Kent H8 - I rolled the dice - and won!

[vocalistbob]

There is a company offering Kent H8 brushes for $96 w/free shipping, which is a pretty decent discount (I have seen them elsewhere from $120 - $160). Two problems: they called it a "best badger" and it is clearly labeled "pure badger" and the handle in the pic didn't match the handle I had seen elsewhere for H8's.

I have been told that "Pure Badger" is really "Best" in Kent-speak and "Best" is "Silvertip" - anybody want to confirm this?

At any rate, the brush I received is a joy to use so far. It has the correct handle, it is as soft as the other "bests" I have in my collection and has a little bit of backbone considering the size of it (26 x 57mm). It is producing copious amounts of lather. I suspect a silvertip this size would be pretty floppy, so maybe I made the right decision in not ordering the (much more expensive) BK8 silvertip.

 

[Krona Kruiser]

What's the company and where's the pics?

 

[edgerunner]

It's written "Pure Badger" on all pictures of BKs I've seen. I believe it doesn't mean the hair grade but that the brush's made using unadulterated badger hair.

 

[vocalistbob]

It's on Amazon

Here's the pic:

 

[Krona Kruiser]

Wow! That's a beaut!

 

[edgerunner]

It's a lovely brush. It can be used for shaving too. Do I need another color backup of my BK8?...

 

[vocalistbob]

Well, since it doesn't have the same bristles as your BK, I think you need to buy it.

 

[beginish]

BK4, 8 & 12 all have the same grade of hair, and are called "Pure Badger" (which for me, is pretty darned close to silvertip). BK2 has the same specs as the BK4, but uses a lower grade of hair.

 

[Krona Kruiser]

There's been a bit of a surge of Kent interest lately and unfortunately, I've been lusting after one. I guess, it's a matter of time.....

 

[StuMcB]

My vintage V23 is super soft just on the edge of floppy but a lovley shave. Do the newer range come in the round, red lined case with the little product info booklet?

 

[vocalistbob]

Yup.

 

[CHSeifert]

There's been a bit of a surge of Kent interest lately and unfortunately, I've been lusting after one. I guess, it's a matter of time.....

I'm selling my BLK8 soon, it has been used maybe 12-15 times - wink wink wink
Comes in the red little coffin like box - also perfect for travel......

Too floppy for me after all, I already have my Mühle Sophist Silvertip 23 mm as my GOTO soft Silvertip 3-Band brush, and prefer it slightly over the Kent BLK8 to be honest......this is why I'm selling my Kent brush.

Also need an even longer brush for my scuttle, the Kent BLK8 is 11.2 cm tall, I prefer 13 cm and up for scuttle use.

 

[Johnny_Ludlow]

I think this brush deserves much more attention - especially now that it is £35 in the UK Amazon. They also sent it to Finland for free! My best brush deal ever.

It really goes against the current conventional wisdom of a great shaving brush. Does it have a good backbone? Not really. What about soft tips? Not at all. It's like a prickly pillow against my face - it's luxuriously soft as a whole, but the tips are rather scrubby. Produces amazing amounts of lather with minimal effort. You don't have to use much pressure at all, so neither the lack of strong backbone or prickly tips are a negative aspects. Beautiful bloom, perfect density and good flow-through. It's also of the highest quality and very beautiful to look at.

I've found that after using H8 my face looks clearer and fresher if that makes sense. It really seems to work as a nice exfoliation, unlike brushes with softer tips. I always use it atleast twice a week.

 

[ajc347]

I had an H8 and sold it mainly due to it having a markedly different knot to the BK4, 8 & 12.

The knot has more backbone than a BK8 and is certainly markedly pricklier than the Kent Silvertip knots used in the BK series (it's not as prickly as the Rooney 1/3 I had in Best but it is prickly nonetheless).

At £35, though, it does represent excellent value for money.