JL 52’s 2025 Shave Log - (Recovering From Severe Case of RAD)

[LRod]

Entry #7 - 1/15/2025

Side-by-side showdown #2 - Battle of the Bronze II!

Since my last shave with the Lambda Athena, I had been contemplating selling it. After my last side-side with the Bronze Blackbird I just pictured myself not wanting to reach for the Athena given the tugginess I experienced with it and the other options I have available instead. I committed to trying the Athena for a few more shaves before deciding to part ways with it.

Instead of matching it up against the Bronze Blackbird again, I opted for the Bronze Guerrilla .69DC. This was my first shave with the Guerrilla .69DC; I’ve used the .84SB twice and loved it enough that I ranked it just behind the TiBlackbird and Osprey on my favorites list; that said it felt a bit too much for daily use and wanted to try it with a smaller gap. I was worried the .69SB would feel like too much of a step down from the .84SB, but I didn’t want to fully commit to the open comb either, thankfully Tara and James at Wolfman were able to meet me in my middle with the dual comb option.

After the tugging sensation I experienced from the Athena in my last side-side, I knew I had to try out a different blade. I used fresh Personna Lap Blues for the Athena vs. Bronze Blackbird match up, and this time I went with two fresh Astra Superior Stainless Blues. I used the Athena for the two passes on the left side of my head and the Guerrilla .69DC for my right side. With the Guerrilla I used @LRod’s patented open comb for the first pass and straight bar for the second pass technique.

The Guerrilla .69DC was a treat to use start to finish. The open comb was perfect for my first pass and plowed through the bulk of my growth with minimal need for rinsing. It felt very similar in efficiency and smoothness to the .84SB and was just what I had hoped for. Switching to the straight bar side was excellent for my second pass after the bulk of my growth had been knocked down, it was just as smooth but it felt noticeably safer and like it wouldn’t bite me. I overall enjoyed the .69DC just as much if not more than I did the .84SB, and from my post shave irritation (lack-thereof) I can immediately tell that I’ll be able to squeeze it into my rotation more easily.

Different blade and the Athena was an entirely different razor! First pass was luxuriously smooth yet surprisingly efficient given the level of comfort, and with none of the tugginess I experienced from last week with the Personna Lap Blue.The Athena did clog up a bit on the first pass but I honestly didn’t mind pausing to rinse. Second pass was even more enjoyable.

Very, very close to call. I think I enjoyed shaving with the Athena a little more this round compared to the Guerrilla, although part of that it could have been a placebo effect due to me being more surprised by how much better it was with a different blade. The ending shave was a tiny bit closer on the Guerrilla side, and with minimal to zero irritation on both sides.

I’d call this one a draw, with the real winner being me! Between the two, I think I’d be more likely to reach for the Guerrilla .69DC, slightly closer shave for the same low level of skin irritation. My biggest issue with the Athena is how much I feel compelled to meticulously clean and care for it between shaves. The Guerrilla on the other hand, has more of an industrial feel to it and I have no problems just drying it and setting it aside until my next shave.

Happy that both have worked for you!
You know how much I love the Guerrilla's so I don't even need to go into detail when it comes to that.
But I still find it a shame that neither Lambda worked for me (Athena & Ares).
And I tried Astra blades (Plus other sharp(er) blades) when I had it and it still tugged for me.
Coincidentally, it was delivered today to it's new owner!
BTW, I'm pretty sure that you and I are the only ones that have Dual comb Guerrilla's!

Related news:
When my name comes up for the Wolfman (should hopefully be in the coming week), I will probably be requesting
another custom "first" Wolfman. I will most likely get the WR3 GEM in the same bronze finish that the Guerrilla
has. I absolutely love Bronze in that particular finish and it's not offered in the normal Wolfman lineup.
I've already discussed it with Tara and James has agreed to build one!

 

[JL 52]

Happy that both have worked for you!
You know how much I love the Guerrilla's so I don't even need to go into detail when it comes to that.
But I still find it a shame that neither Lambda worked for me (Athena & Ares).
And I tried Astra blades (Plus other sharp(er) blades) when I had it and it still tugged for me.
Coincidentally, it was delivered today to it's new owner!
BTW, I'm pretty sure that you and I are the only ones that have Dual comb Guerrilla's!

Related news:
When my name comes up for the Wolfman (should hopefully be in the coming week), I will probably be requesting
another custom "first" Wolfman. I will most likely get the WR3 GEM in the same bronze finish that the Guerrilla
has. I absolutely love Bronze in that particular finish and it's not offered in the normal Wolfman lineup.
I've already discussed it with Tara and James has agreed to build one!

I wouldn’t have even thought to ask them to build my dual comb .69 plate if I hadn’t seen yours in Titanium, so thank you for the inspiration and yes we might very well been the only ones with one! I loved the .84SB just fine, but the .69DC is special.

I’m excited to hear more about your upcoming WR3 once you get your hands on it!

 

[JL 52]

I'm really glad I revisited the Athena with a different blade and had the enjoyable shave with it that I did last night. After thinking it over some more I decided to post it on BST. Not because it didn't/couldn't work for me, but instead because I truly think it could be a grail razor for someone else and it didn't feel right having it tucked away for me to only use once or twice a month, especially given how difficult it is to get your hands on one of these razors here in the US.

Lambda Athena V2 Bronze

Offering a like-new Lambda Athena Bronze V2 for $215 shipped CONUS. Includes original box with signed info card, along with the originally provided blades (BIC Astor and Astra Stainless Steel). According to its creator Theo, the V2 update refers only to the beveled corners (see attached...

www.badgerandblade.com

 

[JL 52]

Entry #8 - 1/16/2025

I only had one day's growth after shaving with the Lambda Athena and Bronze Guerrilla the evening before, so I opted for one of my aluminum razors. It felt like a good time to break out my new Colonial CR7 (+++), and man oh man, I was beyond impressed with this razor! I think it just might have leaped the Lupo Al as my favorite aluminum. The CR7 (+++) was was every bit as efficient as the Lupo if not a bit more, yet extremely smooth and comfortable with little to no blade feel. Being on the lighter side I expect it may struggle with multiple days growth, but I honestly might just stick to my one day shaves with it anyway. It felt absolutely perfect for when minimizing irritation is the priority for me. The CR7 is premiumly priced for Aluminum at $72 ($90 with all three base plates) compared to the $40 Lupo Al. I was originally going to buy just the +++ base plate, but I thought the extra $18 to bundle with all three plates was reasonable (they sell the base plates individually for $22). I don't envision myself wanting to reach for the + or ++ base plates, the +++ was perfect for me.

I just parted ways with my Lambda Athena today; it was an amazing razor once I paired it with the right blade and I ultimately thought it deserved a more attentive home. My shave with the CR7 helped me through my seller's remorse for the Athena; it's going to be one of my go-to's for this year.

Huge thank you to @gdawg55 and @LRod for the recommendation.

 

[gdawg55]

Entry #8 - 1/16/2025

I only had one day's growth after shaving with the Lambda Athena and Bronze Guerrilla the evening before, so I opted for one of my aluminum razors. It felt like a good time to break out my new Colonial CR7 (+++), and man oh man, I was beyond impressed with this razor! I think it just might have leaped the Lupo Al as my favorite aluminum. The CR7 (+++) was was every bit as efficient as the Lupo if not a bit more, yet extremely smooth and comfortable with little to no blade feel. Being on the lighter side I expect it may struggle with multiple days growth, but I honestly might just stick to my one day shaves with it anyway. It felt absolutely perfect for when minimizing irritation is the priority for me. The CR7 is premiumly priced for Aluminum at $72 ($90 with all three base plates) compared to the $40 Lupo Al. I was originally going to buy just the +++ base plate, but I thought the extra $18 to bundle with all three plates was reasonable (they sell the base plates individually for $22). I don't envision myself wanting to reach for the + or ++ base plates, the +++ was perfect for me.

I just parted ways with my Lambda Athena today; it was an amazing razor once I paired it with the right blade and I ultimately thought it deserved a more attentive home. My shave with the CR7 helped me through my seller's remorse for the Athena; it's going to be one of my go-to's for this year.

Huge thank you to @gdawg55 and @LRod for the recommendation.

Awesome. Glad you like the CR7. I used mine yesterday for the first time in a few weeks and it delivered the goods. It just might be the best aluminum razor I’ve used….though the Karve Bison is really close.

 

[LRod]

Entry #8 - 1/16/2025

I only had one day's growth after shaving with the Lambda Athena and Bronze Guerrilla the evening before, so I opted for one of my aluminum razors. It felt like a good time to break out my new Colonial CR7 (+++), and man oh man, I was beyond impressed with this razor! I think it just might have leaped the Lupo Al as my favorite aluminum. The CR7 (+++) was was every bit as efficient as the Lupo if not a bit more, yet extremely smooth and comfortable with little to no blade feel. Being on the lighter side I expect it may struggle with multiple days growth, but I honestly might just stick to my one day shaves with it anyway. It felt absolutely perfect for when minimizing irritation is the priority for me. The CR7 is premiumly priced for Aluminum at $72 ($90 with all three base plates) compared to the $40 Lupo Al. I was originally going to buy just the +++ base plate, but I thought the extra $18 to bundle with all three plates was reasonable (they sell the base plates individually for $22). I don't envision myself wanting to reach for the + or ++ base plates, the +++ was perfect for me.

I just parted ways with my Lambda Athena today; it was an amazing razor once I paired it with the right blade and I ultimately thought it deserved a more attentive home. My shave with the CR7 helped me through my seller's remorse for the Athena; it's going to be one of my go-to's for this year.

Huge thank you to @gdawg55 and @LRod for the recommendation.

Another Athena bites the dust!
But every razor isn't for everyone
so it is what it is.
There will be more to come and go,
I've had quite a few!
Glad you like the Colonial, it's one of those surprise razors that does everything right.
The aluminum Guerrilla is as good but you've already got the Bronze so no need!
Definitely different to the Colonial though.
My aluminum Guerrilla was my test razor for
my future Guerrilla (more expensive) purchases!
I've kept it just because but barely use it anymore.
Enjoy!

 

[JL 52]

Awesome. Glad you like the CR7. I used mine yesterday for the first time in a few weeks and it delivered the goods. It just might be the best aluminum razor I’ve used….though the Karve Bison is really close.

I've been tempted to try the Karve Bison one day but that eight week lead time is ridiculous! Plus the shipping & handling bumps its cost up above what I'd like for an aluminum razor. I got the Lupo Al for $40 and the Timeless Al for $36 on Amazon a few weeks ago, so I'd struggle justifying paying $80-$100 for another aluminum razor. The CR7 sat in my cart for a long time before I actually pulled the trigger on it.

 

[JL 52]

Another Athena bites the dust!
But every razor isn't for everyone
so it is what it is.
There will be more to come and go,
I've had quite a few!
Glad you like the Colonial, it's one of those surprise razors that does everything right.
The aluminum Guerrilla is as good but you've already got the Bronze so no need!
Definitely different to the Colonial though.
My aluminum Guerrilla was my test razor for
my future Guerrilla (more expensive) purchases!
I've kept it just because but barely use it anymore.
Enjoy!

By the end of my three shave trial, I was able to see how special the Athena was but it still just wasn't at the top of my lineup and I thought it deserved a new home. I just couldn't see myself picking it up over the Bronze Blackbird or the Bronze Guerrilla.

Funny enough, the aluminum Guerrilla was top of my want-list for most of this year. I likely won't end up getting one now that I have the Bronze version instead; the Bronze is amazing and I can't imagine the aluminum besting it.

 

[LRod]

I've been tempted to try the Karve Bison one day but that eight week lead time is ridiculous! Plus the shipping & handling bumps its cost up above what I'd like for an aluminum razor. I got the Lupo Al for $40 and the Timeless Al for $36 on Amazon a few weeks ago, so I'd struggle justifying paying $80-$100 for another aluminum razor. The CR7 sat in my cart for a long time before I actually pulled the trigger on it.

The Bison works out to $74 including shipping when you do the exchange from CAD to USD!
I haven't bought one because it doesn't interest me for some reason. I did order a Brass Outlander a few weeks ago though.
The 8 week lead time stinks but I just don't think about it. It'll arrive whenever it does!
Karves razors are good enough for the wait to be honest.
I'll stay busy with my other razors till then!

 

[thombrogan]

that eight week lead time is

…optimistic. Irrationally optimistic.

Karves razors are good enough for the wait to be honest.

Also true. Karve’s aluminum Overlander combines gentleness, efficiency, and resistance to how big of an idiot I am in one razor.

 

[LRod]

The Bison works out to $74 including shipping when you do the exchange from CAD to USD!
I haven't bought one because it doesn't interest me for some reason. I did order a Brass Outlander a few weeks ago though.
The 8 week lead time stinks but I just don't think about it. It'll arrive whenever it does!
Karves razors are good enough for the wait to be honest.
I'll stay busy with my other razors till then!

One other thing I forgot to mention, 8 weeks isn't too bad considering it's 8 weeks of them building it.
I'm on the Wolfman waiting list and I'm almost entering month #5 and my name still hasn't come up.
And when it does, then I have to wait to get invoiced, get built and then delivered.
That's a real (painful) wait!!

 

[JL 52]

Entry #9 - 1/18/2025

Had 1.5 days of growth this afternoon and decided that I wanted to have my cake and eat it too. I went for the Ti Blackbird for the efficiency in my first pass and then my newly acquired Colonial CR7 +++ for a smooth and comfortable finish in my second pass.

Had one weeper again on my Ti Blackbird pass, not sure if I already had a small bump on my head or if I was just rushing too much to get back to the football game , either way the rest of my first pass was consistent and uneventful. I trusted the Ti Blackbird to shave my sensitive lower neck area again today, so far I’ve had no irritation or ingrowns doing this, and that’s a huge huge plus for me, it’s so much quicker than having to rely on shavettes exclusively for this area.

I can’t rave enough about the CR7 +++. It’s truly been one of the most comfortable razors I’ve ever used regardless of metal type. It feels great and balanced in hand and then effortlessly zips and glides around my head. I’ll try it with the ++ plate one of these days but the +++ plate is already perfect. Hopefully they decide to offer a ++++ plate down the road to market this razor to even more people; the +++ feels like it should have been the middle option with less aggressive and more aggressive plates to pick from. All in all, this razor has already been one of my favorite purchases, it compliments my other higher end razors so well.

 

[Eric_75]

Entry #9 - 1/18/2025

Had 1.5 days of growth this afternoon and decided that I wanted to have my cake and eat it too. I went for the Ti Blackbird for the efficiency in my first pass and then my newly acquired Colonial CR7 +++ for a smooth and comfortable finish in my second pass.

Had one weeper again on my Ti Blackbird pass, not sure if I already had a small bump on my head or if I was just rushing too much to get back to the football game , either way the rest of my first pass was consistent and uneventful. I trusted the Ti Blackbird to shave my sensitive lower neck area again today, so far I’ve had no irritation or ingrowns doing this, and that’s a huge huge plus for me, it’s so much quicker than having to rely on shavettes exclusively for this area.

I can’t rave enough about the CR7 +++. It’s truly been one of the most comfortable razors I’ve ever used regardless of metal type. It feels great and balanced in hand and then effortlessly zips and glides around my head. I’ll try it with the ++ plate one of these days but the +++ plate is already perfect. Hopefully they decide to offer a ++++ plate down the road to market this razor to even more people; the +++ feels like it should have been the middle option with less aggressive and more aggressive plates to pick from. All in all, this razor has already been one of my favorite purchases, it compliments my other higher end razors so well.

Nice to see the gray Timeless bowl.

 

[Moonwalker]

I wanted to chime in here regarding the Colonial CR-7. I bought one a couple of months ago with the 3 plates because they were having a sale. I found that I could only shave with plate #3, the other plates are just too mild. I really like the design and feel of the Colonial, especially the knurled handle and the lightweight, balanced feel. Generally, I like aluminum DE razors.

When using my standard Astra green blades or some of the other blades I have like 7 O'Clocks and Nacets, I just didn't get a close shave and found myself pressing too hard. So, I got a package of Feather New Stainless blades, reputed to be the sharpest around. Wow, glad I did! The combination of the Colonial with plate 3 and the Feather blade gives a fantastic shave. The design of the Colonial really helps to prevent cuts and nicks, so I felt very confident with the super sharp Feather blades. No pressing required, just a smooth shave. This specific combination is now one of my favorite shaves.

 

[JL 52]

I’ve been loving the 3 plate so far after two shaves, and don’t see myself turning to the other milder plates. I’m still kinda scratching my head because the 3 plate feels like it should have been their road of the middle option instead of the “aggressive” plate. Respectable efficiency and excellent comfort; I’d imagine it’s the plate that most of us would gravitate towards.

I’ve only used it with Personna Lab Blues and those have been a fantastic pairing as well.

 

[JL 52]

Nice to see the gray Timeless bowl.

And it’s actually the only bowl I have. I never started a shave bowl collection, I figured my razor collection was already enough for me to have to explain to my wife

 

[LRod]

I don't know if you've polished your Bronze Guerrilla, but if you haven't, this is what it looks like afterwards!
This was my first time polishing this razor and it came out better than factory. It now has a beautiful luster
that it previously lacked:

 

[Eric_75]

And it’s actually the only bowl I have. I never started a shave bowl collection, I figured my razor collection was already enough for me to have to explain to my wife

I have the red Timeless bowl. I wish they made a gold one so I could have my 49ers colors.

 

[JL 52]

I don't know if you've polished your Bronze Guerrilla, but if you haven't, this is what it looks like afterwards!
This was my first time polishing this razor and it came out better than factory. It now has a beautiful luster
that it previously lacked:

Wow!!

I haven’t ruled out polishing mine down the road, but so far I’ve been enjoying the industrial look it has unpolished. Plus, I feel like it adds a bit more variety for me compared to the polished Bronzebird.

 

[JL 52]

I have the red Timeless bowl. I wish they made a gold one so I could have my 49ers colors.

Now we’re talking, I might have been able to get my wife behind that movement Go 9ers!