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I'm ready to order my first expensive razor, help me make a decision!!

It’s not a bad razor not at all. At time, the different plates are very innovative. But when I buy the Gamechanger … it’s better and cheaper.

The finish is very strange. CNC is better than the MIM construction. At the current prices, there are better options now.

Absolutely! I thought that getting the 6S was a much better deal than the GC, but the GC really does feel much better and it's also one of my best razors for shaving under the nose. If it was slightly more efficient, I would have probably stopped buying modern razors, but it's still one of my top razors.
 
I rarely lend much weight to the handle when buying a 3-piece razor. I have a selection of titanium and aluminium handles. I also have a box full of spare stainless ones from before I realised that light-weight razors give much better control.

If I can buy just a razor head then that's great, otherwise any new razor will usually get treated to a titanium handle before I use it.

If course if a razor comes with a handle you really like then that's a bonus.

I also don't understand the obsession with grip. No razor handle is slippery, unless you're crazy enough to shave with soapy hands.
 
When I’ll buy a new razor that’s the points I always check:

1. Weight

If it’s your first expensive razor, be advised that SS razors are much heavier than Zamak razors. I like razor with weight around 100 grams. I’ve bought a Wolfie that weighs 130g and I have to get another handle to solve the problem (more $$$ :( ). Some SS razors are a Thor’s hammer :) (Timeless).

2. Shaving angle.

Some razor are best using neutral angle, some shallow, some steep. I like steep angle. I never get a CB Karve because using a shallow angle seems unnatural to me. See your style first.

3. Blade feel

Some people love blade feel, some hate. I like some blade feel, it’s important to feel where the blade is. My 1.25 Wolfie when using a super steep angle is like shaving without a blade. Many times I overshave. I’m adjusting my technique with this razor. For now, my Blackbird is the sweet spot, there is a enjoyable blade feel.

4. Efficacy

Some people have thin hair, some course. Some have dense beards, some not. Define if you need a high efficient razor or not.

5. Finish

Some finishes have “drag” or “suction” feeling. I really don’t like dragging. I sold my 6S because of the dragging. I always opted for polished finishes when available.

6. Handle length

Some people prefer short handles, some long handles

7. Material

Some like patina, some don’t.

In conclusion

Compare the features you like in the razors you already have and see what you are looking for.

Great advice!

You have an outstanding list! In the end, you are the only person who can determine a ranking!
 
You certainly have a nice selection of options. The three stainless steel razors I have are not on the list. The Rex Ambassador is a great shaver but a bit over your price range if bought new. I actually prefer my Rockwell 6S, though not by much. If you are able to find any of the ones on your list through the BST, you will likely be able sell it for what you paid, or at least close. Then you can try again.
 
Recently got this package from Timeless and have enjoyed:
Ti Open Comb .95 base plate and Scalloped .95 base plate in matte and polished.
Probably should have gotten the barber pole handle with the polished but I really like the crown and the way it feels in my hand.
Gorgeous razors. The Timeless scalloped baseplate rarely gets mentioned (I might be wrong). How does it shave compared to the OC baseplate?

The barberpole handle is significantly heavier. The weight has an impact on the shave. I like the heft, but it's not for everyone.
 
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Phoenixkh

I shaved a fortune
Alright folks, so I'm ready to buy!
I need your help on what razor to pick!
Note: I've never even touched a high end razor so this will be fun!
You might have seen the thread I created a couple days ago:


I made that thread in order to get an idea of what the "quality" difference was between a lower cost razor and a "premium" razor.
You all racked up 5 pages worth of posts in that thread and it was full of excellent information!
Based on the information you posted, I now know that I want at least one premium razor which will cure my RAD (for now), LOL!!
I've set the budget up to $200 for my new razor to be. I might stretch it to $250 if need be or can be obviously less than $200!

My shaving habits are:
Daily 2 pass WTG & XTG night shaver which is content with a DFS. I like smooth but also like some blade feel and tend to favor razors that are mid to upper mid aggressiveness. Razorock Lupo .72 has been a decent performer so far for my particular results.
I also tend to favor razors with heads that aren't huge. For reference, I bought and tried a Merkur Futur and sold it the following week!
Short/mid size handles are my favorites!

Now the fun part. These are the ones I'm primarily looking at.
All models I'm looking at are closed comb and I most value function above aesthetics!
These are the top 3:
1. Tatara Masamune Nodachi with the Muramasa handle
2. Yates 921 machined or maybe polished with the H plate
3. Blackland Blackbird stainless machined with standard handle

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Next up are other possible contenders:
4. Timeless .95 stainless Matte or Polished with Barber pole handle (I can always build this one out in the scratch and dent section and it would be cheaper)
5. Above The Tie .80 Windsor Brushed matte finish with Kronos Handle
6. Karve Christopher Bradley Stainless with C or D plate and short handle
7. Karve Christopher Bradley Brass with C or D plate and short handle (This is the cheapest of the bunch but I added it because of the praise that it gets)
8. Timeless .38 Bronze (I can always build this one out in the scratch and dent section as well and it would be cheaper)

View attachment 1459261View attachment 1459260View attachment 1459259View attachment 1459258View attachment 1459257

So that's the (long) list making it tough to choose one.
I'd love to hear experiences and opinions on the brands/models that I've listed.
Your opinions matter and would help me narrow one down to what might work for me.
I hope to have one of them ordered in the next couple days.

LRod
I always say the same thing.... a broken record, to be sure.... but I think you should consider something completely different... the Executive Shaving Co Claymore Evolution... not a DE, of course... but a SE Artist Club razor. It fits your other criterium...

Take a short listen to Brian Mulreany's explanation of how the design was finalized, etc here:
 
I had the Tatara Nodachi, but traded it for a Blackland Blackbird (to try the Blackbird). I will say that the Nodachi, for me, was incredibly smooth and efficient. I love the look and feel of the razor. My only real issue was the fact that the cap and handle have a nonstandard thread diameter. This doesn't allow for switching to other handles unless they are from Tatara.

The Blackbird is incredibly smooth and efficient as well, a tad more for me than the Tatara. I don't have anything bad to say about it, and it's my favorite razor. If anything, it just isn't as aesthetically pleasing as the Nodachi. Since looks are subjective, I don't really think that's important. By the way, I have both the SS and Ti versions, and honestly, the shaves are almost identical to me. The weight is the only thing that really separates them.

If you want a great razor, at a great price, I would recommend the Razorock Gamechanger .84. It is very smooth and efficient, almost, but not quite, as efficient as the Nodachi and Blackbird. It is as smooth though. The best thing is, it's less than $100.
 
Gorgeous razors. The scalloped baseplate rarely gets mentioned (I might be wrong). How does it shave compared to the OC baseplate?

The barberpole handle is significantly heavier. The weight has an impact on the shave. I like the heft, but it's not for everyone.
Thank you JAHE….Yes, I do enjoy both razor plates. The .95 Open plate mowed down 2 day growth like a hot knife through butter. I really liked the way it felt. I had my first shave with the scalloped this morning on one day growth and it felt just as good. I can already tell that I could use the scallop as a daily shaver, (again, at least for my face). The Open comb maybe every other day….
I really liked the looks and length of the Crown handle, but as I mentioned, I may venture out and try the Spiral at a later date.

The company website does a great job explaining the different options:

 
I would recommend the Henson Ti medium. I have the Winning razor and it's not a SS Henson. I found the Henson Ti aggressive to be uncomfortable whereas the medium is just right. Well-balanced, agile and a great shave.
 
Thank you JAHE….Yes, I do enjoy both razor plates. The .95 Open plate mowed down 2 day growth like a hot knife through butter. I really liked the way it felt. I had my first shave with the scalloped this morning on one day growth and it felt just as good. I can already tell that I could use the scallop as a daily shaver, (again, at least for my face). The Open comb maybe every other day….

Thanks for elaborating.

I really liked the looks and length of the Crown handle, but as I mentioned, I may venture out and try the Spiral at a later date.
I didn't implie you shouldn't. I mean, I didn't intend to 😉 Go for it. The fit and finish is impeccable.
The company website does a great job explaining the different options:

Thanks for the link.
Happy shaves!
 
That's a bunch of very nice razors.

Prior to providing any more detailed advice to you, it perhaps might be helpful to understand your expectations better:
Do you seek to stick with 2 passes per shave? Why do you avoid atg?
If you seek to change parameters, what are you intending to change with the upcoming razor (shave wise, not asking wrt "better" quality, say zamac vs SS or any other metal being reputated to be of better quality)? Or do you just seek to keep the performance level of your current razors?

Pls help us - so we can help you (even better).

Ps: Sorry if I have missed any information I have asked for.
All the info is on my original post #1. I don't plan on changing how I shave. ATG is not for me!
I just want an higher tier razor based on what I already do.
 
I would like to point out that the dimples of the Masamune handle DO NOT provide the grip. The Nodachi handle has the same grippy coating and I am fairly sure you would like it better.

I would buy a Timeless Slim OC with the Crown or Barberpole handle. Polished.

I don't know how the Blackbird looks machined but it seems to be quite fine, as this is going to be your fancy razor you might want to go all in, IMO.

If you get the Tatara Masamune Nodachi, I would take the Nodachi handle and absolutely recommend getting the stand for it as well.
Good to know about the dimples but the Nodachi handle seems really long. It's 4.13 inches vs. the Masamune's 3.5 inches. I like short to medium length handles. When I do a steep angle shave on my lower neck, long handles tend to "get stuck" on my upper chest.
 

Ron R

I survived a lathey foreman
When I’ll buy a new razor that’s the points I always check:

1. Weight

If it’s your first expensive razor, be advised that SS razors are much heavier than Zamak razors. I like razor with weight around 100 grams. I’ve bought a Wolfie that weighs 130g and I have to get another handle to solve the problem (more $$$ :( ). Some SS razors are a Thor’s hammer :) (Timeless).

2. Shaving angle.

Some razor are best using neutral angle, some shallow, some steep. I like steep angle. I never get a CB Karve because using a shallow angle seems unnatural to me. See your style first.

3. Blade feel

Some people love blade feel, some hate. I like some blade feel, it’s important to feel where the blade is. My 1.25 Wolfie when using a super steep angle is like shaving without a blade. Many times I overshave. I’m adjusting my technique with this razor. For now, my Blackbird is the sweet spot, there is a enjoyable blade feel.

4. Efficacy

Some people have thin hair, some course. Some have dense beards, some not. Define if you need a high efficient razor or not.

5. Finish

Some finishes have “drag” or “suction” feeling. I really don’t like dragging. I sold my 6S because of the dragging. I always opted for polished finishes when available.

6. Handle length

Some people prefer short handles, some long handles

7. Material

Some like patina, some don’t.

In conclusion

Compare the features you like in the razors you already have and see what you are looking for.
Excellent way to zero in on buying a razor. Thanks for sharing!
 
FWIW, I was never able to get along with my Tatara Nodachi. It is a bit harsh and doesn’t give me a particularly close shave for all this harshness. Maybe I need to keep trying different techniques, but still it hasn’t been a razor that readily worked well for me.

The razors you list are all quite different. The Blackbird will give you a rougher blade feel on your skin but it will yield effortless super-close shaves - it is one of the best high-efficiency razors. The Timeless 0.38 Bronze is the opposite - very gentle and mild, but won’t be as close as a more aggressive razor. The ATT, Timeless 0.95, Karve CB C/D plates will be in the middle.

I guess (like me when I started buying razors) you don’t yet know exactly how efficient or mild you prefer your razors to be, and what will give you the best shave with the least irritation (milder razors can lead to irritation and weepers too if you need to go over areas more times to get a satisfactory result).

I recommend a razor that isn’t on your list - the Karve Overlander. It is one of the mildest feeling razors, almost impossible to get irritation or nicks even if you over-shave, and somehow it still gives very close, smooth shaves. It is quite exceptional, it would work really well for anybody, and it is very accommodating to different techniques and angles. I think it shaves closer than most of these razors but feels gentler than all of them. It is an incredible bargain at $100 for the brass model, and outperforms any mild-medium efficiency razors at multiples of the price. No matter where you go in your shaving journey it will remain a razor you will always use a lot. If you don’t like the looks you can always get a Karve CB handle and put that on instead, but I found I like the Overlander handle when I saw it for real.

All the razors you list are good ones, though, except that I can’t attest to the Tatara because it just didn’t suit me for some reason.

View attachment 1459311
How can that handle look so ugly on their website but beautiful in your picture, LOL!!
I guess as you say, it has to be seen in person!
I guess I'll throw it in as an option.
Question:
Since it's brass, it must need polishing unless you want Patina, correct?
 
Your top 3 choices match my top 3. Yates is my personal favorite. I recommend also getting the M plate as well as the H. I was quite surprised by how efficient the M is. I believe Jake says the "M" is for "medium," not "mild."

The Nodachi on a Masamune handle is a great handle choice. As with the Yates, consider adding a Masamune baseplate to pair with the Nodachi topcap.
I really like the Yates but it seems that certain parts are out of stock. I can't seem to piece together what I would want with the Yates.
 
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