Fellas,
While I have not used this razor enough to give a FULL review (complete with ratings) I did want to share some additional pictures, and initial thoughts.
Firstly - the non-adjustable injector is ALL you need. The adjustable model feels MUCH cheaper, and is not built nearly as ridgid/solid, and most importantly the non-adjustable was able to give me no joke - just about the best shave of my life. The shave I experienced today with this injector and a fresh Shick Injector blade was just about the best I can remember... from any razor; straight, de or injector. What was most surprising about this expeirence however was the COMPLETE and total lack of irritation/inflammation or disturbance to my skin of ANY sort. Even when applying pressure and shaving MIGHTY fast and haphazardly, nary a nick, cut, weeper, or speck of irritation. After the shave, I splashed on some alcohol based aftershave (L'occitane CADE) which normally provides a burning sensation, nothing uncomfortable - but certainly a burn... this shave was so irritation free, it felt like I was slapping water on my face.
The aformentioned qualities coupled with the long/grippy handle (quite a bit longer than a Merkur Long handle - pics comparing them will be posted tomorrow) and the hefty, quality feel/construction, not to mention the sexy looks of this razor make it a hands down winner in my book. This razor has the finest grip/handle of ANY razor I have experienced bar-none. This razor makes a Merkur Vision look/feel frumpy and cheap.
While the adjustable is all fine and good - and a superb reproduction, it was not a "high quality" razor to begin with - meaning initally when released, and all of the original old versions I have used, work well, but feel cheap, plastiky, and the milling/tooling marks on them show quite a bit. When you heft this thing and shave with it, it feels dinky, unsubstantial, etc. Sure... it works outstanding - but with the adjustments, you basically end up putting it at a setting damn near identical to the fixed injector version, as if you open it any wider, you will chew yourself up and won't get a closer shave, and close it any further and you won't get close enough. The adjustable is a neat novelty, but due to the INCREDIBLY user friendly, SUPERIOR shaped head/handle of the fixed injector - it makes it way easier to use, and way easier to get a BETTER shave than the adjustable. I know everyone and their mother will purchase an adjustable... well because "adjustable is better than non-adjustable" and the fact that in the past they have been so elusive/expensive - but a sound piece of advice... don't. Do not buy the adjustable, as truth is... it is inferior in every respect to the much, MUCH nicer fixed version. Sure - it may be only $15 - but i'll assure you this... if you buy both of 'em - you'll use the adjustable a few times - then never again, as the fixed will get ALL of your attention/use.
This fixed headed version give a shave akin to a feather loaded slant bar.... albeit ZERO irritation, ZERO learning curve - and as easy to perform as a mach III shave. Seriously... with ZERO DE experience, only having used a Mach III, Fusion, Sensor, etc - I am confident you could stick this thing in your hand - perform a WORLD CLASS 4 pass shave (including against the grain) with nary a nick.
This my friends.... is the epitome of "shaving tools for dummies."
I am not kidding when I say this.... if I get similar results with this razor for 2 full boxes of injector blades, I will sell all but 1 or 2 of my DE's, my feather straight razor and blades, about 20 boxes of feather blades, and about 18 boxes of derby's and this very razor will become my sole daily shaver - save for special occasions when I am in the mood to throw a straight or a DE in the mix.
This razor is truly outstanding - and has the looks/performance to kill...
While I have not used this razor enough to give a FULL review (complete with ratings) I did want to share some additional pictures, and initial thoughts.
Firstly - the non-adjustable injector is ALL you need. The adjustable model feels MUCH cheaper, and is not built nearly as ridgid/solid, and most importantly the non-adjustable was able to give me no joke - just about the best shave of my life. The shave I experienced today with this injector and a fresh Shick Injector blade was just about the best I can remember... from any razor; straight, de or injector. What was most surprising about this expeirence however was the COMPLETE and total lack of irritation/inflammation or disturbance to my skin of ANY sort. Even when applying pressure and shaving MIGHTY fast and haphazardly, nary a nick, cut, weeper, or speck of irritation. After the shave, I splashed on some alcohol based aftershave (L'occitane CADE) which normally provides a burning sensation, nothing uncomfortable - but certainly a burn... this shave was so irritation free, it felt like I was slapping water on my face.
The aformentioned qualities coupled with the long/grippy handle (quite a bit longer than a Merkur Long handle - pics comparing them will be posted tomorrow) and the hefty, quality feel/construction, not to mention the sexy looks of this razor make it a hands down winner in my book. This razor has the finest grip/handle of ANY razor I have experienced bar-none. This razor makes a Merkur Vision look/feel frumpy and cheap.
While the adjustable is all fine and good - and a superb reproduction, it was not a "high quality" razor to begin with - meaning initally when released, and all of the original old versions I have used, work well, but feel cheap, plastiky, and the milling/tooling marks on them show quite a bit. When you heft this thing and shave with it, it feels dinky, unsubstantial, etc. Sure... it works outstanding - but with the adjustments, you basically end up putting it at a setting damn near identical to the fixed injector version, as if you open it any wider, you will chew yourself up and won't get a closer shave, and close it any further and you won't get close enough. The adjustable is a neat novelty, but due to the INCREDIBLY user friendly, SUPERIOR shaped head/handle of the fixed injector - it makes it way easier to use, and way easier to get a BETTER shave than the adjustable. I know everyone and their mother will purchase an adjustable... well because "adjustable is better than non-adjustable" and the fact that in the past they have been so elusive/expensive - but a sound piece of advice... don't. Do not buy the adjustable, as truth is... it is inferior in every respect to the much, MUCH nicer fixed version. Sure - it may be only $15 - but i'll assure you this... if you buy both of 'em - you'll use the adjustable a few times - then never again, as the fixed will get ALL of your attention/use.
This fixed headed version give a shave akin to a feather loaded slant bar.... albeit ZERO irritation, ZERO learning curve - and as easy to perform as a mach III shave. Seriously... with ZERO DE experience, only having used a Mach III, Fusion, Sensor, etc - I am confident you could stick this thing in your hand - perform a WORLD CLASS 4 pass shave (including against the grain) with nary a nick.
This my friends.... is the epitome of "shaving tools for dummies."
I am not kidding when I say this.... if I get similar results with this razor for 2 full boxes of injector blades, I will sell all but 1 or 2 of my DE's, my feather straight razor and blades, about 20 boxes of feather blades, and about 18 boxes of derby's and this very razor will become my sole daily shaver - save for special occasions when I am in the mood to throw a straight or a DE in the mix.
This razor is truly outstanding - and has the looks/performance to kill...
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Suffice to say.... I am happy with my purchase!
