As some of you already know, I absolutely love Trac II shaving system. I think that - with all the modern developments in cartridge shaving - Trac II still holds its own. I prefer it over most modern cartridges. However, we don't have very many options when it comes to fancy (or simply different) handles, so I did some searching online and found this guy named Andreas on Etsy (just do a quick search on Trac II). He lives in Germany and makes his own Trac II handles. Most of the stuff I've seen was made of wood and horn, which is all fine and dandy (if you love some rustic-themed shaving tools), but then I noticed he had a couple of short, colored handles too. I wanted something that would resemble old classic Schick Injectors in terms of length and weight (which is about as long the classic short-handled Gillette DE Super Adjustable but the weight is only around 30g).
Since I also love Proraso products, especially Red & Green lines and was thinking about making a little shaving display, I wanted two Trac II handles in Red and Green too. I messaged Andreas and asked him if this was possible, and he had them ready for me in a week or so. I just wanted to write a short review and say the the feel is absolutely great: it feels like shaving with a cartridge version of Schick Injector; it's light and nimble, obviously very safe and comfortable for multiple passes. Unlike Schick injector systems, this makes it possible to travel and fly with it without any hassle and the colors could be... well, anything you want, really. The handle is short and colorful and the pictures don't do it justice. The thin rod is brass and it has this thicker mineral surface that is very "grippy" and non-slippery under any condition, even if your hand is literally covered in lather. The color is vibrant and when the light hits it just right, it also sparkles... something that can't be captured in photos very well. The head is also nice, heavy brass, but the "mounting plate" for cartridges that is soldered to the head (and is almost 1mm thick) is made of bronze. This seriously oozes style and quality. I have spent last couple of weeks shaving with this custom-made system and am very pleased with it. The head is much better and more solid than the standard Trac II version, it requires less pressure and the glide is more smooth. Just wanted to share a couple of pictures with you guys:
Since I also love Proraso products, especially Red & Green lines and was thinking about making a little shaving display, I wanted two Trac II handles in Red and Green too. I messaged Andreas and asked him if this was possible, and he had them ready for me in a week or so. I just wanted to write a short review and say the the feel is absolutely great: it feels like shaving with a cartridge version of Schick Injector; it's light and nimble, obviously very safe and comfortable for multiple passes. Unlike Schick injector systems, this makes it possible to travel and fly with it without any hassle and the colors could be... well, anything you want, really. The handle is short and colorful and the pictures don't do it justice. The thin rod is brass and it has this thicker mineral surface that is very "grippy" and non-slippery under any condition, even if your hand is literally covered in lather. The color is vibrant and when the light hits it just right, it also sparkles... something that can't be captured in photos very well. The head is also nice, heavy brass, but the "mounting plate" for cartridges that is soldered to the head (and is almost 1mm thick) is made of bronze. This seriously oozes style and quality. I have spent last couple of weeks shaving with this custom-made system and am very pleased with it. The head is much better and more solid than the standard Trac II version, it requires less pressure and the glide is more smooth. Just wanted to share a couple of pictures with you guys:
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