I just got it by mail and shaved already before lunch, not in the evening as usual.
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Surprise, surprise. It's not only good, it's amazing.
I had some preconceptions:
I thought...
1.) ... this is a mild razor for women. Greencult, eco, yeah, you know the drill.
2.) ... the comparison made with the Blackbird and R41. I didn't believe that.
3.) ... quite some machining marks visible in the photos. <- the only correct preconception, but they are as bad as feared
Well, I cut my upper lip, it was bleeding, and my chin had a shallow cut, that didn't bleed.
How wrong I was. So much about mild. This is a MEDIUM-AGGRESSIVE to AGGRESSIVE razor, it is made for enthusiasts, not a super safe model for beginners.
Efficiency: It is, which surprised me, more efficient than a Blackbird SB, also more aggressive, but not nearly as aggressive as a Mühle R41. It comes very close to its efficiency, but is way easier to handle. I like it even better than my Husaria. It is a very good head design.
It is quite a beast, but gives a very close shave. While it is smooth, but also not unlikely to bite due to the large gap and positive exposure of the blade. But as I said, I totally underestimated the razor.
Some observations: Cap and geometry remind me very much of YATES and BLUTT. The handle is heavy and the shape of upper end, where you can place your thumb if you wish, reminds me very much of some ZOMCHI razors from China that use the same shape. The rings provide good to very good grip. Knurling would still be more to my liking, but I was again very positively surprised. Also, as an aside, I just ran out of razor stands. But it fit exactly by height into my acrylic test tube rack. The handle is very long, 90-95mm or more, didn't check with a ruler. Much longer than the Super Knurl from RazoRock for sure, or the Rockwell handle.
It shaves STEEP, I can ride the scalloped safety bar, which is my preferred method of shaving. The safety bar reminds me a lot of the SB BLACKBIRD.
It got delivered with a pack of Czech Tiger Platinum blades, a mild blade, and yeah, I think this one can make use of it. A BIC or Feather might have caused a blood bath, I am glad I took my usual choice, the very cushioned but nevertheless very sharp Gillette 7 o'clock Super Platinum.
The handle colors are achieved through DLC coating. The head finish isn't the electropolish of RazoRock or DSCosmetic, but I like the as machined look better than matte or beadblast. The price is a bargain. It's even below Wetshaving Club, Razorock or DSCosmetic offers.
Apparently there is already work on a shorter handle, I would not mind a long handle with knurls either, and while they offer a plastic blade guard (just like those for Mühle razors, they are not that useful, I bought some and ever wonder since for what I need them), I would rather wish for a fitting bullet stand for the razor. For people new to wetshaving this razor might also be a bit too aggressive, maybe a milder plate, like for the Alpha Outlaw, could solve that.
The head geometry is superb. I guess my Nodachi acquisition gets delayed once more, have to try the at least visually similar Yates and Blutt heads...
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Great review!! Thanks!