No1Up
Beet her to it!
Welcome, and thank you for taking the time to read my opinion, I’m grateful.
Before We Get Started.
I want to take just a little bit of time to acknowledge BlackLand Razor’s hard work, dedication, and contribution. I personally think that it’s a beautiful thing when something new is introduced into our world. A new experience, a new memory, a new design, it’s truly something beautiful. Shane decided to not take the path of least resistance, and instead walk the road less travelled. The end result is a near masterpiece in design, function, aesthetics, and manufacturing. Thank you, Shane, and everyone at Blackland.
The Osprey has landed!
I can’t tell you how excited I was for this razor, I certainly don’t need it having reached the absolute peak in perfect shaving with the Ti Black-Bird, more on that in my Blac- Bird vs Henson write up. I just think its such a cool looking razor, and since the Black-bird converted me in to a loyal Black land fan, I knew that no matter the pictures, it would still be WAY better looking in person. With the current 25% sale I thought it would be the best time to jump in. I was not disappointed, what a beautiful creation to look at. I WAS however, disappointed there was no tool in the box to remove the brass insert, I don’t think I need to remind anyone this is expensive even with any discount.
She’s beautiful, but…
I feel safe in saying this, but hands down, this is the most beautiful razor ever introduced to the public, I mean this thing is just beautiful, art meets function in perfect harmony. You can tell the Black land crew would not be happy with JUST different. The design from a functional aspect does suffer just a bit; I’ll explain. There are a lot of areas which will be very difficult to clean, the head will allow a lot of soap scum, hair, and whatever else with-in its (body), I don’t know how to explain, I’ll just post a picture here.
Not a big deal just something I noticed while trying hard to keep it clean with a Q-tip, the Q-tip had a difficult time, so there are areas that are not accessible to the owner. The main concern people have is having to loosen before changing settings. I did not find this to be a problem at all. While I THOUGHT the machine finish would not bother me, it really does. Such a beautiful razor just feels unfinished in the machined state, it’s a little too raw… this is of course subjective. The polished finish is available for the low low low cost of one BILLION dollars [insert doctor evil pic here]. I kid, but the polished finish really adds a lot to the price on an ALREADY very expensive razor.
How does she shave?
Ok, look, when it comes to a stick that holds a razor you really do reach a point of diminishing returns. Unless were talking about the Ti Black Bird because that thing defies all laws of physics to me and is just magic.
This particular razor is hard to quantify, I mean, beyond personal things like technique, and skin, hair combinations, you also have to consider all the levels. First thing I noticed was the angle was way different than the Black bird, where the BB has a sort of flat cap and an edge that guides you to the perfect cutting angle much like the Henson, the Osprey sticks the rounded cap.
I personally did not like this but figured I’d get used to it. My first shave with it was ok, probably the best shave I had with it, and I was not able to re-create it; I’ll explain in a bit. I did not like how heavy it was, coming from the Ti Black Bird and Ti Henson, it is VERY noticeable. I figured I would get used to it, and after a few days, I did. If you read my Black Bird Vs Henson review, I talk about this spot that I have struggled with my whole life, sometimes it’s pink, other times red, painful, unsightly. The Black Bird has been the only razor I have ever used that got rid or did not aggravate the skin after shaving (VERY COOL).
The first shave was very close to BB like shave however that spot did come back, much to my dismay. I also started to notice over the next 24 hours that some of my stubble was more “stubbly” while other areas was still down to the skin. Very uneven grow back. Thought it might be in my head so I ignored it. The second and pretty much every shave after that first one have not gone well for me. To be fair, I was trying the extremes of the razor from mild to aggressive. 1-2-3 left me very irritated as level 1 really doesn’t do anything besides move cream, 2-3 are just a bit better but leave a lot behind. Even after a 3 pass WTG,XTG, ATG I had a lot of little stumps left that lean sideways and poke the skin and make it red. Levels 7-8-9 did much better in this regard however my skin felt VERY tight and very abused, I’ve used a lot of my PAA Aloe Vera juice this week! 6-5-4 are much better but still leave some straggler stumps behind, and that uneven grow back. That’s a thing! Lol I’ll post a picture where you can see stumps of different lengths.
Even on the “good” shaves, my skin still felt abused. Tonight I did my 3 passes and still felt prickles all over even after against the grain pass! Against my better judgement I did a 4thpass with my BB, and wouldn’t you know.. perfect, BBS+! But my skin was, IS, very hot right now. I think I’m done playing with the Osprey, maybe the polished finish would have been better? Idk, I was thinking about swapping it out for the titanium, maybe that would make a difference, however the Ti sold out. I hate to say this but I think the guy from Razor Emporium’s review is right, I think it might be the geometry of the blade? I don’t know what it is exactly, but my neck is done with the Osprey.
I really want to support such a great company so I think I will return the Osprey and re-purchase the Titanium version next year, maybe an Osprey Version 2 with a Black bird geometry?! That would be wonderful. For now, I think I’ll buy another Ti Black Bird, maybe the Open comb and long handle to have all versions on deck! Or maybe the Bronze Bird… Although there hasn’t been many reviews on the Bronze bird, especially from Ti bird owners. Have we been spoiled? Lol even my amazing Ti Henson sits there collecting dust!
Before We Get Started.
I want to take just a little bit of time to acknowledge BlackLand Razor’s hard work, dedication, and contribution. I personally think that it’s a beautiful thing when something new is introduced into our world. A new experience, a new memory, a new design, it’s truly something beautiful. Shane decided to not take the path of least resistance, and instead walk the road less travelled. The end result is a near masterpiece in design, function, aesthetics, and manufacturing. Thank you, Shane, and everyone at Blackland.
The Osprey has landed!
I can’t tell you how excited I was for this razor, I certainly don’t need it having reached the absolute peak in perfect shaving with the Ti Black-Bird, more on that in my Blac- Bird vs Henson write up. I just think its such a cool looking razor, and since the Black-bird converted me in to a loyal Black land fan, I knew that no matter the pictures, it would still be WAY better looking in person. With the current 25% sale I thought it would be the best time to jump in. I was not disappointed, what a beautiful creation to look at. I WAS however, disappointed there was no tool in the box to remove the brass insert, I don’t think I need to remind anyone this is expensive even with any discount.
She’s beautiful, but…
I feel safe in saying this, but hands down, this is the most beautiful razor ever introduced to the public, I mean this thing is just beautiful, art meets function in perfect harmony. You can tell the Black land crew would not be happy with JUST different. The design from a functional aspect does suffer just a bit; I’ll explain. There are a lot of areas which will be very difficult to clean, the head will allow a lot of soap scum, hair, and whatever else with-in its (body), I don’t know how to explain, I’ll just post a picture here.
Not a big deal just something I noticed while trying hard to keep it clean with a Q-tip, the Q-tip had a difficult time, so there are areas that are not accessible to the owner. The main concern people have is having to loosen before changing settings. I did not find this to be a problem at all. While I THOUGHT the machine finish would not bother me, it really does. Such a beautiful razor just feels unfinished in the machined state, it’s a little too raw… this is of course subjective. The polished finish is available for the low low low cost of one BILLION dollars [insert doctor evil pic here]. I kid, but the polished finish really adds a lot to the price on an ALREADY very expensive razor.
How does she shave?
Ok, look, when it comes to a stick that holds a razor you really do reach a point of diminishing returns. Unless were talking about the Ti Black Bird because that thing defies all laws of physics to me and is just magic.
This particular razor is hard to quantify, I mean, beyond personal things like technique, and skin, hair combinations, you also have to consider all the levels. First thing I noticed was the angle was way different than the Black bird, where the BB has a sort of flat cap and an edge that guides you to the perfect cutting angle much like the Henson, the Osprey sticks the rounded cap.
I personally did not like this but figured I’d get used to it. My first shave with it was ok, probably the best shave I had with it, and I was not able to re-create it; I’ll explain in a bit. I did not like how heavy it was, coming from the Ti Black Bird and Ti Henson, it is VERY noticeable. I figured I would get used to it, and after a few days, I did. If you read my Black Bird Vs Henson review, I talk about this spot that I have struggled with my whole life, sometimes it’s pink, other times red, painful, unsightly. The Black Bird has been the only razor I have ever used that got rid or did not aggravate the skin after shaving (VERY COOL).
The first shave was very close to BB like shave however that spot did come back, much to my dismay. I also started to notice over the next 24 hours that some of my stubble was more “stubbly” while other areas was still down to the skin. Very uneven grow back. Thought it might be in my head so I ignored it. The second and pretty much every shave after that first one have not gone well for me. To be fair, I was trying the extremes of the razor from mild to aggressive. 1-2-3 left me very irritated as level 1 really doesn’t do anything besides move cream, 2-3 are just a bit better but leave a lot behind. Even after a 3 pass WTG,XTG, ATG I had a lot of little stumps left that lean sideways and poke the skin and make it red. Levels 7-8-9 did much better in this regard however my skin felt VERY tight and very abused, I’ve used a lot of my PAA Aloe Vera juice this week! 6-5-4 are much better but still leave some straggler stumps behind, and that uneven grow back. That’s a thing! Lol I’ll post a picture where you can see stumps of different lengths.
Even on the “good” shaves, my skin still felt abused. Tonight I did my 3 passes and still felt prickles all over even after against the grain pass! Against my better judgement I did a 4thpass with my BB, and wouldn’t you know.. perfect, BBS+! But my skin was, IS, very hot right now. I think I’m done playing with the Osprey, maybe the polished finish would have been better? Idk, I was thinking about swapping it out for the titanium, maybe that would make a difference, however the Ti sold out. I hate to say this but I think the guy from Razor Emporium’s review is right, I think it might be the geometry of the blade? I don’t know what it is exactly, but my neck is done with the Osprey.
I really want to support such a great company so I think I will return the Osprey and re-purchase the Titanium version next year, maybe an Osprey Version 2 with a Black bird geometry?! That would be wonderful. For now, I think I’ll buy another Ti Black Bird, maybe the Open comb and long handle to have all versions on deck! Or maybe the Bronze Bird… Although there hasn’t been many reviews on the Bronze bird, especially from Ti bird owners. Have we been spoiled? Lol even my amazing Ti Henson sits there collecting dust!
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