Just echoing what has been repeated on numerous occasions here and elsewhere, customer service at Blackland is truly exemplary.
Got my Blackbird today. Looks great! Feels super light! Can’t wait to give it a try.
already sold out.
I hope that future batches will be made.
Just shaved with my new Blackbird Ti this morning. All I can say is....
TST
This has been somewhat similar to my experience with the Ti Blackbird. I was used to using very mild razors, Timeless .68, Yates M, Karbe B etc, then I tried the Blackbird in SS. I got pretty bad irritation on my first use as I was using it similarly to the mild razors. My next shave I did just a WTG and XTG pass, was very careful to avoid using pressure and got a great shave. I ended up selling the SS because I heard the Ti was restocking and that the weight savings help to make it smoother. Since then I've loved the Ti so much that I've gotten rid of like 5 razors from my collection. A minimalistic WTG and XTG shave gets me a great shave with the Ti Bird.When I ordered the Ti Blackbird a few weeks ago I was not sure I would like it, as it's a huge departure from what I typically use as a daily shaver. Initially I had a few really great shaves with it, but decided to sell it because it just isn't something I could see myself using daily. I took pictures for the BST ad and everything, but for whatever reason never got around to actually listing it. A few days later I got a wild hair and decided to give it one last shave before selling it.
Here we are a couple weeks later, and not only do I still have the BB, but it is now one of, if not my absolute #1 DE I've ever used. I've really come to enjoy the efficiency and the fact that it is not at all harsh or irritating despite the positive blade exposure. Although it's not quite as carefree as what I would typically grab to knock out my morning shaves, after giving it an honest chance I am now completely comfortable using it on auto pilot without having to give a lot of thought. I think, ironically, I've been getting more comfortable shaves using the BB than I have at times with other more mild razors.
It is time to do some experimenting and see if I can in fact use it as a daily shaver over many consecutive days (if I can put the Vector aside for that long). If so, which I suspect may be the case, the Ti BB could very well be the only DE I keep.
I'm sure there's a moral nestled somewhere in that story, just not quite sure what it is yet.
It has been nearly 3 months using my Ti BB and I am still loving the shave I get from it. So much, that it convinced me to sell off 2 of my Wolfman razors, that I never thought I’d sell. For me it is a great combination of smoothness, with excellent efficiency.
Love the look, weight and cool factor of the razor, however I will be sending mine back to Blackland. I don't think of myself as a picky consumer (first time returning a shave product), but I just can't get past how sticky the razor feels on my face. I have tried 7 or 8 top shelf soaps and the razor just doesn't glide for me. I have tried changing the angle and pressure, but when I compare it to either of my GC's or Lupo, it's night and day. I did one final comparison today (13th shave) and got the same results. The .84 GC was slicker on bare skin than the Blackbird was on freshly lathered soap. I don't know if the brushed finish has much to do with the results. Many razors I find "slick" have short top caps with a radius near the blade that keeps most of the cap from contacting your face. The Blackbird IMO has a pretty long and nearly straight taper off the top of the cap to blade. I would guess there is about 1/4" of the cap that makes contact ahead of the blade. Just creates too much drag for me. No issue with the finished shave results, but the journey could be a little more enjoyable.
Having about 30 razors, upwards of 150 soaps and well over a dozen brands of blades, has given me enough combinations that I know what works best for my shaving style and skin. I wish everybody who owns the razor nothing but enjoyment and the company success.
Love the look, weight and cool factor of the razor, however I will be sending mine back to Blackland. I don't think of myself as a picky consumer (first time returning a shave product), but I just can't get past how sticky the razor feels on my face. I have tried 7 or 8 top shelf soaps and the razor just doesn't glide for me. I have tried changing the angle and pressure, but when I compare it to either of my GC's or Lupo, it's night and day. I did one final comparison today (13th shave) and got the same results. The .84 GC was slicker on bare skin than the Blackbird was on freshly lathered soap. I don't know if the brushed finish has much to do with the results. Many razors I find "slick" have short top caps with a radius near the blade that keeps most of the cap from contacting your face. The Blackbird IMO has a pretty long and nearly straight taper off the top of the cap to blade. I would guess there is about 1/4" of the cap that makes contact ahead of the blade. Just creates too much drag for me. No issue with the finished shave results, but the journey could be a little more enjoyable.
Having about 30 razors, upwards of 150 soaps and well over a dozen brands of blades, has given me enough combinations that I know what works best for my shaving style and skin. I wish everybody who owns the razor nothing but enjoyment and the company success.
I turned out to be one of those rare people who doesn't love the Blackbird Ti as well. Ordered one on May 15th, gave it a solid 20 or so shaves and ended up sending it back late last week. Appreciate Shane's customer service. I really like the look and feel of the BB and the weight, but I kept having to make more passes than my face (and time management) appreciate. I tried it with several blades (Feather yellow is my go-to, Kai, Nacet, the blades they ship with it. Never got it where I needed it. I strongly prefer a more aggressive razor, basically.Love the look, weight and cool factor of the razor, however I will be sending mine back to Blackland. I don't think of myself as a picky consumer (first time returning a shave product), but I just can't get past how sticky the razor feels on my face. I have tried 7 or 8 top shelf soaps and the razor just doesn't glide for me. I have tried changing the angle and pressure, but when I compare it to either of my GC's or Lupo, it's night and day. I did one final comparison today (13th shave) and got the same results. The .84 GC was slicker on bare skin than the Blackbird was on freshly lathered soap. I don't know if the brushed finish has much to do with the results. Many razors I find "slick" have short top caps with a radius near the blade that keeps most of the cap from contacting your face. The Blackbird IMO has a pretty long and nearly straight taper off the top of the cap to blade. I would guess there is about 1/4" of the cap that makes contact ahead of the blade. Just creates too much drag for me. No issue with the finished shave results, but the journey could be a little more enjoyable.
Having about 30 razors, upwards of 150 soaps and well over a dozen brands of blades, has given me enough combinations that I know what works best for my shaving style and skin. I wish everybody who owns the razor nothing but enjoyment and the company success.
I turned out to be one of those rare people who doesn't love the Blackbird Ti as well. Ordered one on May 15th, gave it a solid 20 or so shaves and ended up sending it back late last week. Appreciate Shane's customer service. I really like the look and feel of the BB and the weight, but I kept having to make more passes than my face (and time management) appreciate. I tried it with several blades (Feather yellow is my go-to, Kai, Nacet, the blades they ship with it. Never got it where I needed it. I strongly prefer a more aggressive razor, basically.
Happy to have tried it, and I really wanted to like it, but couldn't justify keeping it. Basically the same thing happened with the Vector. I may end up giving the Era a try when it is released if they start offering a base plate combination that ups the efficiency.
I had some curiosity about the Henson Ti with the aggressive plates, since someone mentioned their razors earlier, but even if they come back in stock, I am thinking that probably isn't going to be anywhere near the efficiency I am seeking.