Rolling the Bones

[4and20blackbirds]

Wednesday shave

Prep: Noxzema
Soap: Soap Commander Love
Brush: Simpson Astor A1
Razor: Mühle R41, #4
Blade: Astra SP, #4
Post: alum -> witch hazel

Fourth shave on the blade and two day’s growth, so took the R41 steep to see how it would perform. And it was--mostly--very good. My mustache area was too "draggy" to stay steep so I used a regular angle there, but stayed steep for the rest of it. And an easy two-pass DFS was the result, with only minimal feedback.

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Friday through Sunday morning shaves

On the road, so the usual combination of a Gillette Sensor and a can of Barbasol. It's definitely past time to change the blade on the Sensor because I got a nice patch of razor burn on Sunday morning. Shaves were a mix of DFS and CCS.

Tuesday shave

Prep: Neutrogena Razor Defense face scrub
Soap: CBL Grape Soda
Brush: Vulfix Grosvenor mixed badger/boar
Razor: Mühle R41, #5
Blade: Bolzano Superinox, #1
Post: alum -> Aqua Velva aftershave

Got home too late to shave on Monday night, so two days' growth on today's shave. Tried a Bolzano Superinox for the first time and it was OK – some tugging on the first pass, but got the job done. A total of two passes, mostly DFS with one patch of CCS, and hardly any feedback.

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Wednesday shave

Prep: PAA Ice Cube 2.0
Soap: Stirling Satsuma
Brush: Omega Mixed Midget badger/boar
Razor: Mühle R41, #6
Blade: Bolzano Superinox, #2
Post: alum -> Lucky Tiger aftershave

Two-passes for an all-around DFS. Some definite feedback from the alum, so I suspect I was using too much pressure. No dragging from the blade today, so it's fine for one day's growth.


Thursday shave

Prep: Noxzema
Soap: Southern Witchcrafts Autumn Ash
Brush: Karve two-band badger
Razor: Mühle R41, #7
Blade: Bolzano Superinox, #7
Post: alum -> Florida Water aftershave

Two steep passes for mostly DFS, with a couple of patches of CCS. Only mild feedback from the alum today.

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Friday shave

Prep: Neutrogena Razor Defense face scrub
Soap: Stirling Baker Street
Brush: Sanax badger-cased boar
Razor: Mühle R41, #8
Blade: Bolzano Superinox, #4 and banked
Post: alum -> Stirling Baker Street aftershave

Worst shave yet with the R41. Two-passes for a mostly DFS, but uncomfortable, with significant feedback and two weepers. Two reasons I suspect: my lather wasn't up to snuff and the blade was toast. I'll stick to a max of three on the Bolzano the next time I test it. And that may be the last time I try one, because I'm not impressed with them and, for the cost, there are far better blades for me.

At some point I'll go back through some of my shaves, but I'm beginning to suspect that I get mostly so-so shaves when using Stirling soaps. That's gotta be operator error given how many people love their products--perhaps my lathering style doesn't suit the formula. In any event, in spite of what seemed like an overpowering scent yesterday (the kind where, hours later, you catch it, grimace, and think, "Is it ever going to fade?"), I think I'm going to give Baker Street one more chance.

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Sunday shave

Prep: Neutrogena Razor Defense face scrub
Soap: Stirling Baker Street
Brush: Vie-Long Silvertip
Razor: Mühle R41, #9
Blade: Ladas Super Stainless, #1
Post: alum -> Stirling Baker Street aftershave

Skipped Saturday. Decided to go ahead and try Baker Street again with a new blade and brush today. And it was indeed a better shave. Two passes for majority DFS with some alum feedback, but not too bad. First use of a Ladas and it struck me as almost identical to the Bolzano, which is to say some tugging, but it got the job done. However, I'm not too impressed on this first use. As to the Baker Street, I'm going to move it on--the scent is not my favorite.

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Monday shave

Prep: Cleansing Story White Clay foam
Soap: Saponificio Bignoli Blackberry Musk
Brush: B&B Omega Boar
Razor: Mühle R41, #10
Blade: Ladas Super Stainless, #2 and banked
Post: alum -> Skin Bracer aftershave -> Cool Fix -> My Nik is Sealed

A rushed and rough shave today. Started out tugging on the first pass so I'd already made up my mind to bin the blade after this shave. Then, on the second pass, moving too fast, I slid the blade sideways while I was moving to a new position and got a weeper for my troubles. And, for good measure, got a wide patch of razor burn on my neck. And that will end my experiment with the Ladas blades. I'll move back to an Astra SP for the last shaves with this razor.

 

[thombrogan]

Please heal soon

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Thanks, @thombrogan! I’ll be back at it today.

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Wednesday shave

Prep: Noxzema
Soap: Declaration Grooming La Petite Prairie
Brush: Vulfix Grosvenor badger/boar
Razor: Mühle R41, #11
Blade: Astra SP, #1
Post: alum -> DG La Petite Prairie aftershave

Skipped yesterday to give my mug a break after Monday's shave. Still a thin scab from the weeper and some razor bumps, but it was time to shave! Back to an Astra SP: two passes and a much better shave. Some feedback on my neck, but an easy DFS on my face and a DFS/CCS mix on my neck.

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Thursday shave

Prep: Neutrogena Razor Defense face scrub
Soap: Noble Otter Northern Elixer
Brush: Simpson PJ2 in Super
Razor: Mühle R41, #12
Blade: Astra SP, #2
Post: alum -> NO Northern Elixer aftershave

A very nice shave this afternoon. Two passes and a touch-up for an all-around DFS with moderate alum feedback.

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Friday shave

Prep: Cleansing Story White Clay foam
Soap: Southern Witchcrafts Autumn Ash
Brush: Karve badger
Razor: Mühle R41, #13
Blade: Astra SP, #3
Post: alum -> Ogallala Bay Rum aftershave

Two passes for DFS face and a mix on my neck. Definite alum feedback.

Saturday shave

Prep: Noxzema
Soap: Col. Conk Lime
Brush: Simpson Astor A1 in Best
Razor: Mühle R41, #14
Blade: Astra SP, #14
Post: alum -> Suavecito Bay Rum aftershave

Two passes for a mostly DFS shave with a couple of patches of CCS. Pronounced alum feedback on this one. And that will wrap up the R41!

 

[4and20blackbirds]

A total of 14 shaves with four blades for the R41. It's a beautiful razor and I'm really glad I tried one. It wasn't as fearsome for me as it's reputation would suggest and I got a couple of really nice shaves with it and a couple of lousy ones, but it was overall pretty good. However, it wasn't routinely comfortable and I didn't find that it made up for the lack of comfort in a really efficient shave, either. And in looking at my keepers, it would be a rare occasion where I'd pick the R41 over any of them, so I'm going to move this one along to a new owner. The R41 lands at position 14, with a 6 for comfort and a 6 for efficiency.

	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	8	7
	7	Gem Junior	8	6
	8	Gillette fat handle Tech	8	5
	9	RazoRock Mamba	8	4
	10	Merkur 34C HD	8	6
Tier 2 - In Consideration
Tier 3 - Not for me	11	Timeless .95	8	6
	12 (tie)	1940s Gillette Super Speed	8	5
		1947 Gillette Aristocrat Junior	8	5
	13	iKon X3	8	6
	14	Mühle R41	6	6
	15	Gem MMOC	5	6
	16	Timeless .68	7	5
	17	Fine Superlite slant	7	4
	18	Parker 24C	7	6
	19	Karve Christopher Bradley, D Plate	6	5
	20	Karve CB, C Plate	7	5
	21	Karve CB, B Plate	7	4
	22	Maggard V2	6	4
	23	Yaqi Mellon	5	4
	24	Gillette Ball-End Tech	5	4
	25	RazoRock Mamba 70	5	3
	26	Wilkinson Sword TTO
	27	Schick Injector Type E3	3	6
	28	Fatip Open Comb Slant	3	4
	29	Standard Razors Deep Black	4	3
	30	Blackland Dart	3	3
	31	Mühle R89 Grande	3	3

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Next up is a Maggard slant head on a Maggard MR5 bamboo handle.

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Sunday shave

Prep: Cleansing Story White Clay foam
Soap: Noble Otter Hamami
Brush: Sanax badger-cased boar
Razor: Maggard's Slant, #1
Blade: Astra SP, #1
Post: alum -> NO Hamami aftershave

First use of the Maggard's Slant and it was a good shave. Two passes for DFS face and a mix of DFS and CCS on my neck. Zero blade feel, but some alum feedback.

Columbus Day shave

Prep: PAA Ice Cube 2.0
Soap: Martin de Candre Rose
Brush: Omega Mixed Midget
Razor: Maggard's Slant, #2
Blade: Astra SP, #2
Post: alum -> mix of Thayer's Witch Hazel and Gillette Cool Wave aftershave

A nice, easy shave this afternoon. Two passes for majority DFS with a couple of very small patches of CCS. I am noticing that the shape of the head can make it tough to shave cleanly under my nose if I'm not careful about it. Only minor alum feedback.

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Tuesday shave

Prep: PAA Ice Cube 2.0
Soap: Southern Witchcrafts Pomona
Brush: Edwin Jagger Silvertip
Razor: Maggard's Slant, #3
Blade: Astra SP, #3
Post: alum -> Pinaud Clubman Classic Vanilla aftershave

Two passes, DFS face and a mix on my neck. Minimal feedback from the alum. This slant seems to give a generally good shave, but there's definitely a sweet spot with the angle and I'm finding it hard to stay in that spot.

Wednesday shave

Prep: PAA Ice Cube 2.0
Soap: Stirling Island Man
Brush: Omega 10290 boar
Razor: Maggard's Slant, #4
Blade: Astra SP, #4 and banked
Post: alum -> Aqua Velva aftershave

A carbon copy of yesterday's shave: two passes, DFS face and a mix of DFS and CCS on my neck, and minimal alum feedback. Was not able to find the angle sweet spot on my neck today, which accounts for the mixed result there.

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Thursday shave (no picture--the light was too bright to take a picture at the time I was shaving)

Prep: Neutrogena Razor Defense face scrub
Soap: Martin de Candre Original
Brush: Shavemac badger
Razor: Maggard's Slant, #5
Blade: Personna Platinum, #1
Post: alum -> Stirling Bergamot Lavender splash

First use of a Personna Red and it was a rough start. Two passes, two weepers, and a mix of DFS, CCS, and SAS. Lots of feedback and irritation on my neck.

Friday shave

Prep: Cleansing Story White Clay foam
Soap: Stirling Iced Pineapple
Brush: Simpson Astor A1 in Best
Razor: Maggard's Slant, #6
Blade: Personna Platinum, #2
Post: alum -> VIBR aftershave

A better shave tonight. The usual two passes and not too much feedback. DFS on my face and a mix of CCS and SAS (mostly) on my neck. Still some definite neck irritation after, though.

 

[KeenDogg]

Oh gosh! Was that me who sold you that Slim???

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Oh gosh! Was that me who sold you that Slim???

@KeenDogg, nope, I bought that one from @Chango. I love that razor. I won/bought the Timeless from you last year. Speaking of which, good luck with the Saint Sue auction and thanks for helping to run that!

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Saturday shave

Prep: PAA Ice Cube 2.0
Soap: La Toja stick
Brush: Vulfix Grosvenor badger/boar
Razor: Maggard's Slant, #7
Blade: Dorco ST-301, #1
Post: alum -> mix of Thayer's and Skin Bracer

Decided to save the third use of the Personna Red for a different razor. It's lousy in this slant. My first use of a Dorco, on the other hand, was not bad at all. The usual two passes resulted in a 98% DFS with a small CCS area on my neck, minimal feedback, and no residual irritation.

 

[KeenDogg]

@KeenDogg, nope, I bought that one from @Chango. I love that razor. I won/bought the Timeless from you last year. Speaking of which, good luck with the Saint Sue auction and thanks for helping to run that!

Oh, right! The donated Timeless! Absolutely brother! Helping is a newfound passion of mine. Love it.