Razors similar to Lambda Athena or Yates Merica

[SaguaroSmart]

Greetings,

I'm wondering if people from the community could pitch in and give their opinions on what razors shave similarly to the Lambda Athena, and what razors shave similarly to the Yates Merica.

I'm just curious, I own the Lambda Athena and it is my favorite razor, I absolutely love the shaves it gives.

Have a great shave and a great day!

 

[Dark Stag]

I also own Lambda Athena and think that it's truly one of a kind!

 

[Phoenixkh]

We are all so different... It isn't an easy task. All my razors fit into the upper mild to lower medium efficiency range. The Athena is in that lower medium efficiency for me but some say, it shaves as close at their Blackbird. I don't have any Blackland razors but they are highly regarded here on B&B.

One of the razors I use a lot that gives me shaves a lot like the Athena is the Timeless Ti 0.68OC.... I recently finished up testing various base plates and caps, mixing their SS caps/base plates with their titanium caps/base plates to find the perfect balance for me. I found the complete titanium 0.68OC just a bit too light for me.. and bought a complete SS 0.68OC razor head. On their wonderful Ti Crown handle, the balance was tilted just a bit too much towards the razor head for me, hence the experimentations. I ended up with two razors whose balance suits me... One with a SS Cap and Titanium base plate... the other is the reverse: Ti Cap and SS base plate. I'm a bit fussy... sorry about that..

In any event, the Timeless 0.68OC gives me lovely shaves lasting 12 hours.. as does the Athena. Timeless razors are expensive, though if you buy from their scratch and dent section, the prices are great. I like polished razors and the Ti Crown handle doesn't ever seem to show up in the scratch and dent section.

For less expensive razors I own and love, I can recommend the Rocnel Elite Brass (should be back in stock soon) and the Good Fellas Smile Bayonetta... also a brass razor. I like the Bayonetta so much, I had it re-plated in 24K hardened gold by Chris Spencer @ Back Roads Gold... but if you hand polish the Bayonetta a few times, you can get it to shine nicely. There are threads here for both those razors so you can get a feel for them and see if you think they might be a good match for you.

 

[SaguaroSmart]

I can recommend the Rocnel Elite Brass (should be back in stock soon) and the Good Fellas Smile Bayonetta

Thank you for that. Another razor I had never heard of. I'll research the Rocnel Elite. I had heard good things about the Bayonetta and it is affordable.

At this point I'm in no rush to buy but I enjoy researching different options that could be interesting to try someday.

On another note. I just discovered a French Artisan who makes custom brushes and safety razors. Apparently on French message boards people rave about several of the razor heads he offers particularly head number #4CS which many blackbird lovers seem to really enjoy. I'm tempted to try it especially since he offers free world wide shipping for any order above 100 euros. Lots of amazing custom made brushes and razor handles as well.

If anyone is interested to check it out: Mred - Matériel de rasage fait main et de fabrication française - https://www.mred.site/

 

[Phoenixkh]

Thank you for that. Another razor I had never heard of. I'll research the Rocnel Elite. I had heard good things about the Bayonetta and it is affordable.

At this point I'm in no rush to buy but I enjoy researching different options that could be interesting to try someday.

On another note. I just discovered a French Artisan who makes custom brushes and safety razors. Apparently on French message boards people rave about several of the razor heads he offers particularly head number #4CS which many blackbird lovers seem to really enjoy. I'm tempted to try it especially since he offers free world wide shipping for any order above 100 euros. Lots of amazing custom made brushes and razor handles as well.

If anyone is interested to check it out: Mred - Matériel de rasage fait main et de fabrication française - https://www.mred.site/

He has some beautiful and unique badger brushes. I couldn't figure out the razor heads he's using on his razor offerings. He does give description but I can't relate them to anything with which I'm familiar.... but there is a nice variety of attractive handles.

 

[SaguaroSmart]

He has some beautiful and unique badger brushes. I couldn't figure out the razor heads he's using on his razor offerings. He does give description but I can't relate them to anything with which I'm familiar.... but there is a nice variety of attractive handles.

Agreed. I'm not sure what the other milder heads (1C, 1L and 1N) compare to. From what I understand the heads are probably plated brass but on French messaging boards, a lot of people who like highly efficient razors like the Blackbird seem to rate the #4CS head very highly in terms of the shave quality, it is supposed to be as efficient as the Blackbird and still smooth.

 

[Edgelord]

I don’t have a Merica, so I can’t comment on that.

I have an Athena. It is very different from any of the other razors that I have. It has barely any blade exposure. To me, the design stands on its own.

If I shave with anything like it, I will add to this thread… but, I have nothing real to offer.

I will say that I feel safe using it as a daily driver. I have a few razors that are too aggressive to do so. The Athena is probably the lower-medium aggressiveness that Phoenix describes it as being in. He is pretty right on in defining this razor. I would put in the same category as the Aylsworth Apex… except the Apex wants to hurt you, and the Athena doesn’t. You have to be much more careful with the Apex.

 

[Phoenixkh]

Agreed. I'm not sure what the other milder heads (1C, 1L and 1N) compare to. From what I understand the heads are probably plated brass but on French messaging boards, a lot of people who like highly efficient razors like the Blackbird seem to rate the #4CS head very highly in terms of the shave quality, it is supposed to be as efficient as the Blackbird and still smooth.

The description says: chrome/satin plated alloy, whatever that means.

 

[bonjing]

For me the closest to the Athena would be the Chiseled Face Legacy Ti. The Athena edges it out in comfort.

 

[SaguaroSmart]

For me the closest to the Athena would be the Chiseled Face Legacy Ti. The Athena edges it out in comfort.

Interesting I would have not expected that since the Legacy seems to have a large gap and neutral exposure while the Athena has a small gap and neutral exposure. It's strange how razors with very different specs can still be somewhat close in feel and result.

 

[DesertIguana]

Greetings,

I'm wondering if people from the community could pitch in and give their opinions on what razors shave similarly to the Lambda Athena, and what razors shave similarly to the Yates Merica.

I'm just curious, I own the Lambda Athena and it is my favorite razor, I absolutely love the shaves it gives.

Have a great shave and a great day!

So your happy with your ATHENA, why the Need for another Razor?

 

[bonjing]

So your happy with your ATHENA, why the Need for another Razor?

Says the person looking for another razor.

 

[SaguaroSmart]

So your happy with your ATHENA, why the Need for another Razor?

You do have a point haha, I'm way past the need for anything at this point. To be honest I'm in no rush to buy per say but I enjoy the hobby and learning about new razors.

 

[bonjing]

Interesting I would have not expected that since the Legacy seems to have a large gap and neutral exposure while the Athena has a small gap and neutral exposure. It's strange how razors with very different specs can still be somewhat close in feel and result.

the Athena is also the most forgiving of my razors from poor techniqu, my left hand

 

[Saloogie]

I've never shaved with the Athena, yet, but it is on the short list for a birthday present, (or possibly an Atelier Durdan La Faulx if I go SE), but I hear it has little to no blade feel, so I would put the Goodfellows' Smile Valynor in there. It to has little blade feel, and it's a very neutral razor. It gives a super comfortable shave, although with a less than sharp Feather blade in it, it isn't efficient enough for me. I tried it with less sharp blades that I normally use, like Treet Platinum, Trig Platinums and Lord's and it just wasn't aggressive enough. But with the Feather, she shaved like a dream.

Sharp blades seem to work well with mild razors.

 

[SaguaroSmart]

I've never shaved with the Athena, yet, but it is on the short list for a birthday present, (or possibly an Atelier Durdan La Faulx if I go SE), but I hear it has little to no blade feel, so I would put the Goodfellows' Smile Valynor in there. It to has little blade feel, and it's a very neutral razor. It gives a super comfortable shave, although with a less than sharp Feather blade in it, it isn't efficient enough for me. I tried it with less sharp blades that I normally use, like Treet Platinum, Trig Platinums and Lord's and it just wasn't aggressive enough. But with the Feather, she shaved like a dream.

Sharp blades seem to work well with mild razors.

Interesting. It got me researching The Goodfellas Smile and I saw they offer a couple razors with low gap and very slightly positive blade exposure: The Syntesi and the Styletto. Not sure if they actually shave anything like the 2 razors I originally mentioned. The Valynor is also close (neutral exposure) but higher gap.

Lambda with the Athena and Yates with Merica really created marvels, it's incredible how efficient these razors are for their really small gap and exposure.

 

[spacemonkey42]

I have/had both and in my experience, they are very different. The Athena is smooth, relatively mild, and very efficient. The Merica was mild and somewhat inefficient, so I sold it. Just my 2cents.

 

[4starbar]

Don’t people say that the Overlander is similar to the Athena?

 

[NotBloomingAL]

Don’t people say that the Overlander is similar to the Athena?

I use both and find the Athena a completely different animal than the Overlander. The Athena, for me, needs to be tamed a bit more.

 

[Saloogie]

I have/had both and in my experience, they are very different. The Athena is smooth, relatively mild, and very efficient. The Merica was mild and somewhat inefficient, so I sold it. Just my 2cents.

Honestly, that's the first negative I've heard about the Merica. Most reviews rave about its efficiency and comfort. They do say it's mild though.

Ohio Shaves, of YouTube fame, thinks it's the best double edge razor on the market.