyance that does not happen with the rounded head razors, particularly those with an open comb. Simply put, I can go over the same area two or three time before I need to re-apply soap or water with a rounded OC razor like the Timeless OC 68. I actually considered if this may be why the Timeless feels more aggressive after the shave. That is to say, was I doing several strokes with the Timeless but only one with the Blackbird? I've been trying to pay attention to that.
• Tolerance to flawed technique
  • While every razor has an optimal shave angle, the Blackbird's is pretty specific and the geometry of the head almost forces you to shave with a specific shave angle. Similarly, when using that angle, The Blackbird is a lather and water vacuum. The benefit? A smooth, highly efficient shave. With the Timeless, you still need to get your angles right, but if you are off a bit, the razor still shaves pretty well. The benefit flexibility. If I were a new shaver and wanted to learn good technique, I'd recommend the Blackbird. If I wanted an easy shave, I'd go with the Timeless.

Net impression: Both Razors are efficient, but the Blackbird Lite is a bit more efficient. Both work for me as a daily driver. Both are capable of 10-12 hour shaves, though the Blackbird does edge ahead of the Timeless on closeness.

Use cases

• I want the best daily driver out there, and I don't care about cost: I give the Blackbird the win on this one. It is a bit more efficient and is a little easier on the Face, relative to razor burn.
• I want an outstanding daily driver, but I don't want to break the bank: This win goes to the Timeless. It's a wonderful razor that give a predictable, close and smooth shave - and is reasonably prices for a modern CNC razor.
• I need a razor for my sensitive skin: I give this to the Blackbird. While the razor feels blade forward during the shave, the post shave impact is pretty mild. Not mild like some of the neutral or negative exposure razors, but mild for a highly efficient razor. If you have really sensitive skin, I might encourage you to go down a different path. Yes, both of these have been ratcheted down on aggression/blade exposure compared to their siblings (i.e. Timeless 95 and the Blackland Blackbird), but I would not call them mild.
• I want a "utility player" of a razor: Both razors are capable of tackling pretty much anything that you might need them to mow down and are fine as a daily driver. That said, the win here goes to the Timeless, if you don't have a mustache. Though I did not do a "beard removal test", the clamping of the Timeless makes the blade more secure when encountering dense thick hair and not having to constantly re-wet the face is a plus. The Blackbird is better if you have to shave under your nose every day.
• There can be only one: This is a tough one. Both razors are excellent and I am pretty much indifferent between them. While the Blackbird can provide a closer shave and is a bit milder, I really like not having to pay so much attention to my technique and having to relubricate my face all the time. If you prefer easy, go with the Timeless. If you prefer efficiency, go with the Blackbird.

Final results:

 

[BigAlVista]

Index of evaluations:

• Timeless OC 68 vs Blackland Blackbird Lite
• Timeless SC 95 vs Chiseled Face Legacy
• Timeless Slant vs Henson +
• Timeless Slant vs Razorock Superslant 1++ OC
• Timeless OC Slim vs SB Slim
• Timeless SC 95 vs OC 68
• Timeless OC Slim vs Blackland Blackbird OC

 

[LRod]

Timeless mail call today!!
My Timeless .95 SCL stainless arrived and so did the Slim baseplate.
2 separate orders from 2 separate vendors and they arrived together. Nice!
The razor came from Razor Emporium and the baseplate came direct from Timeless.
I was off today so I didn't shave yesterday. I purposely left 2 days of growth to try the .95.

First of all, it's a beauty. The matte finish is incredible. I've only had Timeless' polished finish but I definitely like the matte better. It's not that darkish gray (not super smooth) matted finish that you get from other manufactures.
It's incredibly smooth and looks brighter than your typical matte. It's almost like a machined finish that
has been partially polished. And the best part is that it feels the same on your face as the polished
finish. It's perfect for daily use where you just dry it and done!

I just had my 2 pass WTG/XTG with a German Schick DE blade and it was excellent.
A drama free shave that was super smooth and very efficient.
The .95 up's the .68 with it's positive blade exposure where it's a tad less smooth but very smooth nevertheless.
And after the shave, my face feels like silk. It definitely shaves closer!
As for the weight, it's heavy!
I really like it's heavy weight where this razor really does all the work without any pressure from me.
I hear people say that it's head heavy but I think the 100mm. pineapple handle cancels this out.
It feels very balanced!

Another thing I've read and has made me wonder is:
How does anyone use this razor steep?
I set the handle parallel to my face and moved it up and the blade didn't engage at all (zero) till I was at around
30 degrees. I tried it at 30 and also tried riding the cap. 30 was the sweet spot!
I think the scalloped top & bottom is wonderful where it's a perfect middle between the SB and the OC.
Bottom line after the first use: I loved it!
Tomorrow I'll be trying the Slim on my next shave to compare between the two.
Here are some pictures:

 

[Guido75]

Way to go Larry @LRod! Glad you liked your first shave!

Enjoy!

Guido

 

[Phoenixkh]

I had a lovely shave this afternoon with my Mark Inspired, scalloped bronze cap/0.68OC titanium base plate... and the usual Ti Crown handle..... I don't know what a BBS shave would feel like... I do know, my skin will never be as our granddaughter's skin... even now, at one year old, let along when she was just a few weeks old. I think I'll join Jim / @Chan Eil Whiskers and be quite content with a Damn Fine Shave.

 

[LRod]

Quick shave report since I'm on my way out for dinner!

Alright, so I just had my daily shave with the Timeless Slim baseplate! (2nd. use Schick DE blade)
First thing I want to mention is that both the .95 SCL and the Slim .5 SB gave me excellent shaves.
Both shaves were smooth, efficient and drama free!
The details (this is gonna be a jumbled mess since I'm just quickly brainstorming both shaves):

The Slim reminds me a lot (shavewise) of the Bronze .38 SB. I can't remember though if anyone has mentioned this in any comparison review?
The heads are a different design (Bronze has a square safety bar and the Slim's is rounded) but the specs.
are very similar: ".38 blade gap vs. .50 blade gap and 0.05 blade exposure for both!"
And both have a limited angle range for finding the sweet spot. Even though it was very easy to find and hold!
Very typical though of a head with a smaller blade gap!

The .95 has a wider range (from approximately 30 degrees, all the way up to the riding the cap).
The Slim I found can handle steeper angles if you choose but no so much for the .95.
I still found the sweet spot on both to be at around the same place: 30 degrees!
So what I experienced is that the Slim can go from 30 down to steep and the .95 from 30 up to shallow!

-I found more audible feedback on the .95 where the Slim is practically silent.
-I felt more blade on the .95!
Weird since the Slim has more blade exposure. I guess it's something in the head design that causes this.
And what did that translate to?
The Slim felt a tad smoother than the .95!
Most reviews I've read have said the opposite. But that's what I felt!

The shave with the .95 yesterday gave me a good 14 hours before I felt any stubble. Excellent!
I also felt zero next day (today) irritation with that shave. I usually will feel the results (good or bad)
on the next day, as the day progresses.
That means that tomorrow will be when I can fully assess how the Slim shave went tonight.

Bottom line:
-.95 a tad less smooth than the Slim and I felt it a tad more aggressive. But the shave, duration of regrowth
and short term and long term face feel was excellent.
-The Slim felt smoother, less aggressive and is quieter. And of course, less room to keep the angle which for me isn't a big deal but the .95 did a better job with that.
So if I'd have to compare right now (I still need to see how my face feels tomorrow though), I'd say that right now
they're a tie for me. I really like them both!
Can the .95 be a daily razor for me? Absolutely!!
The Slim? I wont know till I feel and see my face by tomorrow night!
Both gave me an excellent smooth & efficient shave with no irritation, nicks etc..
I'll report back tomorrow night with results and of course will continue to use both to determine which will
ultimately win for a spot on my rotation.

 

[LRod]

I received my .95 OC base plate from Timeless today!
And tonight's shave was a most excellent shave with the .95 OC!
As compared to the .68 OC?
It shaves the same, it's almost just as smooth (a tiny tad less) but it's got what the .68 is missing (for me):
More efficiency (due to it's positive blade exposure).
So if you love the .68 OC but want some more efficiency without sacrificing comfort, this'll do it!
I don't feel any of them to be aggressive, so I won't even use that word as a description.
The only razor that Timeless has that I'd consider aggressive is the .78 Bronze open comb. That's aggressive!!
And compared to the .95 SCL?
I'd say that the .95 SCL is a slightly toned down version of the .95 OC.
I will use the .95 SCL for 1 day of growth and the .95 OC for 2+ days of growth. Perfect combo!
Without a doubt, I will continue praising Timeless' open comb. It's something special!
Shave result:
My face feels excellent
Both are definite keepers. A++

 

[Iridian]

My face feels excellent
Both are definite keepers. A++

Glad to hear that. I also love most of the Timeless handles, not just the very popular Ti Crown. The 100mm Barberpole is just right for me, I use it for my .5 Slim OC. The Ti Crown is still married to my Lupo .95 OC.

You might have read me stating how much I love the .5 Slim OC, it's a marvel regarding efficiency, but it for sure ain't for everyone. But if you are ever in need of yet another baseplate...

 

[LRod]

Glad to hear that. I also love most of the Timeless handles, not just the very popular Ti Crown. The 100mm Barberpole is just right for me, I use it for my .5 Slim OC. The Ti Crown is still married to my Lupo .95 OC.

You might have read me stating how much I love the .5 Slim OC, it's a marvel regarding efficiency, but it for sure ain't for everyone. But if you are ever in need of yet another baseplate...

I just returned the SB Slim plate. I didn't like it!
Traded it for the .95 OC and also have the .95 SCL with the scalloped top cap. My handle is the pineapple 100mm which is wonderful and I'm waiting for the 85mm barber pole handle to arrive along with a smooth top cap. Everything in the matte finish. That'll give me 2 complete razors with options to switch stuff around!
I think that should cover all the Timeless bases for me, Lol!!

 

[JAHE]

I haven't done an in-depth analysis regarding the Timeless options (well done @BigAlVista), but I have shaved with the .38, .68 OC, .95 SCL, .95 OC, .50 Slim OC and the mean .78 OC in the last couple of weeks. It's fair to say I really LOVE the Timeless lineup

In terms of smoothness the baseplates behave like this (imo):

.38 (super smooth) =/< .68 OC < .95 SCL < .95 OC < .50 Slim OC < .78 OC (sweet Jesus)

For my "two passes plus" usecase (wtg/atg passes plus a bit of touchups) all baseplates named above safe the .50 Slim OC and the .78 OC fall into MY daily driver department.

The Slim OC is a step up in terms of bladefeel and efficiency over the .95 OC (used by me whenever 2 or 2+ days worth of growth are in question), but the OC Slim is not a beast as the .78 OC is. The really aggressive .78 OC is reserved for those days when a real challenge is needed (livin' on the edge at its best... as I have said before: it's the end level big boss for me ).


I'll have to do a side by side shave with the. 38 and .68 OC to establish my findings, but I'm confident regarding the rest.

For me, the .68 OC is a hidden gem in the daily driver offerings in the DE razor market.

 

[BigAlVista]

I haven't done an in-depth analysis regarding the Timeless options (well done @BigAlVista), but I have shaved with the .38, .68 OC, .95 SCL, .95 OC, .50 Slim OC and the mean .78 OC in the last couple of weeks. It's fair to say I really LOVE the Timeless lineup

In terms of smoothness the baseplates behave like this (imo):

.38 (super smooth) =/< .68 OC < .95 SCL < .95 OC < .50 Slim OC < .78 OC (sweet Jesus)

For my "two passes plus" usecase (wtg/atg passes plus a bit of touchups) all baseplates named above safe the .50 Slim OC and the .78 OC fall into MY daily driver department.

The Slim OC is a step up in terms of bladefeel and efficiency over the .95 OC (used by me whenever 2 or 2+ days worth of growth are in question), but the OC Slim is not a beast as the .78 OC is. The really aggressive .78 OC is reserved for those days when a real challenge is needed (livin' on the edge at its best... as I have said before: it's the end level big boss for me ).


I'll have to do a side by side shave with the. 38 and .68 OC to establish my findings, but I'm confident regarding the rest.

For me, the .68 OC is a hidden gem in the daily driver offerings in the DE razor market.

Glad to ser the evals I posted are useful. For me, the 68 OC does a superb job at balancing between smooth and sharp. While I also love the 95 SCL, there is something about the smooth way the OC 68 shaves that calls out to me. When I am on the road (by car), I take my OC 68 Stainless head with a SCL Ti top cap and crown handle. It's sturdy, smooth, shaves great and is not so crazy expensive that I'm afraid to travel with it.

I wish there were something like it that would be suitable for carry-on air travel (he says the week before he jumps on a plane to Madrid and then Warsaw). At this point, I'm planning to take my vibrating Gillette Fusion Pro glide 5 with build in Alum strip. So yes, I'm planning for 10 days of Mediocre shaves (sigh...).

 

[Phoenixkh]

I do like the bronze 0.38 but I’m loving both my hybrid 0.68OC razors a lot. I have some pretty nice razors and I’m not good at selecting a top 3-5, but however I rate them, the 0.68OC has to be included.

 

[LRod]

My Timeless matte smooth top cap & short barber pole handle arrived today from Maggard.
So now I've got both sets:
The .95 SCL for daily shaves
and the .95 OC for 2+ days of growth!

 

[BigAlVista]

My Timeless matte smooth top cap & short barber pole handle arrived today from Maggard.
So now I've got both sets:
The .95 SCL for daily shaves
and the .95 OC for 2+ days of growth!

They look great, Larry. I've not tried the OC95 plate. Enjoy them!