Raul S
Member
RazoRock Recurve RC100
Since time immemorial, necessity has driven people to innovate. The RazoRock Recurve range is no exception. It all began with the need to eliminate blade vibration during shaving. Having read more about this new razor roughly a year ago, my curiosity was piqued.
The manufacturer and retailers offer several variants of this 316L stainless-steel model, covering a broad spectrum in terms of aggressiveness:- RC100 — 1.00 mm gap with 0.00 mm blade exposure (0.000”) * — MILD
- RC80 — 0.80 mm gap with +0.025 mm blade exposure (+0.001”) * — MILD–MEDIUM
- RC112 — 1.12 mm gap with +0.025 mm blade exposure (+0.001”) * — MILD–MEDIUM
- RC80 PLUS “+” — 0.80 mm gap with +0.127 mm blade exposure (+0.005”) * — MEDIUM
- RC100 PLUS “+” — 1.00 mm gap with +0.102 mm blade exposure (+0.004”) * — MEDIUM–AGGRESSIVE
- RC120 PLUS “+” — 1.20 mm gap with +0.152 mm blade exposure (+0.006”) * — AGGRESSIVE
As I have rather sensitive skin, my choice came down to the RC100 (production version). Its neutral blade exposure tipped the scales in its favour. When I first encountered the packaging, it felt as though I were watching a short film in replay. In other words, they have retained the presentation. The razor head is a closed-comb design and weighs approximately 28 grams, while the edges completely cover the shaving blade, reducing the risk of accidental cuts. The “hollowed-out” 100 mm-long handle weighs approximately 76 grams, bringing the razor's total weight to around 104 grams. I am pleased that they retained the threading required to accommodate the other handles in the RazoRock range. It provides a very secure grip even when the hand is wet. On first contact, however, the combination of head and handle left me with a negative impression. The assembly felt unbalanced. I eventually became accustomed to it, although not entirely.
Both plates, together with the handle, are well made. There are no burrs, excessively sharp edges or other imperfections. The two main components screw together perfectly. One important detail deserves mention. For the blade to be properly rigidified, the head needs to be tightened firmly. Using bare hands should therefore be avoided. There are two ways of reducing the risk to virtually zero. The cheaper option involves gripping the razor head with a towel held in one hand. The other hand can then be used to turn the handle when securing the blade or unscrewing it. The second option is to purchase a dedicated holder designed by the manufacturer to make the tightening and loosening operation safer. There are some light machining marks on the contact surface of the top cap where it meets the blade, although these do not affect the uniformity of the edges — the two longitudinal edges of the head.
The head geometry is unique, stemming from the need to stiffen the shaving blade in order to reduce the vibrations generated while cutting the hairs. The chosen technical solution involves bending the blade close to the cutting edge along its entire length. The tensioned blade creates increased pressure along its full length, on both sides, thereby allowing it to be stiffened. In everyday use, the practical implication is the need to tighten the head and handle more firmly, bearing in mind the two solutions outlined above.
Another modification has been made by reducing the amount of blade reveal beyond the top cap. In other words, the top cap grips the blade closer to its cutting edge. Furthermore, the blade is secured between the plates by means of two rectangular prisms rather than the two cylindrical posts found on the Game Changer. There are noticeable differences in blade rigidity between the two razors, with the newcomer to the RazoRock family having the advantage. As for blade alignment, I can say that it is centred and perfectly aligned with the razor guard on both sides. The shaving angle is fairly intuitive, with the head geometry allowing a wider range of adjustment and use. Despite these small variations, it remains a very mild razor.
Under the heading of “Other plus points”, the RC100 offers exceptionally high manoeuvrability. It reminds me of the Atelier Durdan No. 7. The slim head makes it particularly easy to remove hairs growing beneath the nose. The evacuation of the mixture of lather and hair is also quite good — better, in fact, than on the aforementioned French razor.
Using the same shaving soap, the razor performed very gently on rather sensitive skin and a dense, somewhat coarse, two-day-old beard. Its efficiency was lower than that of the Game Changer .68. The blade selected plays an important role here. After using several blades with varying degrees of aggressiveness, the RazoRock Recurve RC100 only partially fulfilled the task. The sharper blades — such as the Gillette Nacet, Gillette Perma-Sharp, Gillette Red, Gillette Rubie and Wizamet Super-Iridium — fall into this category. I say “only partially” because, during the first pass (WTG), its mildness tends to result in insufficient hair removal, even though I found myself having to apply somewhat greater pressure. I noticed a slight improvement when using the Feather blade. During the following two passes (XTG and ATG), it performed its duties well, although the results were somewhat less convincing with the exceptionally sharp Feather blade.
When the beard has only one day's growth, the RC100 demonstrates its strengths over the two WTG and XTG passes. The blades mentioned above become reliable partners for a successful shave. If I want a third pass (ATG), I turn to the Personna GEM Platinum Diamond Glide, Schick Stainless Steel, Gillette Astra (green), and so on, but with less pressure than that applied when shaving two-day-old growth.
Although this version is less efficient than the renowned Game Changer .68, the improvement is noticeable. The blade's effective rigidity between the plates reduces vibration, making the shave more comfortable. Naturally, the neutral blade exposure also contributes to the overall comfort. Another consequence is the significantly subdued sound produced when the razor and blade are doing their job. Compared with other razors, it is almost as though it were fitted with a suppressor.
To understand any choice someone makes in everyday life, one must understand the context. Rather sensitive skin, combined with a dense and somewhat coarse beard and the need to clear it away daily, makes this razor a suitable choice for me. Add the pecuniary aspect to the equation and I am inclined to say that I have bought a Škoda in the world of double-edge razors.
I hope this review proves useful when making your purchasing decision.