For quite some time now, the Rocca has been my favorite DE razor. I have used DE razors for many years, having had long periods with only one or two razors. For quite a while it was a Gillette Super Adjustable, bought new in the 1970's, then a combination of Merkur Progress and Edwin Jagger DE89. In recent years, however I've cycled through the following DE razors:
• Gillette Super Adjustable
• RazoRock Old Type
• Merkur Progress
• Merkur Futur
• Merkur 37C (slant)
• RazoRock Game Changer .68 Safety Bar (SB)
• RazoRock Game Changer .84 SB and Open Comb (OC)
• Rockwell 6C
• Fatip Open Comb (piccolo and grande)
• Edwin Jagger DE89
• Edwin Jagger 3ONE6
• Muhle Rocca
I still own the Fatip, the 2 Edwin Jaggers and the Rocca; the others I have sold, traded or given away. I use the DE89 when I want a very mild razor and don't mind that it doesn't shave as closely as some others. Mostly, however, I use the Rocca or one of my SE razors. The 3ONE6 arrived on the scene just a couple of days ago. I'm perfectly happy with the Rocca, but as most of you will understand I'm still looking for something "better". I've set my upper limit at $100, so that has eliminated trying something like Timeless, Charcoal Goods, Wolfman, etc. I was going to go for the Blackland Dart, but I was able to get a great deal on the 3ONE6. So is it "better" than the Rocca?
First some numbers. The Rocca head is quite a bit heavier at 1.40 oz. vs 1.09 for the 3ONE6. The birch handle on the Rocca, however, while longer and larger in diameter, is significantly lighter at 1.45 oz. vs the 3ONE6's 1.93 oz. The Rocca handle is 3.75 inches long; the 3ONE6 is 3.5 inches. I have posted some pictures of the two, including one in which I switched the handles. The matte finish of the two is similar enough that the switched handles match perfectly.
On to the shaves. Yesterday I shaved with the 3ONE6 for the first time. It was a very comfortable shave. The knurled handle is thinner than ideal for me, but it provides plenty of grip. Based upon the numbers (which I didn't have before the shave) it would seem that the razor's head would be quite light for the hefty handle, but it doesn't feel that way. It feels well balanced and quite agile. I had no problems easily shaving in those tight spots under the nose, for example. I always do a two pass shave with a tiny bit of touch up, and I was left with no nicks, cuts or irritation and a near perfect BBS shave.
Today was a side by side with the Rocca. Since I have used the Rocca for quite a while now, it is very familiar and comfortable in my hand. By way of comparison, you can feel the extra head weight of the Rocca, but it's not a plus or minus, just a difference when compared to the 3ONE6. I do like the extra diameter of the Rocca's birch handle - in fact, it is my favorite razor handle full stop. I plan on trying some shaves with the Rocca handle on the 3ONE6. The big surprise is the results: the 3ONE6 side is noticeably smoother than the Rocca side. Tomorrow I will switch sides to make sure this is not a result of my technique varying from side to side, but I've done this often enough that I will be very surprised if the results differ from today's.
• Gillette Super Adjustable
• RazoRock Old Type
• Merkur Progress
• Merkur Futur
• Merkur 37C (slant)
• RazoRock Game Changer .68 Safety Bar (SB)
• RazoRock Game Changer .84 SB and Open Comb (OC)
• Rockwell 6C
• Fatip Open Comb (piccolo and grande)
• Edwin Jagger DE89
• Edwin Jagger 3ONE6
• Muhle Rocca
I still own the Fatip, the 2 Edwin Jaggers and the Rocca; the others I have sold, traded or given away. I use the DE89 when I want a very mild razor and don't mind that it doesn't shave as closely as some others. Mostly, however, I use the Rocca or one of my SE razors. The 3ONE6 arrived on the scene just a couple of days ago. I'm perfectly happy with the Rocca, but as most of you will understand I'm still looking for something "better". I've set my upper limit at $100, so that has eliminated trying something like Timeless, Charcoal Goods, Wolfman, etc. I was going to go for the Blackland Dart, but I was able to get a great deal on the 3ONE6. So is it "better" than the Rocca?
First some numbers. The Rocca head is quite a bit heavier at 1.40 oz. vs 1.09 for the 3ONE6. The birch handle on the Rocca, however, while longer and larger in diameter, is significantly lighter at 1.45 oz. vs the 3ONE6's 1.93 oz. The Rocca handle is 3.75 inches long; the 3ONE6 is 3.5 inches. I have posted some pictures of the two, including one in which I switched the handles. The matte finish of the two is similar enough that the switched handles match perfectly.
On to the shaves. Yesterday I shaved with the 3ONE6 for the first time. It was a very comfortable shave. The knurled handle is thinner than ideal for me, but it provides plenty of grip. Based upon the numbers (which I didn't have before the shave) it would seem that the razor's head would be quite light for the hefty handle, but it doesn't feel that way. It feels well balanced and quite agile. I had no problems easily shaving in those tight spots under the nose, for example. I always do a two pass shave with a tiny bit of touch up, and I was left with no nicks, cuts or irritation and a near perfect BBS shave.
Today was a side by side with the Rocca. Since I have used the Rocca for quite a while now, it is very familiar and comfortable in my hand. By way of comparison, you can feel the extra head weight of the Rocca, but it's not a plus or minus, just a difference when compared to the 3ONE6. I do like the extra diameter of the Rocca's birch handle - in fact, it is my favorite razor handle full stop. I plan on trying some shaves with the Rocca handle on the 3ONE6. The big surprise is the results: the 3ONE6 side is noticeably smoother than the Rocca side. Tomorrow I will switch sides to make sure this is not a result of my technique varying from side to side, but I've done this often enough that I will be very surprised if the results differ from today's.
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