i have an h12,if i am honest it is a bit on the big side,i think the 8 size in the kent brushes is big enough for anyone,but the price i got it for was a steal, you are right about the handles,it is a real touch of class.I have a BK8 in white, picked up of Amazon for a little over £50, still cheap imho. Now I've four Kents. A Pure T12 (massive), A boar T8 (limited run and abd superbly soft but scrubby), A H8 (a horn handle to die for and in the middle of boar and badger) and my BK8. The 8 is just a great all round brush. I face lather and shower shave, for me brilliant. Infact if I'm honest it's only the T12 that I feel may be too big and too scrubby.