Canadian postage is very high. I think that is why the Italian Barber and Fendihan's ships to the US from the US even though they are Canadian companies.
eric
eric
Henson Razor Club.
- Thread starter romo10
- Start date
Beautiful razor.
It looks to me like we have another top notch Canadian razor maker. Looking forward to seeing what else they come up with.
It looks to me like we have another top notch Canadian razor maker. Looking forward to seeing what else they come up with.
I first saw this razor pop up on a couple different forums this past week, and upon inspection of their website I noticed they manufacture razors not far from here. I picked one of their aluminum razors up this morning and just had a shave with it. My initial thoughts are that this is an amazing razor for its price and could potentially disrupt the entry-level market for safety razors.
Talking with Jonathan from Henson razors, he told me that they are only 3 weeks old, but have been quite busy. A machine shop that manufactures parts for the international space station has recently seen some of its machinery slow down in usage over the last little while. This shop seems to be well known for their precision in their craft. He mentioned that there’s over $7 million worth of machinery being retooled to produce some of these new razors. There are no plans to move manufacturing from Cambridge, Ontario. Ever.
You can tell immediately how well machined this razor is. From the moment I unscrewed the handle, the threads felt as well crafted as a Karve I used to own. As far as aluminum razors go, this put the threads on my Lupo to shame. The head fits tightly to the base and holds the blade firmly, carefully keeping the blade aligned using the two bars that seem common today.
The razor itself is manufactured to hold the blade as closely as possible to the edge in order to prevent the dreaded chatter. By looking at the razor, this is really magnificent. The cap reveals one of the smallest slicers of blade I’ve seen from a DE. Blade exposure is minimal, and combined with an .85mm gap, I found it really difficult to nick myself, even as I carelessly threw this around my face on the first shave.
The razor comes in multiple colours. I picked up “Tan” that may get renamed Bronze. That’s the exact reason I purchased it, the similarity to bronze, but there’s a multitude of colors to choose from to suit different personalities.
The handle was perfect. Even wet there was more than sufficient grip from the etching in the handle. I’ve really enjoyed tapered handles of late, like on my General V2, and the Henson’s handle was easy to use even when inverted to shave the neck areas.
A little shaving background to understand the razors I prefer: I own and enjoy shaving with a Yates Hybrid Razor, Paradigm Diamondback, and Colonial General V2. I own a few other odds and ends, but nothing special. I usually shave every two days with coarse stubble, often requiring sharper blades.
Today’s shave was on 3 days worth of growth, a good challenge for a new contender in the den. I popped in a fresh Astra SP and got to work (a 5 pack is included, or pay $10US to get a 100 pack if you need a restock, another deal).
From the first few strokes I felt a familiar “suctioning” type feeling as I was guided to the proper angle by the shape of the head. It reminded me of a minute of the way the Blackbird used to feel as the outer geometry is similar. I found it really easy to maintain the angle and finished the first pass and rinsed off. I noticed I was surprisingly clean shaven, but still he work to do. As a side note, there’s zero chance you could clog this razor. It rinses very easily due to the head design.
After the second and third passes (my usual routine) I was BBS with zero irritation, and can say that even ATG this razor was VERY comfortable. Comfort is one of the constants that the razors I use provide, and I found that the razor can really hang with the big boys. The closest comparison for comfort and efficiency would be my YPM Hybrid. Washing up after each pass, I found them eerily similar. To go back to a commonly referenced razor, these two razors shave with the efficiency of a Rockwell 7 plate, but the comfort of the 3 plate.
But here’s what shocked me. They’re asking $40USD ($54CAD) for this beautifully machined razor, that gives a shave that punches way above its price point.
Here’s the competitors (August 2020)
$50 USD Rockwell 6C, Zamak, made in China, free ship
$100 USD Rockwell 6S, Injection Mold Stainless, made in USA, free ship
$54-58 USD Gamechanger, machined stainless, pay shipping
$75 USD Karve brass, machined brass, $8 USD shipping. Same for Karve Aluminum, but good luck getting one
I know that when speaking with Jonathan from Henson Razors he mentioned that they were targeting cartridge users and helping them convert, but they crafted an amazing razors. Us enthusiasts can’t go wrong with more makers like this in our little niche.
If anyone else picks one up, let us know how it shaves!
Talking with Jonathan from Henson razors, he told me that they are only 3 weeks old, but have been quite busy. A machine shop that manufactures parts for the international space station has recently seen some of its machinery slow down in usage over the last little while. This shop seems to be well known for their precision in their craft. He mentioned that there’s over $7 million worth of machinery being retooled to produce some of these new razors. There are no plans to move manufacturing from Cambridge, Ontario. Ever.
You can tell immediately how well machined this razor is. From the moment I unscrewed the handle, the threads felt as well crafted as a Karve I used to own. As far as aluminum razors go, this put the threads on my Lupo to shame. The head fits tightly to the base and holds the blade firmly, carefully keeping the blade aligned using the two bars that seem common today.
The razor itself is manufactured to hold the blade as closely as possible to the edge in order to prevent the dreaded chatter. By looking at the razor, this is really magnificent. The cap reveals one of the smallest slicers of blade I’ve seen from a DE. Blade exposure is minimal, and combined with an .85mm gap, I found it really difficult to nick myself, even as I carelessly threw this around my face on the first shave.
The razor comes in multiple colours. I picked up “Tan” that may get renamed Bronze. That’s the exact reason I purchased it, the similarity to bronze, but there’s a multitude of colors to choose from to suit different personalities.
The handle was perfect. Even wet there was more than sufficient grip from the etching in the handle. I’ve really enjoyed tapered handles of late, like on my General V2, and the Henson’s handle was easy to use even when inverted to shave the neck areas.
A little shaving background to understand the razors I prefer: I own and enjoy shaving with a Yates Hybrid Razor, Paradigm Diamondback, and Colonial General V2. I own a few other odds and ends, but nothing special. I usually shave every two days with coarse stubble, often requiring sharper blades.
Today’s shave was on 3 days worth of growth, a good challenge for a new contender in the den. I popped in a fresh Astra SP and got to work (a 5 pack is included, or pay $10US to get a 100 pack if you need a restock, another deal).
From the first few strokes I felt a familiar “suctioning” type feeling as I was guided to the proper angle by the shape of the head. It reminded me of a minute of the way the Blackbird used to feel as the outer geometry is similar. I found it really easy to maintain the angle and finished the first pass and rinsed off. I noticed I was surprisingly clean shaven, but still he work to do. As a side note, there’s zero chance you could clog this razor. It rinses very easily due to the head design.
After the second and third passes (my usual routine) I was BBS with zero irritation, and can say that even ATG this razor was VERY comfortable. Comfort is one of the constants that the razors I use provide, and I found that the razor can really hang with the big boys. The closest comparison for comfort and efficiency would be my YPM Hybrid. Washing up after each pass, I found them eerily similar. To go back to a commonly referenced razor, these two razors shave with the efficiency of a Rockwell 7 plate, but the comfort of the 3 plate.
But here’s what shocked me. They’re asking $40USD ($54CAD) for this beautifully machined razor, that gives a shave that punches way above its price point.
Here’s the competitors (August 2020)
$50 USD Rockwell 6C, Zamak, made in China, free ship
$100 USD Rockwell 6S, Injection Mold Stainless, made in USA, free ship
$54-58 USD Gamechanger, machined stainless, pay shipping
$75 USD Karve brass, machined brass, $8 USD shipping. Same for Karve Aluminum, but good luck getting one
I know that when speaking with Jonathan from Henson Razors he mentioned that they were targeting cartridge users and helping them convert, but they crafted an amazing razors. Us enthusiasts can’t go wrong with more makers like this in our little niche.
If anyone else picks one up, let us know how it shaves!
Thank you.
I’ve owned a Gen 1 level 3 in brass, a Gen 2 level 3 in stainless. This razor gave me pretty close results with much more comfort. Razor makers are getting pretty savvy on increasing efficiency while maintains smoothness. All the razors I listed as using were made in the last year or so. Exciting times!
Excellent review!!
One tempting option, for sure!!
One tempting option, for sure!!
Nice review.
Choice of colors and 100 Astra SP blades too?
Hmmm...
Choice of colors and 100 Astra SP blades too?
Hmmm...
A couple more shots of how the head holds the blade. You can also see the larger lather channels.
I pulled the trigger on the ladies ver for the wife.
I more then Likely will grab 1 for myself.
This kind of gets my foot in the door so I don't get a bunch of grief for buying "another razor!?"
I will do a comparison change if and when.
I more then Likely will grab 1 for myself.
This kind of gets my foot in the door so I don't get a bunch of grief for buying "another razor!?"
I will do a comparison change if and when.
Because I have zero self control where shaving stuff is concerned, I ordered a Hansen (in black) which arrived today.
Loaded up one of the Astra SP blades and will see how the Henson performs.
Loaded up one of the Astra SP blades and will see how the Henson performs.
Wow that black is sharp!!! May have to get another. My last shaves have been equally as good as the first.
Yes! I fit one of my other handles on it no problem. I think the threads must be M.05x8 or whatever.
First of all - wow, excellent review!
Secondly - just ordered one in BLUE!
Love supporting a Canadian company.
My wife is a dual Canadian/US citizen and we have begun the (unfortunately due to COVID, long and arduous) process of gathering all the information we need for her and our girls - and updating my US passport - to move to Ontario (somewhere around Toronto/Hamilton areas)
Maybe Henson will hire me - lol!
Secondly - just ordered one in BLUE!
Love supporting a Canadian company.
My wife is a dual Canadian/US citizen and we have begun the (unfortunately due to COVID, long and arduous) process of gathering all the information we need for her and our girls - and updating my US passport - to move to Ontario (somewhere around Toronto/Hamilton areas)
Maybe Henson will hire me - lol!
Check around Kitchener/ Waterloo/ Cambridge as well. Growing area with lots of job opportunities. And that way you won’t have to move again when Henson hires you!
Lol! Too tempting!Excellent review!!
One tempting option, for sure!!
Because I have zero self control where shaving stuff is concerned, I ordered a Hansen (in black) which arrived today.
View attachment 1142453View attachment 1142454View attachment 1142455
Loaded up one of the Astra SP blades and will see how the Henson performs.
Lovely!
However, you don’t have ‘zero self-control.’ IMO you have great taste!!
Those are beautiful. I'm afraid to look for green....
