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SOC Finest or Zenith Manchurian 25/26mm?

SOC Finest or Zenith Manchurian 25/26mm?


  • Total voters
    17
I've got the Semogue SOC Finest and Mistura with cherry handles. They're really nice. You don't see a lot of wood handles these days.

Nothing wrong with the Zenith, I just like the SOC quite a lot.
Much obliged! Have you used the Zenith brush as well?

Got a preference between the finest and Mistura SOCs?
 
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me! Sorry if you got a bum knot! Other than the lacking lather quality, what else don’t you like about the knot? Too much backbone, too floppy? Or just the lather issues?
yes, whatever I try, I get a subpar shave because the lather isn't as good as it could be, most noticeable in 2nd and 3rd passes, no matter how I apply it, it will not be as good as other brushes and I get irritation.
 
Think the thing is with the "S Brand", more retailers, more competition , maybe better pricing.

Think the thing is with the "Z Brand", less retailers, less competition , maybe not as good pricing.
 
I guess I am too late to answer your question, then! The SOC Finest is a great brush, so you made a good choice, IMHO.
Feel free to share if you’ve used the Zenith as well! 😃 And/or more on your experiences with the different SOC knots! Might help someone else in the future! And me decide if a zenith should in fact find its way to the den!

Thanks! 🤙
 

Phoenixkh

I shaved a fortune
JL, I missed this thread... my deepest apologies... It seems you've made an excellent choice.....

I love my Zenith Manchurian copper 506 handle (as mentioned, it is shorter and might not suit everyone... as you already noted, they make many handles from which to choose).

I have the Pegasus Mistura and love it... That's another option.....

I found out yesterday, Rudy Vey can provide a 24mm badger knot and handle at the $100 price point. I contacted him via PM to see if that was something he could provide. In the future, if you are looking to add another brush, feel free to contact him here via PM and see what he has to offer in that price range. He's done some beautiful work for me, from custom complete brushes, re-knotting a few favorite handles with knots that didn't work for me...custom handles to fit the knots crafted by others, etc., etc..

Edit: Next time you have a question you think I might be able to answer... Please feel free to PM me. I'll be happy to contribute what I can and at least communicate my own experiences, limited though they are. ;)
 
JL, I missed this thread... my deepest apologies... It seems you've made an excellent choice.....
Kim, no apologies necessary my friend! Thank you for chiming in!

The butterscotch SOC is a handle that has beckoned me since the first time I saw it! Finally pulled the trigger on it!
I love my Zenith Manchurian copper 506 handle (as mentioned, it is shorter and might not suit everyone... as you already noted, they make many handles from which to choose).
Your’s and others reviews is the reason a Zenith Manchurian is on my list to try at some point!

Is your 506 one of the 25/26mm Zenith offerings? I briefly owned a 29mm Oumo brush and while it was a great brush, I quickly learned it was much too large for my preferences! Iirc, you tend to lean more towards the larger diameter knots?
I have the Pegasus Mistura and love it... That's another option.....
I almost went with the Pegasus!
I found out yesterday, Rudy Vey can provide a 24mm badger knot and handle at the $100 price point. I contacted him via PM to see if that was something he could provide. In the future, if you are looking to add another brush, feel free to contact him here via PM and see what he has to offer in that price range. He's done some beautiful work for me, from custom complete brushes, re-knotting a few favorite handles with knots that didn't work for me...custom handles to fit the knots crafted by others, etc., etc..
Rudy is the best! Of the 6 brushes I currently own, half of them are from Mr. Vey! His Persian Jar handle is one of my favorites! I know I will own more from him in the future!
Edit: Next time you have a question you think I might be able to answer... Please feel free to PM me. I'll be happy to contribute what I can and at least communicate my own experiences, limited though they are. ;)
Duh 🤦‍♂️ I should have known better lol. Much obliged sir!
 

Phoenixkh

I shaved a fortune
Kim, no apologies necessary my friend! Thank you for chiming in!

The butterscotch SOC is a handle that has beckoned me since the first time I saw it! Finally pulled the trigger on it!

Your’s and others reviews is the reason a Zenith Manchurian is on my list to try at some point!

Is your 506 one of the 25/26mm Zenith offerings? I briefly owned a 29mm Oumo brush and while it was a great brush, I quickly learned it was much too large for my preferences! Iirc, you tend to lean more towards the larger diameter knots?

I almost went with the Pegasus!

Rudy is the best! Of the 6 brushes I currently own, half of them are from Mr. Vey! His Persian Jar handle is one of my favorites! I know I will own more from him in the future!

Duh 🤦‍♂️ I should have known better lol. Much obliged sir!
The Zenith Manchurian badger I have is stated to be 27.5mm, I believe at The Gentle Shave site or his eBay site of the same name.

I’ve only had the SOC Misturas and boars in Butterscotch and Taj. The Misturas are great brushes but I do prefer 26mm and up brushes. The Pegasus Mistura fits the bill.

I’ve looked long and hard for the faux semi-precious Zenith handle Manchurian brushes, but the places that stock the ones in which I’m interested don’t ship to the States. I’ve moved on and am set for brushes now. I might by a companion “female” brush from Rudy as a “wife” for the Two-tone brush I love. Same 28mm ShaveMac Two-band Silvertip knot, but a bit shorter and thinner at the waist. <eg>

Other than that, I don’t have any brushes on my radar.
 
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