Brass cap posts on Muhle and Edwin Jagger zamak razors

[Cannon Cocker]

I have heard that the newer Muhle R41 zamak razors have been updated with brass cap posts. If you look at the underside of the cap, a #5 indicates a brass post and a #4 is the older zamak post. I have also heard that this has been done to the R89 as well.

Does anyone know if this is true, and if this has also been done to the Edwin Jagger DE89 as well?

 

[Steve_in_CT]

I have no idea if it is true, and my R41 does not have any markings on the cap at all. As long as I had it apart I put some mineral oil on the threads, but I'm not convinced that it will actually help protect the threads in any meaningful way. I had tried various lubricants and protectants on my EJ DE89 razors but still had the threads on two of them corrode over the course of several years. The good news is that the manufacturer may send you a replacement, but if not the cap can be purchased quite inexpensively.

 

[thombrogan]

I’ve seen the King C. Gillette safety razor for sale with five blades for less than $20usd shipped from that river named place. The head is a DE89/R89 clone made in Germany, the handle is made in China, and the blades are from Russia. So a replacement ¿Mühle R89?-like head, five DE blades of solid pedigree all for less than $20 and throwing away a handle…

 

[NorthernSoul]

I have heard that the newer Muhle R41 zamak razors have been updated with brass cap posts. If you look at the underside of the cap, a #5 indicates a brass post and a #4 is the older zamak post. I have also heard that this has been done to the R89 as well.

Does anyone know if this is true, and if this has also been done to the Edwin Jagger DE89 as well?

I'm not sure what that number on the cap represents exactly. I have a Gillette Heritage with a similar head and it's got the number 8 on it.

You can tell if the post is a separate piece by inspection. There is a fine line around the post where it joins the cap. My R41 & Gillette Heritage both seem to have the post as a separate piece. Not sure on the EJs, but in person you could tell.

 

[THall]

The Mühle R89 has had brass threads since 2017. Both the Gillette branded Heritage and KCG have brass threads as well and are also produced by Mühle.

Unless things just recently changed, the EJ DE89 continues to have zamack threads as far as I know.

 

[Dave himself]

I'm not sure what that number on the cap represents exactly. I have a Gillette Heritage with a similar head and it's got the number 8 on it.

You can tell if the post is a separate piece by inspection. There is a fine line around the post where it joins the cap. My R41 & Gillette Heritage both seem to have the post as a separate piece. Not sure on the EJs, but in person you could tell.

I worked in high pressure aluminium casting for around 20 years and I think they may be die numbers. When a die has run its lifespan it goes out for scrap metal and a new die takes its place with a higher number. Or they could be running more than one die at a time say die 7 and 8. It makes it easier for QC incase one machine has a bad run.

 

[Iridian]

The head is a DE89/R89 clone

Don't think so. Side by side there is no similarity in geometry, it shaves milder but it is nevertheless more efficient than the R89.

The bottom of the base plate curves upward, the R89 has it convex. The inner geometry is more important though, and there I will take another look. My experience with it was more like a Merkur razor than a Mühle. I just read that they are supposedly produced by Mühle, but have no info about the accuracy of this claim.

 

[thombrogan]

My mistake. Thank you for your more thorough investigation, @Iridian

 

[THall]

KCG is now in Walmart.

Isn’t that a hoot,

 

[ChriWilson]

Don't think so. Side by side there is no similarity in geometry, it shaves milder but it is nevertheless more efficient than the R89.

The bottom of the base plate curves upward, the R89 has it convex. The inner geometry is more important though, and there I will take another look. My experience with it was more like a Merkur razor than a Mühle. I just read that they are supposedly produced by Mühle, but have no info about the accuracy of this claim.

KCG heads are made by Gillette in China; evidenced by the cap code akin to "G1"
Heritage are Mühle R89s

King C Gillette DE Razor

Experiences about Gillette's recent DE Razors.

www.badgerandblade.com

 

[nemo]

I have heard that the newer Muhle R41 zamak razors have been updated with brass cap posts

If youre tough enough to use an R41 enough times to wear out threads, Mister you're a better man than I.

 

[Iridian]

Don't want to play tough guy, but I broke the threads of my R41 (they broke free from the cap) and got a free replacement from customer service!