As the knots are identical (as far as I know) I thought it could be interesting to see if the performance is identical too of the Semogue 620 and the 1438.
OK, here we go:
I soaked the brushes while showering and then lathered up with Culmak Shaving Soap.
Loading: No difference. They pick up soap with the utmost ease.
First pass: It was very hard to tell the two brushes apart from the feel, they felt equal in backbone and prickliness.
Second pass: A blind test doesn't make any sense as the two handles are different, but I still couldn't tell them apart.
Third pass: Still no difference as such. It wasn't a feel difference, it was a small visual difference; the 620 splayed a little more than the 1438. However I won't put this down to a difference with any importance, as the 620 has been used more times than the 1438, and the setting of the knots might also be a little different and the important thing must be the feel of the brush and not how it looks when applying lather.
Fourth pass: Still no difference, not that it comes as a surprise
Data:
Result
I can't say that this result comes as a surprise, with identical knots I would expect them to perform identical - and they do.
The knot does take a bit of time to break in, but I can't help thinking that these brushes, along with the 1520 which has the same knot, would be perfect for a person new to boars.
When the knot is broken in, it loads very easy and it makes lather just as easy, no matter if it is face lathering or bowl lathering.
My personal take is; if I would like to use a modern looking brush I would choose the acrylic handled 620. If on the other hand I would like to use a brush with a classic look I would choose the 1438 - as this is the way I see them.
And just for information; I broke the 620 in by hand lathering if I didn't use it for shaving, once or twice a day for a month, and that was it. I haven't noticed any differences in use since.
The ends split quite fast but it took some time to get a good flowthrough and for it to hold enough lather for at least three passes.
OK, here we go:
I soaked the brushes while showering and then lathered up with Culmak Shaving Soap.
Loading: No difference. They pick up soap with the utmost ease.
First pass: It was very hard to tell the two brushes apart from the feel, they felt equal in backbone and prickliness.
Second pass: A blind test doesn't make any sense as the two handles are different, but I still couldn't tell them apart.
Third pass: Still no difference as such. It wasn't a feel difference, it was a small visual difference; the 620 splayed a little more than the 1438. However I won't put this down to a difference with any importance, as the 620 has been used more times than the 1438, and the setting of the knots might also be a little different and the important thing must be the feel of the brush and not how it looks when applying lather.
Fourth pass: Still no difference, not that it comes as a surprise
Data:
| 620 | 1438 | |
| Hair type | Boar, Extra 75% tops | Boar, Extra 75% tops |
| Handle | Acrylic, clear/black | Wood, painted, sand/red/black |
| Weight [gram] | 60.0 | 42.0 |
| Knot diameter [mm] | 21.8 | 21.5 |
| Loft [mm] | 50.2 | 49.9 |
| Total height [mm] | 96.8 | 98.1 |
Result
I can't say that this result comes as a surprise, with identical knots I would expect them to perform identical - and they do.
The knot does take a bit of time to break in, but I can't help thinking that these brushes, along with the 1520 which has the same knot, would be perfect for a person new to boars.
When the knot is broken in, it loads very easy and it makes lather just as easy, no matter if it is face lathering or bowl lathering.
My personal take is; if I would like to use a modern looking brush I would choose the acrylic handled 620. If on the other hand I would like to use a brush with a classic look I would choose the 1438 - as this is the way I see them.
And just for information; I broke the 620 in by hand lathering if I didn't use it for shaving, once or twice a day for a month, and that was it. I haven't noticed any differences in use since.
The ends split quite fast but it took some time to get a good flowthrough and for it to hold enough lather for at least three passes.
