Vintage Blades Rooney "Special"

[beelzulbub]

Just thought I would post some pictures (post bloom) of my coral Vintage Blades Rooney "special" 3/1 in super. From the website picture, I thought this had a solid colored handle rather than marbleized, but nonetheless, it looks pretty cool and is a nice change from the faux ivory, ebony, and horn brushes I already own.

 

[mretzloff]

I love the look of the handle. Very nice.

 

[Ashkii21]

That looks nice, I was thinking of getting that brush.

 

[beginish]

Great looking brush at a great price.

 

[Ray Zorblade]

I own that same model. I'm a face latherer...it's my favorite brush

 

[Ignatius]

I didn't realise they looked like that. Very nice.

 

[jhclare]

Looks lovely!

I have the regular 3/1 in Super. What's so "special" about the Special? Is it just the handle? Is the knot, hair etc the same as the regular?

John

 

[justice4all]

I LOVE that handle. Very nice!!!

 

[Uber Goober]

Great looking knot and a classically understated elegance in the handle, a very nice change from the traditional horn, black, faux ivory or plain ol` bright white! Great choice!!

 

[blantyre]

Beautiful! The special has to be the benchmark for a great quality brush at a fair price.

 

[Scissors]

I have the non-special in ebony, and enjoy it very much. As someone wondered said, what's difference between the regular model and the special?

 

[40boy]

Looks great!

I have been eye-ballin that brush in tortoise for months

 

[MasterP]

Other than the handle, I think it is has a loft of 48mm, the same as a 1/1.
The older 3/1s had a loft of 50mm. But the newer 3/1s seem to have a loft of 48mm. But keep in mind these measurements are average. I had a 3/1 and it had a longer loft than my 1/1. The handle is nice, but not for me.

 

[alabamalawyer]

I have way too many brushes already but each time I see that one it is a temptation to purchase one more!

 

[VintageBlades]

What's so "special" about the Special?
John

John, didn't you know that every thing that Vintage Blades sells is "special". Actually, I think the time for that designation has passed. It has started to create some confusion.

When we first stated using the "Rooney Special" designation, it referred to just two brushes....a faux ivory and a faux ebony, both in pure badger. These brushes were originally turned as Style 2's but with the unique script Rooney logo. The brushes were intended solely to be used as components for our safety razor and straight razors sets.

Then our need for them became so great that Rooney requested that we start having them made in the Style 3 Small handle shape, which they actually produce more frequently. After we made that change, we decided to offer the 3/1 Super as an upgrade on all our sets, and as a logical step to make the "Specials" available for sale as a separate item.

Next, and this is where things started to get confusing, we decided to expand the "Specials" offering. Remember, the concept was to have brushes for out sets. So, we asked Rooney to make some brushes for us to match our most popular Dovo straight razors. Those are the imitation tortoise shell, the imitation pearl or Perlex, and the red Bismarck. Only the red Bismarck did not come out as planned. For it we got what we now call the "Coral".

As you know, those new brushes, we offer in both Pure Badger and in Super Silver Tip. They all carry the "Rooney Special" designation of the website. Other than the color of the handle, these brushes are exactly the same as any other Rooney Style 3 Small. The knot diameter is the same, the density of fill is the same, the loft is the same. Yes, the pure badger brushes have a different style logo, but that is all.

So, given the number of emails and calls we have received and now that this thread had popped up, I think it is time to retire the "Rooney Special" designation. As I said at the start of this post, it had its purpose, but I think that time has passed.

 

[MasterP]

Thanks for the clarification Jim.

 

[VintageBlades]

As of this afternoon, the website has been changed and all the Rooney Style 3 Size 1's have been combined into the one category listing. The designation of "Rooney Special" has now been officially retired. However, it will take us a couple of days to remove all references to the name from the website, since as I mentioned previously, these brushes are part of every safety razor and straight razor set we sell.

Is this really the last that you will hear of the name "Rooney Special"? Well, who knows. Who ever thought you would see Brett Favre playing in Green Bay in a purple helmet!!!!!

 

[Bertilak]

I have a Rooney Super 1/1 Ivory and figured it was the last brush I needed. Well, I guess it is, but a month or so ago I broke down and got the 3/1 Coral just because I kept seeing the picture on Vintage Blades.

Hey -- I got it while it was still "special"! Makes it a collector's item! (Or was it just the pure version that was called "special"?)

I do prefer the 1/1 slightly but it is pretty darn close to a toss-up. The Coral just looks so nice! The two look great side-by-side.

 

[Bruce]

Jim,

Your doing whatever you did with the "Special" has me confuddled more than usual. I bought one hafted in "coral", use it much, and think it is just a peach of a brush, although not exactly the right color for a peach. Now if someone asks which of the Rooneys I like, I have been struck dumb. "Do you use a Rooney?"

"Yup."

"Which one is it?"

"I dunno."

"Are you dumb or something?"

"Struck so, yup."

You just don't know how this can hurt one of a voluble nature.

 

[VintageBlades]

Bruce, ever since it has been my pleasure to become associated with you, I have found you to be in a perpetual state of confusion. So, you made your mind up about that next purchase yet?? Can't wait forever ya know. Got others knocking on the door.