stikeyoda
Member
Put my R41 to shame - and the first time I used it, my cheeks went into the emergency room (exaggeration for effect).FWIW, the Sharpologist did a review late last year on this razor and rated it a SE Muhle R41![]()
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Put my R41 to shame - and the first time I used it, my cheeks went into the emergency room (exaggeration for effect).FWIW, the Sharpologist did a review late last year on this razor and rated it a SE Muhle R41![]()
I am finding I am liking the new razors with almost flat blades (the Assassin is another one). I see more of them lately - or maybe it's the new car effect - buy one and suddenly you are seeing them everywhere.Shield DE Cerakoted (China)
I was studying the head profile of the DE Cerakoted Razor and thinking how flat the profile of the head was. It was then I noted that there will be very little curvature of the blade when everything is all clamped down, there will be some, but the blade will sit almost flat. Like every Shield razor I’ve ever used, the DE Cerakoted is well made and there is a lot to like about its quality although the thread engagement is a bit on the loose side, but it is smooth and positive. The weight of the handle is out of proportion to the head; it would have been quite easy to have drilled a 7mm hole in the end of the handle and it could have easily been 70mm deep; that would have helped balance the razor considerably. A wide diamond pattern runs most of the handle’s length and that will ensure good grip. There are no blemishes to the Cerakoted surface, and it presents in an unblemished matt black finish.
Brilliant - there is no other way to describe the shave delivered by the DE Cerakoted Shield. Marginally more than Karve CB level #C efficiency and one of the smoothest shaves you’re ever likely to enjoy; this is a razor that I would eagerly grab to use every day of the week, and continue using. Even though I appreciated the shave I would like to see the handle being lighter, not a smaller diameter, but lighter. As suggested above, a hole drilled in the end of the handle would provide the solution. My ideal Shield Cerakoted DE razor would feature a stainless steel head and with a lightened titanium handle, that would go a long way in balancing the whole package. I ended up having four shaves with the DE and the Ceracoted finish did not even begin to polish in that time. Titanium is resilient to all chemicals likely to be encountered during a shave, so the Cerakoted finish is really not there for anything other than to look good, and it certainly does that to perfection. This razor is well worth seeking out.
Blades Used – Gillette Nacet and Gillette Super Thin
Material – Titanium – black Cerakoted finish
Weight – 69.6g
Blade Tab – Slightly exposed
Head Width – 42.54mm
Handle Length – 90.10mm
Handle Diameter – 13.43mm
Availability – AliExpress
Final Word – What a great razor
Interesting heads-up.

Great (as always) unbiased review. I totally agree with your last paragraph and after being “enabled”Carbon Shaving Cx .71 Mild – 2025 (USA)
I would like it known that I appreciate Carbon Shaving razors. That, however, has not always been the case, I was one of the early buyers in the very first batch of Carbon Cx razors back in 2019. My feelings on that first Cx is that it was a reject from the second’s bin. It was sold as a premium razor; machine marks, poor thread engagement, poor polished finish and marks on the finish that required me to hand polish the razor just so I could use it. One thing that Cx did do was to deliver a bloody great shave. Every Carbon Shaving product I have used since has delivered an excellent shave and I have used all plates except for their .71(Mild) and that will change after this review. Also pleasing to see is that every Cx I have purchased since has been up to the standard I would expect of a premium razor.
What I decided to do last year was to purchase the basic Carbon Shaving Cx and check how it compared to the original, there was one notable difference to the original specification, I selected the .71(Mild) plate. Where to start, the 2025 Cx version is so different.
Two pucks of blades were included with the razor, Gillette Silver Blue and Astra Green. My garbage bin hasn’t yet turned up its nose in accepting Astra Green blades, so I’ll be using the Silver Blue for the first shave. I’m not sure what I was expecting from the .71 (Mild) plate but there was certainly nothing wrong with the result. Sure, it was on the mild side of the ledger but still very usable; I’m estimating Karve CB level #C with just a hint of blade feel. As for smoothness and comfort, you couldn’t ask for better. This basic version of the razor is very much handle heavy, but Carbon Shaving are ahead of the pack and have been producing super lightweight, composite carbon fibre handles for special models for a long time. I rate the Carbon Shaving razors with the best razors available and now that I have used every efficiency plate in their range, that estimation has not waned. It seems strange to me that here in Australia Carbon Shaving razors have not received the attention they deserve, I would have thought that there would be more than I’ve seen around. They are good.
- Polished finish – Very good, there are some machine marks under the cap, but they do not stand out
- Threads – They are not bad, but I’ve seen better so I’d give them 8.5 out of 10
- Plate – Where the original Cx plate was a regular solid affair, Carbon Shaving have made a name for themselves with their web design. Large sections of the plate have been machined out leaving enough framework to function. As an added bonus, there would be a small weight reduction.
- Handle – While the handle retains the distinctive Carbon Shaving shape, the design has been refined and given some angled leads and grooves to break up the squarish look of the original.
- Weight – There has been a slight reduction in weight, down by 5g to 87g, a commendable weight for any full stainless steel razor.
Blades Used – Gillette Silver Blue and Rapira Platinum Lux
Material – 316L Stainless Steel
Weight – 87.3g
Blade Tab – Exposed
Head Width – 40.73mm
Handle Length – 91.82mm
Handle Diameter – 12.99mm
Availability – Carbon Shaving
Final Word – A truly great razor
Top review as always Dear @Errol. The Shield Cerakoted DE does deliver in spades. Its an awesome razor.Shield DE Cerakoted (China)
I was studying the head profile of the DE Cerakoted Razor and thinking how flat the profile of the head was. It was then I noted that there will be very little curvature of the blade when everything is all clamped down, there will be some, but the blade will sit almost flat. Like every Shield razor I’ve ever used, the DE Cerakoted is well made and there is a lot to like about its quality although the thread engagement is a bit on the loose side, but it is smooth and positive. The weight of the handle is out of proportion to the head; it would have been quite easy to have drilled a 7mm hole in the end of the handle and it could have easily been 70mm deep; that would have helped balance the razor considerably. A wide diamond pattern runs most of the handle’s length and that will ensure good grip. There are no blemishes to the Cerakoted surface, and it presents in an unblemished matt black finish.
Brilliant - there is no other way to describe the shave delivered by the DE Cerakoted Shield. Marginally more than Karve CB level #C efficiency and one of the smoothest shaves you’re ever likely to enjoy; this is a razor that I would eagerly grab to use every day of the week, and continue using. Even though I appreciated the shave I would like to see the handle being lighter, not a smaller diameter, but lighter. As suggested above, a hole drilled in the end of the handle would provide the solution. My ideal Shield Cerakoted DE razor would feature a stainless steel head and with a lightened titanium handle, that would go a long way in balancing the whole package. I ended up having four shaves with the DE and the Ceracoted finish did not even begin to polish in that time. Titanium is resilient to all chemicals likely to be encountered during a shave, so the Cerakoted finish is really not there for anything other than to look good, and it certainly does that to perfection. This razor is well worth seeking out.
Blades Used – Gillette Nacet and Gillette Super Thin
Material – Titanium – black Cerakoted finish
Weight – 69.6g
Blade Tab – Slightly exposed
Head Width – 42.54mm
Handle Length – 90.10mm
Handle Diameter – 13.43mm
Availability – AliExpress
Final Word – What a great razor
Well detailed take on the carbon CX Mild. Sadly, the Carbon is one of those super popular razors that I just didn't care much for. Superb design, construction and finishing make it a premium product alright but most shavers get it wrong by believing that the ++ is the most aggressive. I had the whole shebang in the Ti once and discovered that the blade exposure is reduced when the blade gap goes up in the carbon razors. Used all plates for three months before moving the whole set on at a song.Carbon Shaving Cx .71 Mild – 2025 (USA)
I would like it known that I appreciate Carbon Shaving razors. That, however, has not always been the case, I was one of the early buyers in the very first batch of Carbon Cx razors back in 2019. My feelings on that first Cx is that it was a reject from the second’s bin. It was sold as a premium razor; machine marks, poor thread engagement, poor polished finish and marks on the finish that required me to hand polish the razor just so I could use it. One thing that Cx did do was to deliver a bloody great shave. Every Carbon Shaving product I have used since has delivered an excellent shave and I have used all plates except for their .71(Mild) and that will change after this review. Also pleasing to see is that every Cx I have purchased since has been up to the standard I would expect of a premium razor.
What I decided to do last year was to purchase the basic Carbon Shaving Cx and check how it compared to the original, there was one notable difference to the original specification, I selected the .71(Mild) plate. Where to start, the 2025 Cx version is so different.
Two pucks of blades were included with the razor, Gillette Silver Blue and Astra Green. My garbage bin hasn’t yet turned up its nose in accepting Astra Green blades, so I’ll be using the Silver Blue for the first shave. I’m not sure what I was expecting from the .71 (Mild) plate but there was certainly nothing wrong with the result. Sure, it was on the mild side of the ledger but still very usable; I’m estimating Karve CB level #C with just a hint of blade feel. As for smoothness and comfort, you couldn’t ask for better. This basic version of the razor is very much handle heavy, but Carbon Shaving are ahead of the pack and have been producing super lightweight, composite carbon fibre handles for special models for a long time. I rate the Carbon Shaving razors with the best razors available and now that I have used every efficiency plate in their range, that estimation has not waned. It seems strange to me that here in Australia Carbon Shaving razors have not received the attention they deserve, I would have thought that there would be more than I’ve seen around. They are good.
- Polished finish – Very good, there are some machine marks under the cap, but they do not stand out
- Threads – They are not bad, but I’ve seen better so I’d give them 8.5 out of 10
- Plate – Where the original Cx plate was a regular solid affair, Carbon Shaving have made a name for themselves with their web design. Large sections of the plate have been machined out leaving enough framework to function. As an added bonus, there would be a small weight reduction.
- Handle – While the handle retains the distinctive Carbon Shaving shape, the design has been refined and given some angled leads and grooves to break up the squarish look of the original.
- Weight – There has been a slight reduction in weight, down by 5g to 87g, a commendable weight for any full stainless steel razor.
Blades Used – Gillette Silver Blue and Rapira Platinum Lux
Material – 316L Stainless Steel
Weight – 87.3g
Blade Tab – Exposed
Head Width – 40.73mm
Handle Length – 91.82mm
Handle Diameter – 12.99mm
Availability – Carbon Shaving
Final Word – A truly great razor
It would be a boring old hobby if we all liked the same gear.Well detailed take on the carbon CX Mild. Sadly, the Carbon is one of those super popular razors that I just didn't care much for. Superb design, construction and finishing make it a premium product alright but most shavers get it wrong by believing that the ++ is the most aggressive. I had the whole shebang in the Ti once and discovered that the blade exposure is reduced when the blade gap goes up in the carbon razors. Used all plates for three months before moving the whole set on at a song.
While the razor regardless of blade gap was super smooth always, only the Standard base plate had decent efficiency for me. The ++ was a nightmare with me needing three passes and a ton of touch ups just to get a decent shave. This was one razor I was happy to see gone.
That is so true my friend, couldn't agree more.It would be a boring old hobby if we all liked the same gear.

That's life Tassie, you can't be a devil for the rest of your life..... Tough titties.... It's time to shave off your bloody Mohawk.then they stopped production![]()
Yes, Delta’s take on the Cuban Cigar was on my “want want don’t need” list for a Fatboy, then they stopped production![]()
Yes luv the Slim but if I had to choose between that and a Fat, mmh I think I’d go for an Executive FB as rarer.I think me too on that - all this talk of Slims made me get mine out this morning though - great shave!
Yes luv the Slim but if I had to choose between that and a Fat, mmh I think I’d go for an Executive FB as rarer.


One of my bigger shaving disappointments. Like you, I was seeing real quality and consistency in the Yaqi product line. One of my goals was to create real "scientific" blade comparisons. I have a BESS measuring device and a high-quality microscope, but I still needed a "reasonably" objective way to evaluate the actual shave. I have two identical Yates Precision Machining Winning razors and two identical Henson AL13 mediums. Shave with a reference blade in one on one side (Treet Carbon - as basic as you can get) and the tested blade in the other. Next, alternate sides for 6 days. But I noticed a difference in blade performance when using an SB, OC, and especially a slant. Also, I wanted some kind of baseline for an adjustable - because gap and exposure are coupled through the head's three-point geometry (cap, edge, and bar), moving the dial never changes gap in isolation; it alters exposure, span, and overall blade feel in tandem. I had the brilliant idea of getting the Ultima in OC, SB, and slant; then I could build a reference table on the blade's performance on each setting as well as architecture.... turns out there is no relationship (gap, exposure) at the same setting among the three. Best laid plans of mice and men..... At least they "rounded" the edges on the OC.Yaqi Ultima OC SS
I recently commented that Yaqi had turned a corner with the polished finish on their Ultima adjustable razor and that the finish was quality all the way. Their Ultima OC version must have been produced at a different place in time, because in what I have come to expect from Yaqi, the polish job has again been over-cooked, not just a little, but by one large margin. This is particularly evident on the handle, where what would have been excellent grip has been polished to a point where it is provides limited grip with dry hands. It’s also back to the Yaqi way with thread engagement; in its delivered condition the thread engagement was grabbing and not at all smooth, it required an application of oil to free everything up and then it was a loose engagement. There are no position indents or clickers on the adjuster, it rotates from position #1 through #6 and almost back to position #1. Spring loaded bottom plates provide the adjustability for the razor in the familiar Gibbs style. Other than being a two piece, adjustable, open comb razor there is very little else that can be said about the design and manufacture of the Ultima OC.
My favourite part of using any adjustable, if there is one, is deciding which setting I’m going to use first, setting #3 seemed as good a place as any. Great idea, but the family was staying and I was advised that the two young grandsons had never seen a shave, I don’t remember their father ever shaving. With the audience (including the daughter in law) in attendance I explained the blade, the razor, the soap and shaving brush and went on to demonstrate the process but never checked the setting. Bloody hell, that’s a bit severe; it was on setting #5 – well over Karve CB level #D and more positive blade than I will ever require. My audience went missing after the first pass, so I dropped down to setting #4; that was better, just over Karve CB level #D efficiency but still more than ample positive blade. Setting #3 delivered a shave just under Karve CB Level #D efficiency so somewhere between #3 and #4 would be my preferred setting, though, even there, the shave was a long way from being comfortable. Yaqi mass produce razors that appeal to many based purely on their lower pricing, defiantly not on quality or consistency. Many of their product’s results leave a lot to be desired. There are any number of far better adjustable razors available.
Blades Used – Gillette Minora and Derby Extra
- #1 – Useless
- #2 – Karve CB Level #C
- #3 – under Karve CB Level #D – not comfortable
- #4 – over Karve CB Level #D – positive blade feel
- #5 – well over Karve CB Level #D – excessive positive blade
- #6 – a weapon
Material – Stainless steel
Weight – 100g
Blade Tab – Covered
Head Width – 43.52mm
Handle Length – 79.6mm
Handle Diameter – 11.95mm
Availability – AliExpress
Final Word – Another adjustable
Have had mine for 2 weeks now. Almost perfect as an adjustable. Can easily take it totally apart - they include a tool to do it. Setting 4 feels just like a Karve C, which is my sweet spot. Setting 6 feels about like an E. I haven't gone further. I can really read the numbers and the positioning dot without my readers!!!! The case is really thought out. Haven't quite figured out the multiple angles of the cap - I get the idea, but it's not really instinctive, at least yet. 100% titanium except for the magnet on the bottom- it picks up blades but sets the razor upright on the case. I ordered all three heads - SB, OC, and hybrid - you get the each base plate, an adjustment plate for each (which is the same for all three) and a cap for each (also the same for all three). I wish it was a little heavier (57g), but the weight is mostly in the head, so it works. Lather flow is excellent. But DAMN... the OC teeth are squared off, not rounded - Grrr