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Looking for the stainless steel / titanium adjustable razor to replace all the razors that I have

Themaverickmonk

Themaverickmonk

Hi good people,

I am trying to declutter my razor collection. I am looking for the stainless steel / titanium adjustable razor to replace all the standard DE razors that I have. I have the Fatips, Merkurs, Muhle's, Parkers etc... I currently have a Pearl Flexi, but I just don't like its heavy weight (135 gms).

Can you all pls suggest which adjustable should I look for. Currently exploring the Rex Ambassador (100 gms). Not looking for any slant, adjustable razor. Ease of handling and longevity is the key.


Thanks so much!!
 
flash75

flash75

I am pretty sure that there is no razor that covers the whole range of razors you mention.
If you like the Flexi, stay with it. The rex has more blade exposure and therefore feels more aggressive. I had it twice, sold it twice.

If you prefer mild to medium razors the only stainless steel razor that comes to my mind is the Rockwell 6s. The Rockwells head geometry is similar to the Mühle and Merkur if you see how the blade is bent.
The Rockwell is even on the highest setting quite mild. It's built like a tank.

One other possible solution might, if you like the Flexi or gibbs style adjust mechanism might be the Yaqi Final cut stainless steel. But I don't have it. I only have the regular version which works quite well. Better than expected.
 
AshleyC

AshleyC

While I'm not aware of any titanium adjustables just now, the fact you asked about one suggests you are not overly concerned with expense. For such a thing would be expensive.

So I'd suggest a Blackland Osprey. Well, I'd suggest researching other people's experience with the Osprey and then deciding. I don't have one...yet.

But it might be heavy. Perhaps comparable to the weight of the Flexi, I'd have to check. The current razor getting most of my attention is the Yaqi Ultima, the stainless version of Yaqi's "The Final Cut", which is chromed Zamak.

The Ultima, to me, seems to have the best combination of heft, balance, and maneuverability. It is aggressive though. I will be using it later today for Bloody Sunday. I think I have four or five shaves on it, and it has resulted in weepers everytime. I will continue to use it until I produce a bloodless, close shave.

I also have Yaqi's "Final Cut", but I think there is a small problem of a too weak main compression spring in it. On the higher settings of "4" and above it doesn't impinge enough against the blade--which is itself acting as a spring--and leads to visible uneven blade gap. I plan to try a replacement spring to correct this. The Ultima doesn't have this issue.
 
D

DrakeMegrim

Rockwell 6S might work but I'm going to agree with Flash75 and you might not get the variety in your shave if you're looking for that.

Tatara Muramasa might be something you want to look into as well. It adjusts blade gap and exposure and it stainless steel. I'm not sure how aggressive it is on the high end but I don't think I've read many complaints about it.
 
Themaverickmonk

Themaverickmonk

@AshleyC @flash75 I have gone through the Yaqi offerings. My only issue with them is that they may not stay in the business for long enough that the replacement parts may be available after say 10-20 yrs. I like the Gibbs style razor because I already have the flexi and I like it (if only it had a bit less weight!!).

Rex is a beautifully done razor, and I am more hopeful about the longevity of the business of Rex company when compared to Yaqi. Hence I can expect the parts to be available much easily.

@AshleyC this is the titanium slant that I am aware of. But honestly I am not a fan of slant razors. Simply because at the end of the day, all I am looking for is a nice shave.

 
AshleyC

AshleyC

Personally, I am less concerned about the issue of parts availability. Your post suggests a pretty extensive collection of razors, which probably means a Fatboy and/or a Slim. Mine (2 Fatboys and a Slim) date back to when JFK was still going concern, and they work fine despite age, repeated use, and being made of brass and stampings.

There is no part of an Ultima, or Rex Ambassador, that is "high wear" or prone to corrosion, or even the ravages of hard water deposits. And they can be completely disassembled for maintenance easily, which Gillettes cannot be. The only part that might need replacing after many years might be the spring, of which the Ultima and Ambassador are interchangeable.

Or easily sourced...


But I would by no means try to talk you out of an Ambassador. It just is currently beyond my price range. I happened to look at the Ultima on a day it was on sale, which brought it down to $108. The Ambassador is undoubtedly a skosh better in quality in terms of machining, finish, and adjustment number indexing.
 
Phoenixkh

Phoenixkh

I shaved a fortune
If cost isn't an issue, you might want to read the Rocnel Sailor thread here on B&B and see if that might be your answer. From what I've read, you don't need their Master Class to get the same features of their "regular" Sailor. The Master Class has some extra refinements like 24K gold ring, etc.... but the razor mechanism is the same.

I have two of their Elite models: the 2022 SS Elite and the 2024 Elite brass.... Non-adjustable but very fine shaves for me.

www.badgerandblade.com

the Rocnel Sailor thread

Let's learn more about our Sailors and how to use them to our best advantage. Plus, how 'bout some Sailor photographs. Not being a collector of the Sailor I'm nevertheless blown away by what a great razor my 2021 Rocnel Sailor Master Collection adjustable has turned out to be. I'm interested...
www.badgerandblade.com www.badgerandblade.com
 
B

Barbablanca

I bought a titanium Blackland Osprey adjustable razor. Not cheap, but a terrific razor, very smooth and well-balanced. If you can take a bit more weight, the Osprey is also available in stainless. Very wide range of adjustment, you should be able to find a setting to suit you.
I just sold off most of my other razors since I’m so happy with the Osprey. Raised enough money to buy another Osprey, but probably won’t.
Jack
 
Hairy Callahan

Hairy Callahan

Themaverickmonk said:
Hi good people,

I am trying to declutter my razor collection. I am looking for the stainless steel / titanium adjustable razor to replace all the standard DE razors that I have. I have the Fatips, Merkurs, Muhle's, Parkers etc... I currently have a Pearl Flexi, but I just don't like its heavy weight (135 gms).

Can you all pls suggest which adjustable should I look for. Currently exploring the Rex Ambassador (100 gms). Not looking for any slant, adjustable razor. Ease of handling and longevity is the key.


Thanks so much!!
Click to expand...
I don't have much trigger time with it yet, so take this with a grain of salt. But the Rockwell T2SS sounds like it would fit your needs. Lighter than the Flexi (106 grams), adjustable on the fly, stainless steel. I've only shaved with mine a few times as it's a very recent acquisition, but so far it shaves better than my prized 1960 Fatboy. Could this be the shave den killer that sends all others packing? I don't see that happening. But it seems like it fits the requirements you put forth in your original post.
 
R

Rob72

I have most of the modern adjustables. Based on what you described, the Osprey would be your best bet, followed by the Rex Konsul.

The Ambassabor is still very heavy and I doubt you would notice much difference between it and the Flexi.

The Rockwell is generally comparable to the classic Fat Boy/Slim. If you like the Flexi's 2.5+ settings, the Rockwell is unlikely to please.

Muramasa- same as Rockwell. Very mild.

Taiga- unobtainium, but if you find one on the secondary market, very well worth it. Range is less aggressive than Rex & Flexi overall, but still plenty of blade feel throughout.

Konsul- different enough from Rex & Flexi to enjoy in its own right. Still fairly heavy, but MUCH smoother than the Ambassador (and my Ambassador is in no way "bad").

Sailors (because it/they have been mentioned)- heavy and comparable to the Ambassador in aggression. Phenominal machining and most people report it being smoother than the Ambassador (no notable difference with my copy). I'm glad I have mine, but I would not spend the money unless you know its what you want.

Osprey- weight is adjustable to some degree. Longer handle, if you like that, which (IMO) makes it more responsive in handling. The exposure runs from very mild to wide open (Ambassador range) and very smooth throughout. Vis-a-vis the Sailor, very much the difference between one of the high performance Ferraris and Audis (tuned), one delivers a bit more fit & finish but both deliver very well.
 
Alexland

Alexland

I've owned and sold the Flexi, Ambassador and T2 all I found too bulky or heavy. TFC was OK but sold when I culled my chrome collection. I was happy with my vintage Gillette adjustables but felt guilty putting wear on them as they were so well preserved. So now my only "adjustable" is the Rockwell 6S for which I just use one setting anyway which is probably what most people do so it might as well not be an adjustable system it's no different to finding any other razor you like for your collection.
 
C

cpcohen1945

Alexland said:
. . . I was happy with my vintage Gillette adjustables but felt guilty putting wear on them as they were so well preserved. . . .
Click to expand...
That's as logical as having some clothes in your closet which are "too good to wear" -- and which never get worn. (I have fallen into that trap, sometimes.)

An old razor, however well-preserved, was built and sold as a tool, not an objet d'art. IMHO, it would make more sense to _use_ the razors which work best for you. When (if ever) they wear out, is the time to look for a replacement.

Another way to approach this:

. . . If your life expectancy is shorter than the razor's, you can use it guilt-free till you die.

. Charles
 
profusion

profusion

cpcohen1945 said:
That's as logical as having some clothes in your closet which are "too good to wear" -- and which never get worn. (I have fallen into that trap, sometimes.)

An old razor, however well-preserved, was built and sold as a tool, not an objet d'art. IMHO, it would make more sense to _use_ the razors which work best for you. When (if ever) they wear out, is the time to look for a replacement.

Another way to approach this:

. . . If your life expectancy is shorter than the razor's, you can use it guilt-free till you die.

. Charles
Click to expand...

Also keep in mind that Gillette made literally millions of adjustables. They're not all going to be gone anytime soon.
 
Alexland

Alexland

cpcohen1945 said:
That's as logical as having some clothes in your closet which are "too good to wear" -- and which never get worn. (I have fallen into that trap, sometimes.)
Click to expand...
Maybe but if a Gillette Slim Adjustable has been kept in mint condition for 60 years it seems a shame for me to come along and wreck it over the next 5 years. I feel less guilty putting miles onto my modern 316 stainless steel razors as it's not betraying the care of previous owners and they're made of a material that should last a very long time even with me sometimes dropping them etc several of them will hopefully outlast me.
 
C

cpcohen1945

This is something like the quandary presented in (I think) Toy Story 2:

. . . Is it better for a toy to be played with (as it was intended to be played with), or to be kept "mint in box" ?

This question (related to "does an inanimate object have karma?") is not going to answered conclusively, here.<g>

But I've learned something: I forget that a razor has a finite "use lifetime" -- it does, eventually, wear out. I've never actually worn out a DE, but I can imagine it happening.

Thanks --

. Charles
 
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