Chan Eil Whiskers
Fumbling about.
I have only one razor, an Above the Tie Windsor. With the R plate is is incredibly smooth and quite efficient. With the M plate it is silly smooth and reasonably efficient.
Interesting thread. It reminds me of tremendously enabling thread on another forum discussing most efficient razors with the least blade feel.
I'll admit not all blade feel feels the same. I'm not opposed to blade feel. Neither do I seek or value it. I'd rather there be none or almost none. That goes into what I think of as smoothness.
Also the post shave should be considered. I'm not down on Feather blades, but they are very able to give me a shave which feels smooth during the shave coupled with irritation or razor burn later. To me, a razor is bumped from the smooth category if the post shave isn't great.
Like many others, I'm in search of the PUHG razor. As smooth as the CM1 with the efficiency of the iKon Tech. Pegasus Unicorn Holy Grail.
To me, smooth also includes the ability to be a Daily Driver.
I'm glad to see the way way overlooked Schick Krona included in this thread. To me, the handle is too thin and too long for me to love the razor but it surely is smooth, easy to use, and efficient.
The FOCS ticks all the boxes. Daily Driver. Smooth. Efficient.
The Schick open to clean E-2 also ticks all the boxes.
So does the ATT CR1 although it's not quite as efficient as I'd like. I'm not sure yet about the SH1, but it's a damn good razor.
Plenty of other candidates have already been mentioned. To the adjustable category I'd add the Denali. The Pearl Flexi is worth mentioning maybe. I've not yet used the Rocnel Sailor but from what I've read it should be looked into. (I have one on order).
What about the Wunderbar? Very smooth and very efficient! (But, yes, it can bite.)
Today I gave the Timeless Bronze 38 a spin comparing it in my mind to recent shaves with the Windsors. Here's my little post about today's shave.
Thanks for all the interesting "contender" posts so far.
Happy shaves,
Jim