R41 new version ?
- Thread starter bobusa
- Start date
i have never heard of that unless he was referring to the older R41 open-comb razors that were nothing like this new R41 2011 version.
The older ones were the 2009 and 2010 versions which were/are very similar to the Merkur 1904 razors.
Good luck if there is a new version.
The older ones were the 2009 and 2010 versions which were/are very similar to the Merkur 1904 razors.
Good luck if there is a new version.
Celestino, I think you might be right. The tweet is vague and it appears he may have inadvertently confused the two. That I know of the only thing new with the R41 2011 is a new variation with a rose-gold handle.
It is true. The R41 was modified (or tamed) silently by Mühle in July or August last year.
We have the pre-2011 R41, using an open comb made by Merkur, that head is pretty much like a Gillette Old Type. That's not the topic here.
In June 2011 Mühle released the R41 we are talking about. That one used a cap 18.8 mm wide. Last summer they silently tamed the beast a bit, Mühle's current production caps are 20.2 mm wide. Well, 1.4 mm wider cap does not sound to be important, but the wider cap does not allow the blade to flatter that much. Resulting in direct shaves, but much smoother than the first release.
To find out which one you have is to measure the width of the cap. In case you don't have a caliper at hand but an 89-series DE, you can compare it with that head: Is your R41's head smaller than that of the R89 you have the untamed beast. Is the R41's cap wider you have the new girlie version.
We have the pre-2011 R41, using an open comb made by Merkur, that head is pretty much like a Gillette Old Type. That's not the topic here.
In June 2011 Mühle released the R41 we are talking about. That one used a cap 18.8 mm wide. Last summer they silently tamed the beast a bit, Mühle's current production caps are 20.2 mm wide. Well, 1.4 mm wider cap does not sound to be important, but the wider cap does not allow the blade to flatter that much. Resulting in direct shaves, but much smoother than the first release.
To find out which one you have is to measure the width of the cap. In case you don't have a caliper at hand but an 89-series DE, you can compare it with that head: Is your R41's head smaller than that of the R89 you have the untamed beast. Is the R41's cap wider you have the new girlie version.
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Elbe, that's quite interesting news. I had similar thoughts myself about a wider cap when I got the original version. Glad to be incorrect since I now have a great excuse to run out and buy the new girlie version in rose-gold.
- Thread starter
- #7
This makes me want to try the R41 again. I had the chattering one, where the blade would skip and chatter across my face (at least until the blood provided some lubrication). If the cap is indeed wider, it might not only lessen the skipping and chattering, but it might also increase the curvature of the blade and thereby lessen the razor's aggressiveness...
I agree, the 2009 R41 with a Merkur head was great, but just a little too mild.
The 2011 R41 with the massive blade gap and lots of blade exposure was an impressive razor, but too aggressive.
The 2013 R41 with a wider cap and milder blade angle sounds just right
Is it too early to declare the June 2011 R41 as the superior model now that it is no longer available?
I know this news makes me regret selling my R41.
Does one suppose that vendors are going to differentiate them in sales? And how?
Does anyone have both editions of this razor? Perhaps a photo comparo with calipers would be in order...
It is going to be interesting to see how Mühle dealt with re-engineering the cap, since I imagine they might have had to make it slightly thicker as well. A thicker cap might limit the extraordinary range (blade angle) that the original 2011 R41 possesses.
Does anyone actually have a 2013 model in stock? If so please post the links.
- Thread starter
- #17
I wonder if I should give the R41 another try. I wonder if it might now work for me...
Tobias Fünke: “No, it never does. I mean, these people somehow delude themselves into thinking it might, but... But, it might work for us!”
Tobias Fünke: “No, it never does. I mean, these people somehow delude themselves into thinking it might, but... But, it might work for us!”
Is the EJ de89lbl the same head as the R89? I just measured my R41 cap against my EJ89 cap and the R41 is slightly smaller.
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