The Tradere slogan -- Where Tradition Meets Today -- appears to have a bit of a double meaning. Aside from the obvious fact that its a double edge razor sculpted from modern stainless steel, the design itself also pays credence to their slogan as it melds elements of both tradition and today -- and to spectacular results, I might add. The blending of traditional and modern designs has been going on for quite some time in home decorating, and, when done properly, yields a very appealing aesthetic effect -- just as it does with the Tradere razor. The matte finish handle, which is decidedly traditional in appearance (very reminiscent of the flared knob Gillette Aristocrat), is mated to a very modern looking highly polished cap and base section. Normally, I dont care for mixed finishes on my razors, but it works very well in this case. And speaking of cases, you actually get a hard plastic case with the Tradere. It is a bit big, but the foam inside will definitely protect your investment when you take this razor on the road.
The quality of construction appears to be top-notch with no visible machining marks on the handle, and only some very light marks to be seen on the base section. The cap appears to have been cast, as it does have quite a few marks on the underside, but the outside is basically flawless. One thing I really like is that Tradere steered away from the trend of putting the deep, heavy knurling on the handle that is getting so prominent with modern stainless razors and instead chose to do something more subtle. The razor still has plenty of secure wet grip, but they maintained the elegant and refined appearance with the less aggressive knurling pattern. All three sections fit together with absolute precision, and the blade aligns perfectly without any finagling.
But looks and build quality without performance doesnt count for much in my book, and as far performance was concerned, the Tradere did not disappoint at all. It was very easy for me to find the sweet spot on the angle, and the shave was somewhat deceptive feeling because it did a much better job of reducing my stubble than it felt like it was doing. In the end, I had the BBS shave I am accustomed to without any nicks or irritation -- and without ever feeling like I was going to filet myself. At 4.2 ounces, the razor is quite heavy, but well balanced, and I found it very easy to maneuver by holding it by the flared knob and letting all that weight keep the blade on my face. I definitely feel that this is a good razor for both the beginner and experienced shaver alike.
There are getting to be more and more choices available in modern stainless steel razors, but I feel that the combination of design, build quality, shave quality, and price point make the Tradere a very strong contender in said market.
The quality of construction appears to be top-notch with no visible machining marks on the handle, and only some very light marks to be seen on the base section. The cap appears to have been cast, as it does have quite a few marks on the underside, but the outside is basically flawless. One thing I really like is that Tradere steered away from the trend of putting the deep, heavy knurling on the handle that is getting so prominent with modern stainless razors and instead chose to do something more subtle. The razor still has plenty of secure wet grip, but they maintained the elegant and refined appearance with the less aggressive knurling pattern. All three sections fit together with absolute precision, and the blade aligns perfectly without any finagling.
But looks and build quality without performance doesnt count for much in my book, and as far performance was concerned, the Tradere did not disappoint at all. It was very easy for me to find the sweet spot on the angle, and the shave was somewhat deceptive feeling because it did a much better job of reducing my stubble than it felt like it was doing. In the end, I had the BBS shave I am accustomed to without any nicks or irritation -- and without ever feeling like I was going to filet myself. At 4.2 ounces, the razor is quite heavy, but well balanced, and I found it very easy to maneuver by holding it by the flared knob and letting all that weight keep the blade on my face. I definitely feel that this is a good razor for both the beginner and experienced shaver alike.
There are getting to be more and more choices available in modern stainless steel razors, but I feel that the combination of design, build quality, shave quality, and price point make the Tradere a very strong contender in said market.
