Rolling the Bones

[4and20blackbirds]

Friday shave

Prep: Cleansing Story White Clay foam
Soap: Mickey Lee Grand Havana
Brush: EJ Silvertip
Razor: Karve Christopher Bradley, B plate, #1
Blade: Astra SP, #1
Post: alum -> Pinaud Clubman Reserve Brandy Spice aftershave

Interesting shave tonight. No feedback to speak of from the alum, but the Karve had more blade feel than I expected, given this plate has zero exposure according to the specs. Two passes only for DFS on my cheeks and a mix of CCS and SAS on my neck. The right side of my neck, which usually comes out better than my left, was noticeably worse for some reason.

 

[4and20blackbirds]

No more so than an R41, and much smoother.

I’ll definitely keep that in mind as I try the different plates! And I’ve still got an R41 to try at some point… Thanks!

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Saturday shave

Prep: Cleansing Story White Clay foam
Soap: NO Monarch
Brush: Vulfix Grosvenor badger/boar
Razor: Karve Christopher Bradley, B plate, #2
Blade: Astra SP, #2
Post: alum -> NO Monarch aftershave

Two passes and a touch up for mostly DFS with some swaths of CCS on my neck. Not especially comfortable and a bit of feedback from the alum.

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Catching up...

Sunday shave

Prep: PAA Ice Cube 2.0
Soap: Southern Witchcrafts Lycanthropy
Brush: SOC Mistura mixed badger/boar
Razor: Karve Christopher Bradley, B plate, #3
Blade: Astra SP, #3
Post: alum -> Suavecito Bay Rum aftershave

Finally got the Karve dialed in: two passes, DFS, comfortable, and no feedback from the alum.

Monday shave

Prep: Neutrogena Razor Defense face scrub
Soap: Southern Witchcrafts Druantia
Brush: Omega B&B boar
Razor: Karve Christopher Bradley, B plate, #3
Blade: Astra SP, #4 and banked
Post: alum -> Clubman Pinaud Reserve Whiskey Woods aftershave

Fourth use, so took it steep and it was not too shabby. Certainly comfortable, minimal feedback, and DFS face/CCS neck.

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Tuesday shave

Prep: Cleansing Story White Clay foam
Soap: Tallow + Steel Indian Bay
Brush: Simpson Astor A1 in Best
Razor: Karve Christopher Bradley, C plate, #1
Blade: Astra SP, #1
Post: alum -> TS Indian Bay aftershave

Two passes only for a borderline DFS on my face and CCS on my neck. A comfortable shave, though, and only minimal feedback from the alum.

 

[thombrogan]

The artwork in the Tallow and Steel soap and splash comes through awesomely in your photo

 

[4and20blackbirds]

The artwork in the Tallow and Steel soap and splash comes through awesomely in your photo

Thanks @thombrogan! I forced the flash because I couldn’t get the lighting correct.

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Wednesday shave

Prep: Noxzema
Soap: Wholly Kaw Man From Mayfair
Brush: Omega 10290 boar
Razor: Karve Christopher Bradley, C plate, #2
Blade: Astra SP, #2
Post: alum -> WK Man From Mayfair aftershave

Two passes for DFS on my face and mostly CCS on my neck with some small areas of DFS. Some feedback from the alum, but my lather was only so-so tonight.

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Thursday shave

Prep: Cleansing Story White Clay foam
Soap: MdC Original
Brush: Vie-Long Silvertip
Razor: Karve Christopher Bradley, C plate, #3
Blade: Astra SP, #3
Post: alum -> Stirling Bergamot Lavender aftershave splash

Same story: two passes for DFS on my face and mostly CCS on my neck with some small areas of DFS. Only light feedback from the alum. It was a really great smelling shave between the MdC and the Stirling.

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Friday shave

Prep: PAA Ice Cube 2.0
Soap: Stirling Maragitas in the Arctic
Brush: Vulfix Grosvenor badger/boar
Razor: Karve Christopher Bradley, C plate, #4
Blade: Astra SP, #4 and binned
Post: alum -> Stirling Margaritas in the Arctic aftershave splash

Went steep on this fourth use of the blade and ended up with mostly DFS on my face and mostly CCS on my neck. Zero feedback from the alum. Plate D on deck for tomorrow.

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Sunday shave

Prep: Noxzema
Soap: HTGAM The Beach
Brush: Ever-Ready F40 badger-cased boar
Razor: Karve Christopher Bradley, D plate, #1
Blade: Astra SP, #1
Post: alum -> Captain's Choice Lime aftershave

Got busy and skipped Saturday. Closest shave yet with the Karve, but also a decent amount of feedback to go along with it. Two passes for DFS everywhere but for the typical small patch of CCS on the left side of my neck.

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Monday shave

Prep: PAA Ice Cube 2.0
Soap: MdC Agrumes
Brush: Simpson PJ2 in Super
Razor: Karve Christopher Bradley, D plate, #2
Blade: Astra SP, #3
Post: alum -> supposed to be Myrsol, but I took a shower and then forgot about it

Rinse/repeat of last night: two passes for DFS everywhere but for the typical small patch of CCS on the left side of my neck.

Tuesday shave

Prep: Neutrogena Razor Defense face scrub
Soap: Southern Witchcrafts Pomona
Brush: Karve two-band badger
Razor: Karve Christopher Bradley, D plate, #3
Blade: Astra SP, #3
Post: alum -> Clubman Reserve Brandy Spice

Two passes resulting in DFS face and CCS neck with a couple of weepers for good measure. Strangely, there wasn't much feedback from the alum, though.

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Wednesday shave

Prep: Neutrogena Razor Defense face scrub
Soap: DG La Petite Prairie
Brush: Vie-Long Silvertip
Razor: Karve Christopher Bradley, D plate, #4
Blade: Astra SP, #4
Post: alum -> DG La Petite Prairie aftershave

Two passes: DFS face, CCS neck, some feedback.

Thursday shave

Prep: PAA Ice Cube 2.0
Soap: K Shave Worx Frosen
Brush: B&B Omega boar
Razor: Karve Christopher Bradley, B plate, #5
Blade: Astra SP, #1
Post: alum -> Gillette Cool Wave aftershave

Two passes resulting in DFS face and CCS neck, no feedback.

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Friday shave

Prep: Neutrogena Razor Defense face scrub
Soap: MdC Fougere
Brush: EJ Silvertip
Razor: Karve Christopher Bradley, C plate, #5
Blade: Astra SP, #2
Post: alum -> Skin Bracer aftershave

Two passes: DFS face, CCS neck, some feedback.

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Saturday shave

Prep: Noxzema
Soap: DG Yuzu Rose Patchouli
Brush: Semogue Owners Club badger
Razor: Karve Christopher Bradley, D plate, #5
Blade: Astra SP, #3
Post: alum -> DG YZP aftershave

Two passes: DFS face and DFS-/CCS on my neck.

And that's going to do it for the Karve.

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Fifteen shaves with the Karve Christopher Bradley, five on each of the B, C, and D plates. The good: this is a stunning looking razor! I really like the look of the raw brass and it feels nice in the hand, though a tad heavy for my tastes. The shaves, though, were only ever average for me and I would always reach for one of the keepers and those in consideration ahead of this one, so it's not for me. Of the plates, I prefer them in this order with comfort/efficiency ratings: D (6/5), C (7/5), and B (7/4). A very well made razor, but I just didn't click with it for whatever reason.

	Rank	Razor	Comfort	Efficiency
Tier 1 - Keepers	1	Gillette Slim	10	6
	2	Schick Type L1	10	5
	3	RazoRock German 37	9	7
	4	Fine Marvel	9	6
	5	Parker Semi-slant	9	6
	6	Yaqi Beast
	7	Gem Junior	8	6
Tier 2 - In Consideration	8	iKon X3	8	6
	9	Timeless .95	8	6
	10	RazoRock Mamba	8	4
	11 (tie)	1940s Gillette Super Speed	8	5
		1947 Gillette Aristocrat Junior	8	5
	12	Gillette fat handle Tech	8	5
	13	Merkur 34C HD	8	6
	14	Gem MMOC	5	6
Tier 3 - Not for me	15	Timeless .68	7	5
	16	Parker 24C	7	6
	17	Karve Christopher Bradley, D Plate	6	5
	18	Karve CB, C Plate	7	5
	19	Karve CB, B Plate	7	4
	20	RazoRock Mamba 70	5	3
	21	Wilkinson Sword TTO
	22	Schick Injector Type E3	3	6
	23	Fatip Open Comb Slant	3	4
	24	Mühle R89 Grande	3	3

 

[TinyT]

Fifteen shaves with the Karve Christopher Bradley, five on each of the B, C, and D plates. The good: this is a stunning looking razor! I really like the look of the raw brass and it feels nice in the hand, though a tad heavy for my tastes. The shaves, though, were only ever average for me and I would always reach for one of the keepers and those in consideration ahead of this one, so it's not for me. Of the plates, I prefer them in this order with comfort/efficiency ratings: D (6/5), C (7/5), and B (7/4). A very well made razor, but I just didn't click with it for whatever reason.

	Rank	Razor	Comfort	Efficiency
Tier 1 - Keepers	1	Gillette Slim	10	6
	2	Schick Type L1	10	5
	3	RazoRock German 37	9	7
	4	Fine Marvel	9	6
	5	Parker Semi-slant	9	6
	6	Yaqi Beast
	7	Gem Junior	8	6
Tier 2 - In Consideration	8	iKon X3	8	6
	9	Timeless .95	8	6
	10	RazoRock Mamba	8	4
	11 (tie)	1940s Gillette Super Speed	8	5
		1947 Gillette Aristocrat Junior	8	5
	12	Gillette fat handle Tech	8	5
	13	Merkur 34C HD	8	6
	14	Gem MMOC	5	6
Tier 3 - Not for me	15	Timeless .68	7	5
	16	Parker 24C	7	6
	17	Karve Christopher Bradley, D Plate	6	5
	18	Karve CB, C Plate	7	5
	19	Karve CB, B Plate	7	4
	20	RazoRock Mamba 70	5	3
	21	Wilkinson Sword TTO
	22	Schick Injector Type E3	3	6
	23	Fatip Open Comb Slant	3	4
	24	Mühle R89 Grande	3	3

The league table's taking shape.

 

[4and20blackbirds]

The league table's taking shape.

It’s definitely getting there!

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Sunday shave

Prep: PAA Ice Cube 2.0
Soap: PdP
Brush: Omega 10290
Razor: Fine Marvel
Blade: Astra SP, #4
Post: alum -> PdP balm

Two passes: DFS face and CCS on my neck. Another good example of the importance of lather. I had only average lather today and it showed in the results because I know I usually get great results with the Marvel. Speaking of that lather, I'm going to move the PdP set out of the den. I've got another tube of the balm, which is fantastic, but I haven't had much luck with the soap.

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Next up…

A Standard Razors aluminum in Deep Black. This very light razor should be interesting coming on the heels of the heavy Karve. I’m curious how I’ll get on with it because the head looks, superficially at least, very much like the Muhle R89 and I didn’t like that one at all.