You get wildly varying descriptions of the Blackbird. If you shave shallow, following the top cap bevel, it’s pretty smooth and medium-high efficiency. If you shave steep (which you can because of the blade exposure) it’s extremely efficient but it can feel harsh and you have to be careful. That’s my take, anyway, and I think it’s why people have such different experiences with it. Either way it’s a good razor. Perhaps if you mix it up using different angles during the shave you can make it work like an adjustable, though I haven’t heard anyone say they do that.Couple days removed (tentatively scheduled to shave tomorrow) and the BB Ti really was a nice experience. It has me thinking about the efficiency vs. mildness debate.
I don’t believe the BB is known as a mild razor. Yet I didn’t enjoy the Gillette pre-war tech or any of the GEMs nearly as much.
Perhaps my attention should be shifted to consider other razors that aren’t necessarily for the mild crowd. I did, after all, shave with a straight for several years. Now, I can’t say it was always easy… but still.