It started out as a simple desire to order some bath soap. Not shaving soap. Bath. Perusing the Maggard website I found a reasonably priced La Toja soap called Magno for $4. Okay. Cool. Added to cart. But there is so much surplus room in the cart. Infinite room.
So...Tabac. A replacement puck destined for my new late 50s Old Spice mug. At $14, I consider this a luxury soap. It is one of those things everyone talks about.
Hmm, what's going on over there in Maggard DE Safety Razor Land? The Ming Shi 2000S. Yes...I was morally conflicted on this (communism, intellectual property, and whatnot), but Saint Jack Benny, the patron of frugality, talked me into the $13 razor.
It all arrived yesterday, and this morning was a Tabac/Ming Shi 2000S shave. The Tabac did not fit my mug until brute strength convinced it to fit. I soaked it and my long-unused Perfecto brush in preparation. The Ming "The Merciless" Shi was fitted with a Gillette 7 O'Clock yellow and dialed to "4".
Damn. This was a good shave for a $13 razor. Really good. I have to amend my "best value" opinion in another thread where I endorsed the Fatip Piccollo. It is now the Piccollo and the MS 2000S.
Likes:
Tabac is a good soap, to be sure. It stayed wet and frothy. Didn't dry out. Was slick, and not afflicted with "scent" or "fragrance". It smells like soap. Does that make it better versus a $1.99 stick of Arko or Derby? The Frugality Jury is still out.
The MS2000S gave a close shave. It is over 12 hours later and I am still presentable. The big, wide head makes it seem like you are mowing more grass in a swipe than with other razors. An illusion, but it is there.
Was it smooth? Honestly, I don't know what that means. I have no irritation. No nicks and such.
Dislike:
The head geometry on the MS2000S made it difficult for me to "find the angle" on the against the grain pass. But this should disappear with continued practice.
Folks, what more can you ask for $13?
So...Tabac. A replacement puck destined for my new late 50s Old Spice mug. At $14, I consider this a luxury soap. It is one of those things everyone talks about.
Hmm, what's going on over there in Maggard DE Safety Razor Land? The Ming Shi 2000S. Yes...I was morally conflicted on this (communism, intellectual property, and whatnot), but Saint Jack Benny, the patron of frugality, talked me into the $13 razor.
It all arrived yesterday, and this morning was a Tabac/Ming Shi 2000S shave. The Tabac did not fit my mug until brute strength convinced it to fit. I soaked it and my long-unused Perfecto brush in preparation. The Ming "The Merciless" Shi was fitted with a Gillette 7 O'Clock yellow and dialed to "4".
Damn. This was a good shave for a $13 razor. Really good. I have to amend my "best value" opinion in another thread where I endorsed the Fatip Piccollo. It is now the Piccollo and the MS 2000S.
Likes:
Tabac is a good soap, to be sure. It stayed wet and frothy. Didn't dry out. Was slick, and not afflicted with "scent" or "fragrance". It smells like soap. Does that make it better versus a $1.99 stick of Arko or Derby? The Frugality Jury is still out.
The MS2000S gave a close shave. It is over 12 hours later and I am still presentable. The big, wide head makes it seem like you are mowing more grass in a swipe than with other razors. An illusion, but it is there.
Was it smooth? Honestly, I don't know what that means. I have no irritation. No nicks and such.
Dislike:
The head geometry on the MS2000S made it difficult for me to "find the angle" on the against the grain pass. But this should disappear with continued practice.
Folks, what more can you ask for $13?