Boar Hair Quality

[john parker]

Just curious. After a wee bit of googling, it looks like there would only be three or four types of badgers globally that are/could be used for shaving brushes. And, from reading, the quality of badger hair seems to be largely a question of what part of the badger the hair comes from.

As to boar, there are all kinds of hog breeds worldwide. Which types yield the hair for boar brushes? Are the different qualities of hair a function of the breed or a function of where on the hog the hair comes from?

 

[grump]

Now that is a very good question.

Is it different hair from different boar or just the packing density and loft?

 

[john parker]

Leon who speaks for the Semogue brushes mentioned several grades being in their brushes, so think the difference is more than density and loft. However, don't recall his mentioning anything about the total number of grades or sources.

 

[Dave Deluxe]

I think the most important aspect of a boar bristle brush is that the bristles are not trimmed. Thus allowing them to split as the brush breaks in.

DD

 

[JPDyson]

That Zach fella who loves Boar so much once indicated that there aren't really grades, just distinctions like trimmed or untrimmed, banded or not. However, the Semogue's at Vintage Scents seem to have grades attributed to them. They're even more ambiguous than Badger grades.

 

[Leon]

Hi gents,

Indeed there are a few grades. "Premium" is the most luxurious grade, it's like Silvertip for badger.
After that there is Super, Best and Extra. Like I wrote today on another thread, I can't really say which is worst and which is best among those. The "Extra" in 620/1520 might feel scratchy, but it will soften up with use. Other might not feel as prickly, like the "Best" in 1460/1470 and they're just as good for face lathering, for example. Personally I use a "custom" 1470 brush instead of the 1520/620. As always, it's a matter of taste.

 

[JPDyson]

Hi gents,

Indeed there are a few grades. "Premium" is the most luxurious grade, it's like Silvertip for badger.
After that there is Super, Best and Extra. Like I wrote today on another thread, I can't really say which is worst and which is best among those. The "Extra" in 620/1520 might feel scratchy, but it will soften up with use. Other might not feel as prickly, like the "Best" in 1460/1470 and they're just as good for face lathering, for example. Personally I use a "custom" 1470 brush instead of the 1520/620. As always, it's a matter of taste.

Thanks Leon! The handle on the 1470 looks pretty sharp - I'd like to see that sporting some badger myself

 

[Klarion]

What's custom about your 1470, Leon? Is it in premium, instead of best?

 

[JPDyson]

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Reported

 

[Leon]

What's custom about your 1470, Leon? Is it in premium, instead of best?

The knot is original (best grade), but the handle is made of Portuguese Oak and in the 1305 shape.