Another comparison of razors in my den in part made possible by Glenn @megamac.
This time a newcomer being the Wolfman WR2 clone AX and a semi sibling being the Yaqi Sentinel, a Wolfman inspired razor.
DSCosmetics AX
I have read in various reviews that the AX is the closest clone / copy to the real WR2 - some state about 90% similar, but as far as my intelligence goes the blade exposure is nowhere near the one you have with a Wolfman with a 1.55 blade gap. The blade exposure on the real Wolfman is .40mm. I think James' take on the Tech-like WR2 is one of the most beautiful razor designs to hit the market. And just by looks this AX comes very close.
My AX (also known as Poleaxe) has a blade gap of 1.55mm and judging by the website the blade exposure is 0.06mm. This is by far the widest gap I have. The blade exposure is in my regular ball park. The razor has a wide angle to choose from and going shallow sort of neutralises the positive exposure.
The razor is all stainless steel. Three piece razor. The head weighs 35 grams and the handle I used (Razorock Barberpole) is 67 grams, so the entire razor in this comparison is about 101 grams. The blade clamping is extremely tight and is so tight that the blade is forced into position. This in itself is a good thing. However, the blade definitely needs help being released from the cap. That is fairly easy to do by the way, but it does require some effort.
The only real peeve I have with the razor is the threading on the cap. The Barberpole fits easily and smoothly whereas other handles lock at a certain point. What I really like is full blade coverage, so no side parts hanging out.
The shave is really smooth and comfortable. This can depend on the blade, but with that huge gap considering, the razor is extremely smooth. It communicates confidence to the user which is very helpful in using it. Very effective razor as well. Higher end blades, like Nacet or Gillette Platinum require some precautions, but overall it isn´t really blade picky.
Yaqi Sentinel 1.50SB
Like the AX, the Sentinel is an all stainless razor head. It also weighs 35 grams and I have fitted it with the same Barberpole handle. Blade gap is 1.50, so every so slightly less than the AX while the exposure seems to be on par. According to the website it is .05mm. The Sentinel is a very smooth shaver that feels extremely comfortable to the skin. Meanwhile it is equally effective and can bring a beard down without effort. And a proper blade of course.
(Sentinel left, AX right)
So they seem very very similar, but there are differences as well. The caps, for example, are not exchangeable as the width is different by 1mm or 2 mm. What I also think is that the Sentinel (mine at least) has been chromed, whereas the AX is polished stainless steel. The reason for my thinking is that the baseplate ring where the cap post goes through is recessed but in a way that reminds me of Zamak. See the baseplate for the AX and the post ring there is clearly CNC tight. Furthermore the AX has one lather slot on each side and the Sentinel has two.
The Sentinel baseplate is also more curved or has more roundings if that is a better description. Of course the AX has the vertical ridges on the safety bars where the Sentinel bars are completely smooth.
Finally the cap is different with the AX being both thicker and having longer blade posts on the sides. Judging by the thickness of the cap at the upper part I would say this is the second version of the cap.
Summary of results
Notes
Purely based on results there is hardly any difference if there is a difference at all. The only thing I can spot is that I have to micro facial impacts and they were both on the Yaqi side. That said I believe the Yaqi is achieving the results in an easier and smoother / more comfortable fashion. I cannot put my finger on it entirely. Just a gut feel I guess. Both razors are amazing by the way. And whether or not they are good clones or not, they can stand their own as well. In the looks department the DSC wins without question. If the Sentinel had those ridges on the safety bars this razor head would have headed my way much sooner.
These razors are excellent for when you need a quick effective shave, because you are heading to the office or just need to go somewhere and want to look good. For me personally these could also be daily drivers despite their gap and effectiveness. My stubble usually is present in the morning to such extent I need to shave. I could not imagine skipping a day that’s for sure.
The AX has the advantage that it also comes in titanium and combined with a titanium handle that might be a winning razor for sure. Both AZ and Sentinel are also available as 1.35mm (although the AX has been sold out for quite some time now for anything other than the titanium 1.35mm. The Sentinel has the additional advantage that it is also available as open comb and as skeleton baseplate. The titanium AX version might also be the second version of the head making it easier to remove the blade.
This time a newcomer being the Wolfman WR2 clone AX and a semi sibling being the Yaqi Sentinel, a Wolfman inspired razor.
DSCosmetics AX
I have read in various reviews that the AX is the closest clone / copy to the real WR2 - some state about 90% similar, but as far as my intelligence goes the blade exposure is nowhere near the one you have with a Wolfman with a 1.55 blade gap. The blade exposure on the real Wolfman is .40mm. I think James' take on the Tech-like WR2 is one of the most beautiful razor designs to hit the market. And just by looks this AX comes very close.
My AX (also known as Poleaxe) has a blade gap of 1.55mm and judging by the website the blade exposure is 0.06mm. This is by far the widest gap I have. The blade exposure is in my regular ball park. The razor has a wide angle to choose from and going shallow sort of neutralises the positive exposure.
The razor is all stainless steel. Three piece razor. The head weighs 35 grams and the handle I used (Razorock Barberpole) is 67 grams, so the entire razor in this comparison is about 101 grams. The blade clamping is extremely tight and is so tight that the blade is forced into position. This in itself is a good thing. However, the blade definitely needs help being released from the cap. That is fairly easy to do by the way, but it does require some effort.
The only real peeve I have with the razor is the threading on the cap. The Barberpole fits easily and smoothly whereas other handles lock at a certain point. What I really like is full blade coverage, so no side parts hanging out.
The shave is really smooth and comfortable. This can depend on the blade, but with that huge gap considering, the razor is extremely smooth. It communicates confidence to the user which is very helpful in using it. Very effective razor as well. Higher end blades, like Nacet or Gillette Platinum require some precautions, but overall it isn´t really blade picky.
Yaqi Sentinel 1.50SB
Like the AX, the Sentinel is an all stainless razor head. It also weighs 35 grams and I have fitted it with the same Barberpole handle. Blade gap is 1.50, so every so slightly less than the AX while the exposure seems to be on par. According to the website it is .05mm. The Sentinel is a very smooth shaver that feels extremely comfortable to the skin. Meanwhile it is equally effective and can bring a beard down without effort. And a proper blade of course.
(Sentinel left, AX right)
So they seem very very similar, but there are differences as well. The caps, for example, are not exchangeable as the width is different by 1mm or 2 mm. What I also think is that the Sentinel (mine at least) has been chromed, whereas the AX is polished stainless steel. The reason for my thinking is that the baseplate ring where the cap post goes through is recessed but in a way that reminds me of Zamak. See the baseplate for the AX and the post ring there is clearly CNC tight. Furthermore the AX has one lather slot on each side and the Sentinel has two.
The Sentinel baseplate is also more curved or has more roundings if that is a better description. Of course the AX has the vertical ridges on the safety bars where the Sentinel bars are completely smooth.
Finally the cap is different with the AX being both thicker and having longer blade posts on the sides. Judging by the thickness of the cap at the upper part I would say this is the second version of the cap.
Summary of results
| Date | Razor | Blade | Facial Impact Score | Effectiveness |
| 17.01.2025 | DSC PoleAxe AX | 7 O’Clock Yellow | 10.0 | 8.75 |
| 19.01.2025 | DSC PoleAxe AX / Yaqi Sentinel | 7 O’Clock Yellow | 10.0 | 8.75 |
| 21.01.2025 | Yaqi Sentinel | 7 O’Clock Yellow | 10.0 | 9.00 |
| 23.01.2025 | Yaqi Sentinel | 7 O’Clock Yellow | 9.75 | 8.75 |
| 24.01.2025 | DSC PoleAxe AX / Yaqi Sentinel | 7 O’Clock Yellow | 9.75 | 8.75 |
Notes
Purely based on results there is hardly any difference if there is a difference at all. The only thing I can spot is that I have to micro facial impacts and they were both on the Yaqi side. That said I believe the Yaqi is achieving the results in an easier and smoother / more comfortable fashion. I cannot put my finger on it entirely. Just a gut feel I guess. Both razors are amazing by the way. And whether or not they are good clones or not, they can stand their own as well. In the looks department the DSC wins without question. If the Sentinel had those ridges on the safety bars this razor head would have headed my way much sooner.
These razors are excellent for when you need a quick effective shave, because you are heading to the office or just need to go somewhere and want to look good. For me personally these could also be daily drivers despite their gap and effectiveness. My stubble usually is present in the morning to such extent I need to shave. I could not imagine skipping a day that’s for sure.
The AX has the advantage that it also comes in titanium and combined with a titanium handle that might be a winning razor for sure. Both AZ and Sentinel are also available as 1.35mm (although the AX has been sold out for quite some time now for anything other than the titanium 1.35mm. The Sentinel has the additional advantage that it is also available as open comb and as skeleton baseplate. The titanium AX version might also be the second version of the head making it easier to remove the blade.
