Well, I guess that I completed my circle fellow shavers 
Rocca R94 arrived and I'll do my best to provide some objective feedback on it, but it's only my 2 cents.
R94 - Fit & Finish
This is my first and only stainless steel razor and I though that tolerances would be tighter (as for Henson AL13 i.e.) but probably, the SS is more challenging for CNC milling and I saw that there were some loose tolerances. Not in a bad way, but just didn't pushed-tightly as I expected. Enough space to place everything nicely, but when it's tighten - oh boy, does it fit altogether or what!? Not even on finger slide I couldn't feel any surface missaligned, everything was so smooth, handle was nicely grooved, honeycomb pattern is possibly most grippy of all, and once assembled - everything looked remarkable, like a piece of art:
R94 - Good mid-range to fall between R89 and R41?
I'd say - WRONG! For past 3 years of using R89 and tightening my technique I've managed to get a near BBS with R89 on any beard length. From daily shaves to up to 9 days growth, within 2 passes, mostly WTG+XTG, rarely WTG+ATG, so I don't believe in myth "mild razor for daily use, aggressive razor for heavy beard..." it'll all do the work, nice and smoothly. What I liked at R89, and Muhle in general, is that their razors are almost jewelry-level of fit & finish. Period! Rocca is not different at all. Manufacturing perfection in every aspect, but most important - each razor is complete on its own, and unique on it's own. Hence - I'd avoid comparing Rocca to R41, R89 to R41... they are all made with specific purpose, to provide certain shave experience, it's not like "series of razors and Model1 is for daily shaves, Model2 for 4days growth" etc. Although heads looks similar, the razor hand held feel, shave experience, materials, geometry - are nothing to be compared or to be put at any range, simply - it's in its own league. I wouldn't say it is more aggressive than R89, neither that it's smoother... my shave experience was really unique. Up to point that I could compare it with Fatip OC in terms of efficiency, rather than with other razors from Muhle portfolio, that's what I mean by "its own league" and that's what I like about Muhle - no need for customization, no need for adjusting, each razor is simply marvel for itself.
If I must to put it somewhere - efficiency wise perhaps match to Fatip OC, R41, same or even better... smothness & comfort - R89, Henson AL13 could feel rough compared to Rocca per my own face feel.
R94 - How does it shave?
Geometry wise, when compared with R89 it's easy to notice that dimensions are the same, but with less blade bending. From this angle, it's visible that Rocca will show only blade edge, while the R89 will have a bit of blade plate exposed as well, due to higher bending. Still - Rocca does have the same effect of "driving the blade away from the face", meaning - it does not dig into skin. It just glides over, and when given pressure it won't stumple into skin, moles, pimples, what you'd might think when presented with this look. Blade gap between blade and safety bar is bit higher but IMO haven't affect the shave, I didn't faced any more aggression because of it, however....
... what wasn't so obvious and what I didn't heard in any topic on B&B covered so far, neither on YT reviews, is that it somehow has a positive blade exposure! While R89 has neutral, or even negative exposure (blade is tucked into the shave plane) the Rocca has visible exposure, more Fatip OC likewise, so I was extra-careful on this feature. I did my best to capture this on images, but it's more pronounced when looked from hand:
Keeping this in mind, I went initially same as with R89 and haven't felt any tugging, no special angle adjustments, just plain smooth shave. When tilted bit more on the cap, it looked that shallow angle works better for some segments of my face, but in overall Rocca allowed me to use variety of angles without any negative feedback. I could say - pure perfection no matter how it's handled.
Neck area was story by itself! Oh my
!!! I think that this level of 1st pass WTG smothness and efficiency would be impossible to reach even with Fatip OC, at least for my growth directions and face contours, but, seriously - WOW!!! 1WTG and I was like - done, nothing left for a second pass, and no irritiation at all. Stunning!
Still, as left with lots of lather, I performed XTG on round 2, but rare whiskers cought here and there, pure recreational pass, no real shave, no nicks, no overshaving, almost like blade flew over the skin. If nothing is to be shaved then skin won't be irritated at all, like glass-gliding. My initial feedback was remarkably positive, I'd say - worth every penny.
Closed safety bar was so easy to rinse (used Cella Red) like it has standard lather channels. It is nicely designed, no clogging, no lather stopping, worked great without exceptions.
Overall shave grade: BBS, smooth incomparable with any other ZAMAC, Brass razor heads, simply - clamping of the blade was outstanding, gentle for the skin, waaaaaay more efficient than I'd expect for 1st shave with a new razor - felt like I used it for years, and what I feared most - it didn't felt like my other razors (you buy couple razors and they shave the same, feel the same...)
I received not just "better shave for better money" but whole new experience for a fraction of price.
R94 drawbacks
I guess that Rocca and Muhle in overall, goes bit unnoticed due to higher prices in USA, CAN, and some parts of Europe as well. For central & south regions some vendors do make it more affordable than Razorock Gamechanger, Edwin Jagger etc. so it does have less market share and all reviews I've read were not that promissing (unitl I was convinced in Muhle reputation with R89) so it took me a while to pull the trigger on this. Like I said, I like it as "complete razor" just as it is, simple, elegant, modern, unique... I never craved for RR as I couldn't match all the "liked" heads and handles without buying 4-5 razors but this was on first shave - ok, I'm done, I don't need anything else.
So no marketing, no (much available) positive feedback, pricey for worldwide distribution... feels bad for such outstanding razor. Surprisingly, on some web-shops in AUS people leaved a lot of great reviews which I based my decision on, so I'm not sure is it also some - mercant thing, availability, cost combination as Aussies liked Rocca more than US people? Anyhow, if you're lucky enough to find a nice offer at your place, don't skip it, this one was "stolen" by yours trully for 69 EUR shipped not bad for a SS razor?
Rocca R94 arrived and I'll do my best to provide some objective feedback on it, but it's only my 2 cents.
R94 - Fit & Finish
This is my first and only stainless steel razor and I though that tolerances would be tighter (as for Henson AL13 i.e.) but probably, the SS is more challenging for CNC milling and I saw that there were some loose tolerances. Not in a bad way, but just didn't pushed-tightly as I expected. Enough space to place everything nicely, but when it's tighten - oh boy, does it fit altogether or what!? Not even on finger slide I couldn't feel any surface missaligned, everything was so smooth, handle was nicely grooved, honeycomb pattern is possibly most grippy of all, and once assembled - everything looked remarkable, like a piece of art:
R94 - Good mid-range to fall between R89 and R41?
I'd say - WRONG! For past 3 years of using R89 and tightening my technique I've managed to get a near BBS with R89 on any beard length. From daily shaves to up to 9 days growth, within 2 passes, mostly WTG+XTG, rarely WTG+ATG, so I don't believe in myth "mild razor for daily use, aggressive razor for heavy beard..." it'll all do the work, nice and smoothly. What I liked at R89, and Muhle in general, is that their razors are almost jewelry-level of fit & finish. Period! Rocca is not different at all. Manufacturing perfection in every aspect, but most important - each razor is complete on its own, and unique on it's own. Hence - I'd avoid comparing Rocca to R41, R89 to R41... they are all made with specific purpose, to provide certain shave experience, it's not like "series of razors and Model1 is for daily shaves, Model2 for 4days growth" etc. Although heads looks similar, the razor hand held feel, shave experience, materials, geometry - are nothing to be compared or to be put at any range, simply - it's in its own league. I wouldn't say it is more aggressive than R89, neither that it's smoother... my shave experience was really unique. Up to point that I could compare it with Fatip OC in terms of efficiency, rather than with other razors from Muhle portfolio, that's what I mean by "its own league" and that's what I like about Muhle - no need for customization, no need for adjusting, each razor is simply marvel for itself.
If I must to put it somewhere - efficiency wise perhaps match to Fatip OC, R41, same or even better... smothness & comfort - R89, Henson AL13 could feel rough compared to Rocca per my own face feel.
R94 - How does it shave?
Geometry wise, when compared with R89 it's easy to notice that dimensions are the same, but with less blade bending. From this angle, it's visible that Rocca will show only blade edge, while the R89 will have a bit of blade plate exposed as well, due to higher bending. Still - Rocca does have the same effect of "driving the blade away from the face", meaning - it does not dig into skin. It just glides over, and when given pressure it won't stumple into skin, moles, pimples, what you'd might think when presented with this look. Blade gap between blade and safety bar is bit higher but IMO haven't affect the shave, I didn't faced any more aggression because of it, however....
... what wasn't so obvious and what I didn't heard in any topic on B&B covered so far, neither on YT reviews, is that it somehow has a positive blade exposure! While R89 has neutral, or even negative exposure (blade is tucked into the shave plane) the Rocca has visible exposure, more Fatip OC likewise, so I was extra-careful on this feature. I did my best to capture this on images, but it's more pronounced when looked from hand:
Keeping this in mind, I went initially same as with R89 and haven't felt any tugging, no special angle adjustments, just plain smooth shave. When tilted bit more on the cap, it looked that shallow angle works better for some segments of my face, but in overall Rocca allowed me to use variety of angles without any negative feedback. I could say - pure perfection no matter how it's handled.
Neck area was story by itself! Oh my
!!! I think that this level of 1st pass WTG smothness and efficiency would be impossible to reach even with Fatip OC, at least for my growth directions and face contours, but, seriously - WOW!!! 1WTG and I was like - done, nothing left for a second pass, and no irritiation at all. Stunning!Still, as left with lots of lather, I performed XTG on round 2, but rare whiskers cought here and there, pure recreational pass, no real shave, no nicks, no overshaving, almost like blade flew over the skin. If nothing is to be shaved then skin won't be irritated at all, like glass-gliding. My initial feedback was remarkably positive, I'd say - worth every penny.
Closed safety bar was so easy to rinse (used Cella Red) like it has standard lather channels. It is nicely designed, no clogging, no lather stopping, worked great without exceptions.
Overall shave grade: BBS, smooth incomparable with any other ZAMAC, Brass razor heads, simply - clamping of the blade was outstanding, gentle for the skin, waaaaaay more efficient than I'd expect for 1st shave with a new razor - felt like I used it for years, and what I feared most - it didn't felt like my other razors (you buy couple razors and they shave the same, feel the same...)
I received not just "better shave for better money" but whole new experience for a fraction of price.
R94 drawbacks
I guess that Rocca and Muhle in overall, goes bit unnoticed due to higher prices in USA, CAN, and some parts of Europe as well. For central & south regions some vendors do make it more affordable than Razorock Gamechanger, Edwin Jagger etc. so it does have less market share and all reviews I've read were not that promissing (unitl I was convinced in Muhle reputation with R89) so it took me a while to pull the trigger on this. Like I said, I like it as "complete razor" just as it is, simple, elegant, modern, unique... I never craved for RR as I couldn't match all the "liked" heads and handles without buying 4-5 razors
but this was on first shave - ok, I'm done, I don't need anything else.So no marketing, no (much available) positive feedback, pricey for worldwide distribution... feels bad for such outstanding razor. Surprisingly, on some web-shops in AUS people leaved a lot of great reviews which I based my decision on, so I'm not sure is it also some - mercant thing, availability, cost combination as Aussies liked Rocca more than US people? Anyhow, if you're lucky enough to find a nice offer at your place, don't skip it, this one was "stolen" by yours trully for 69 EUR shipped
not bad for a SS razor?
Last edited:
Would like to hear if you have same impressions when it arrive.
still, Personna Platinum was one of the best-working for me and most durable. If it works - I don't care 
