I have and love the Timeless bronze .78 - Thinking about a Blackbird

[JWK1]

I've been mulling this one over for awhile. My Timeless bronze .78 is my #1 DE razor. I rotate through my ATT SE1 and SE2, ATT G1, and my Timeless bronze. I actually don't use the G1 much because it is just too mild for me now.

I would like to hear from those of you who have had the opportunity to shave with both the bronze .78 and the blackbird. Which gave the closest shave? Which seemed more blade forward? Did you find one easier to "find the shave" than the other? Did you give both a fair shake? Whatever impressions you had or have had would be great to hear about.

I tried doing a search, but didn't find anything regarding the bronze .78 in comparison to the blackbird, only the regular Timeless design.

 

[DesertIguana]

If you happy with you Bronze Timeless, why use anything else?

 

[Iridian]

Both are extremely different. The .78 OC is a blade forward beast, very efficient, but it is one of the few razors that cause me fear, and I like shaving with the R41.

For the Blackbird, I prefer the SB plate, the OC is a bit pointy, it is much milder but very efficient. You can get a closer shave with the .78 OC, but it will not be as comfortable or easy to get.

I prefer the Blackbird. Rather than the .78 OC I consider the Timeless .5 Slim OC an alternative, which gives me a better shave than the .78 OC and is less aggressive and much better behaved. It is in general more on the harsh side with its best mode of operation, a more scraping than cutting type of shave.

My personal ranking is

Timeless .5 Slim OC
Blackbird SB
. (quite some others)
Timeless .78 OC

In general, the Blackbird will suit almost everyone and is a fantastic razor. I read @gdawg55 had an extremely good experience with the .78 OC, while he didn't get along as nicely with the .5 Slim. So it is all very relative and very much personal preference.

IMO the .78 OC is much more blade forward and gives a potentially closer shave, but is more dangerous and difficult to use, the Blackbird gives a very good shave and is much easier to use. Both have very different style and characteristics. I prefer strawberries.

 

[gdawg55]

I have both the Timeless Bronze 0.78 OC and the Blackbird SB (both in stainless and titanium). They are similar yet different at the same time. They are both blade forward and close shavers. I can use the Blackbird daily but not the Bronze .78OC. Both versions of the Bird weigh less than the Bronze.

I’m a daily shaver but have to switch out the Bronze to something else the next day or I’ll get some irritation. It must be slightly more blade forward than the Bird or maybe the extra heft of the Timeless plays a role here. I don’t find the Bronze overly aggressive, it just shaves close but I do have to baby it a little more then the Blackbird.

I like them both but use the Blackbird more often. Both shave smooth and close for me but I just really like how the Blackbird shaves….it’s different than all my other razors and it’s my favorite because of that. I definitely recommend the Blackbird. No den should be without one….

 

[JWK1]

If you happy with you Bronze Timeless, why use anything else?

You do realize where you are, right? How did you get past the doorman?

But OK, it's a fair question for me. I use the .78 because it gives me the best shave of anything else I own. However, I don't like the way it handles and feels. It's heavy and bulky to me. It's that simple. I love the way it shaves, but I do not love using it.

So I would like something that would give me a comparable shave that is lighter and more enjoyable to use.

Of course no one can tell if I will like using something, but I can start with people who have used both and can say that the blackbird can shave as close or nearly as close. I usually go 5 or 6 days between shaves, so I like to get the closest shave possible. A good shave out of my Timeless .78 will get me 6 days easily. The best shave from my ATT G1 will have me wanting to shave at 4 days with a must-shave at 5. It's all about the neck irritation from my whiskers growing out.

 

[JWK1]

I have both the Timeless Bronze 0.78 OC and the Blackbird SB (both in stainless and titanium). They are similar yet different at the same time. They are both blade forward and close shavers. I can use the Blackbird daily but not the Bronze .78OC. Both versions of the Bird weigh less than the Bronze.

I’m a daily shaver but have to switch out the Bronze to something else the next day or I’ll get some irritation. It must be slightly more blade forward than the Bird or maybe the extra heft of the Timeless plays a role here. I don’t find the Bronze overly aggressive, it just shaves close but I do have to baby it a little more then the Blackbird.

I like them both but use the Blackbird more often. Both shave smooth and close for me but I just really like how the Blackbird shaves….it’s different than all my other razors and it’s my favorite because of that. I definitely recommend the Blackbird. No den should be without one….

Great reply; thanks.

 

[DesertIguana]

You do realize where you are, right? How did you get past the doorman?

But OK, it's a fair question for me. I use the .78 because it gives me the best shave of anything else I own. However, I don't like the way it handles and feels. It's heavy and bulky to me. It's that simple. I love the way it shaves, but I do not love using it.

So I would like something that would give me a comparable shave that is lighter and more enjoyable to use.

Of course no one can tell if I will like using something, but I can start with people who have used both and can say that the blackbird can shave as close or nearly as close. I usually go 5 or 6 days between shaves, so I like to get the closest shave possible. A good shave out of my Timeless .78 will get me 6 days easily. The best shave from my ATT G1 will have me wanting to shave at 4 days with a must-shave at 5. It's all about the neck irritation from my whiskers growing out.

Well your reply makes sense to me, but 5/6 days between shaves is long time for beard to grow.

Have you tried every other day shave, as IMHO it would be less work, and less beard to tackle.

I ask the question I do because I don’t know answer until you state.

 

[Jaybyrd]

I don’t have the Timeless .78 but do have the Timeless .68 OC & SB both are great but my Blackbird is probably a favorite. The most I’ve gone without a shave is 3 days but it sounds like you go a bit more than that (maybe you can depending on your growth and what you prefer).