He did tell us exactly what he really thinks.Come on @Errol , don't beat around the bush, tell us what you really think!
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Weekly Razor Review
- Thread starter Errol
- Start date
alfredus
Auctioneer-in-Chief + organises many group buys
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Strong words - guess this one can be definitely crossed off the Christmas wish listMutiny Shaving R41 - Orca Edition (UK)
Keep an eye on me, I must be going green to buy a 3D printed razor processed from recycled ocean waste. I’d held back on the purchase for a while thinking that photos of the R41 made it look like it was another floppy; just what I need, a plastic floppy. In the end I decided to take the plunge and bought the thing anyhow. It’s not a hinged floppy but by its design has play in the clamp which affords the head some movement without a blade fitted, but with a blade fitted the joint does become firmer.
Mutiny’s design is unique to say the least, it’s handle is a tapered square section with well rounded corners that forks at the forward section. Each leg of the fork is recessed to clamp around a groove in the end of the blade posts. It’s quick, simple and positive but as for its life expectancy???? Being plastic, the plate is not very strong and can be twisted without too much effort, the cap is worse. While that may sound horrid, there is worse to come; with a blade fitted and fully clamped down, the blade can be rocked up and down quite noticeably between the plate and the cap. I tried this with one of my blunt photo blades in case you’re wondering. However, because the blade looks to not move much in the direction of the shave as the blade is pressed back against the edge of the cap I’m willing to put my beautiful face on the line and give it a try; maybe only once but that all depends on the first result.
As shave time drew closer, I must admit to second thinking my decision to use this contraption. Too late, first aid kit is ready, ambulance is on speed dial, but I neglected to call the hospital to warn of some idiot coming in with his throat cut. You can be sure the blade chosen for this act of stupidity was not a Feather, instead I chose a blade from the lower end of the performance scale – a Sputnik. There was some good news to came out of this experiment – no medical assistance was required. Blade flutter, I’ve never experienced anything like this before. As the blade struck each whisker, the blade could be felt pulling up, and as soon as the whisker was cut it could be felt springing back down; this is going on right across the edge of the blade; an unusual experience, I didn’t like it and didn’t feel safe continuing. No surprise here but I did not finish one pass with the Mutiny. Before any razor is offered for sale, logic has me believe that someone would have tested the razor; that does not appear to be the case with the R41, anyone with half a brain would have been able to identify the faults with this razor. This razor is shit.
Blades Used – Sputnik
Material – Recycled Ocean Waste
Weight – 16.4g
Blade Tab - Covered
Head Width – 43.18mm
Handle Length – 112mm
Availability – Mutiny Shaving
Final Word – It’s already been said
ejgowing
Member
Doing the lords work Errol, this could have been something I’d be into before reading your review.Mutiny Shaving R41 - Orca Edition (UK)
Keep an eye on me, I must be going green to buy a 3D printed razor processed from recycled ocean waste. I’d held back on the purchase for a while thinking that photos of the R41 made it look like it was another floppy; just what I need, a plastic floppy. In the end I decided to take the plunge and bought the thing anyhow. It’s not a hinged floppy but by its design has play in the clamp which affords the head some movement without a blade fitted, but with a blade fitted the joint does become firmer.
Mutiny’s design is unique to say the least, it’s handle is a tapered square section with well rounded corners that forks at the forward section. Each leg of the fork is recessed to clamp around a groove in the end of the blade posts. It’s quick, simple and positive but as for its life expectancy???? Being plastic, the plate is not very strong and can be twisted without too much effort, the cap is worse. While that may sound horrid, there is worse to come; with a blade fitted and fully clamped down, the blade can be rocked up and down quite noticeably between the plate and the cap. I tried this with one of my blunt photo blades in case you’re wondering. However, because the blade looks to not move much in the direction of the shave as the blade is pressed back against the edge of the cap I’m willing to put my beautiful face on the line and give it a try; maybe only once but that all depends on the first result.
As shave time drew closer, I must admit to second thinking my decision to use this contraption. Too late, first aid kit is ready, ambulance is on speed dial, but I neglected to call the hospital to warn of some idiot coming in with his throat cut. You can be sure the blade chosen for this act of stupidity was not a Feather, instead I chose a blade from the lower end of the performance scale – a Sputnik. There was some good news to came out of this experiment – no medical assistance was required. Blade flutter, I’ve never experienced anything like this before. As the blade struck each whisker, the blade could be felt pulling up, and as soon as the whisker was cut it could be felt springing back down; this is going on right across the edge of the blade; an unusual experience, I didn’t like it and didn’t feel safe continuing. No surprise here but I did not finish one pass with the Mutiny. Before any razor is offered for sale, logic has me believe that someone would have tested the razor; that does not appear to be the case with the R41, anyone with half a brain would have been able to identify the faults with this razor. This razor is shit.
Blades Used – Sputnik
Material – Recycled Ocean Waste
Weight – 16.4g
Blade Tab - Covered
Head Width – 43.18mm
Handle Length – 112mm
Availability – Mutiny Shaving
Final Word – It’s already been said
Bladerunner7
Member
Errol
Razor Review Guru
Everyday Shaving Stinger (USA)
If there’s something about the name of this razor that sounds familiar, it could be that this razor was machined by Brian Twilley the very man behind Charcoal Goods razors. When it comes to razors there can be many variables but the big thing that rubs me the wrong way is dual comb razors, magnets to hold the blade in place are not far behind, aluminium I can take or leave, and I’ve never had much luck with square shaped handles; the Everyday Shaving Stinger incorporates all four attributes. I bought the thing, so what the hell, might as well run an eye over it, it’s not going to cost me anymore. Two magnets approximately 6mm diameter are positioned in the bottom of the cap and another two in the top of the plate. They are super strong and thankfully Everyday has added a tab to each end of the cap for leverage, otherwise I don’t think you’d get the cap off without using a tool. Assisting with blade location are four stubby pins protruding from the top of the plate; the cap snapped into position and was held firm by the magnets. Viewing the lather channel from the top, it is not wide, but the underside of the plate has been machined out to be much wider. One side of the plate is smooth and the other side features serrations along its length but that is not the only visual difference; there is a different end profile on each side of the end plate.
I know at the introduction I nominated the handle as being square; maybe it is for a short distance but for the most part it is rectangular due to starting off thin, progressing through the square section where the razor is gripped and then tapering off towards its end. Both the top and bottom of the handle have five shallow circular cutouts in the grip area. On one side of the handle there is a machined out section that I can’t see the significance of and the name Everyday is engraved towards the end of the handle in a large font for all the world to read. Engraved on the other side of the handle is a series of hexagonal depressions representing a beehive and at the very end is a very small bee, that’s the justification for it being named the Stinger.
You’d need to be a contortionist to grip the Stinger by the top and bottom grip areas of the handle while shaving, my grip on the handle is constantly changing with each pass and direction change, no wonder I like a round handle. For the first shave and I used the safety bar edge, second shave the serrated edge; then it was time to change the blade. Unclipping the cap was a lot easier than normally expected, then I noticed that I had one long blade post on the plate and a hole in the cap. Yes, one of the magnets in the cap had dislodged during my shave. That’s it, pack the Everyday Shaving Stinger away. On the smooth side, efficiency was just on the high side of Karve CB level B with very little blade feel. If you want a close shave, you’re going to have to work for it. Over to the serrated edged side and it was a different razor, Karve CB Level D efficiency and oodles of positive blade; I’m thinking maybe a loose cap might have contributed to these results.
At the beginning of August I went to the Everyday Shaving website to check a specification and the site was down. Three days later, it’s still down and has been ever since, it looks like Everyday Shaving have folded. There goes my chance of a warranty claim. I was drawn to the Stinger by the man behind the project’s association with the mighty Charcoal Goods razors; Brian tried something different and being nice to him, the Stinger is a total disaster.
Blades Used – Sputnik
Material – Aluminium
Weight – 42.1g
Blade Tab - Covered
Head Width – 44.49mm
Handle Length – 87.52mm
Across the Flats – 10.15mm
Availability – Unknown
Final Word – A flop
If there’s something about the name of this razor that sounds familiar, it could be that this razor was machined by Brian Twilley the very man behind Charcoal Goods razors. When it comes to razors there can be many variables but the big thing that rubs me the wrong way is dual comb razors, magnets to hold the blade in place are not far behind, aluminium I can take or leave, and I’ve never had much luck with square shaped handles; the Everyday Shaving Stinger incorporates all four attributes. I bought the thing, so what the hell, might as well run an eye over it, it’s not going to cost me anymore. Two magnets approximately 6mm diameter are positioned in the bottom of the cap and another two in the top of the plate. They are super strong and thankfully Everyday has added a tab to each end of the cap for leverage, otherwise I don’t think you’d get the cap off without using a tool. Assisting with blade location are four stubby pins protruding from the top of the plate; the cap snapped into position and was held firm by the magnets. Viewing the lather channel from the top, it is not wide, but the underside of the plate has been machined out to be much wider. One side of the plate is smooth and the other side features serrations along its length but that is not the only visual difference; there is a different end profile on each side of the end plate.
I know at the introduction I nominated the handle as being square; maybe it is for a short distance but for the most part it is rectangular due to starting off thin, progressing through the square section where the razor is gripped and then tapering off towards its end. Both the top and bottom of the handle have five shallow circular cutouts in the grip area. On one side of the handle there is a machined out section that I can’t see the significance of and the name Everyday is engraved towards the end of the handle in a large font for all the world to read. Engraved on the other side of the handle is a series of hexagonal depressions representing a beehive and at the very end is a very small bee, that’s the justification for it being named the Stinger.
You’d need to be a contortionist to grip the Stinger by the top and bottom grip areas of the handle while shaving, my grip on the handle is constantly changing with each pass and direction change, no wonder I like a round handle. For the first shave and I used the safety bar edge, second shave the serrated edge; then it was time to change the blade. Unclipping the cap was a lot easier than normally expected, then I noticed that I had one long blade post on the plate and a hole in the cap. Yes, one of the magnets in the cap had dislodged during my shave. That’s it, pack the Everyday Shaving Stinger away. On the smooth side, efficiency was just on the high side of Karve CB level B with very little blade feel. If you want a close shave, you’re going to have to work for it. Over to the serrated edged side and it was a different razor, Karve CB Level D efficiency and oodles of positive blade; I’m thinking maybe a loose cap might have contributed to these results.
At the beginning of August I went to the Everyday Shaving website to check a specification and the site was down. Three days later, it’s still down and has been ever since, it looks like Everyday Shaving have folded. There goes my chance of a warranty claim. I was drawn to the Stinger by the man behind the project’s association with the mighty Charcoal Goods razors; Brian tried something different and being nice to him, the Stinger is a total disaster.
Blades Used – Sputnik
Material – Aluminium
Weight – 42.1g
Blade Tab - Covered
Head Width – 44.49mm
Handle Length – 87.52mm
Across the Flats – 10.15mm
Availability – Unknown
Final Word – A flop
Gargravarr
Our resident snake charmer
Bladerunner7
Member
@Errol, that was a detailed review and such a lovely read for a Saturday morning. The Everyday Stinger sold due to the fact that Brian's name was attached to itEveryday Shaving Stinger (USA)
If there’s something about the name of this razor that sounds familiar, it could be that this razor was machined by Brian Twilley the very man behind Charcoal Goods razors. When it comes to razors there can be many variables but the big thing that rubs me the wrong way is dual comb razors, magnets to hold the blade in place are not far behind, aluminium I can take or leave, and I’ve never had much luck with square shaped handles; the Everyday Shaving Stinger incorporates all four attributes. I bought the thing, so what the hell, might as well run an eye over it, it’s not going to cost me anymore. Two magnets approximately 6mm diameter are positioned in the bottom of the cap and another two in the top of the plate. They are super strong and thankfully Everyday has added a tab to each end of the cap for leverage, otherwise I don’t think you’d get the cap off without using a tool. Assisting with blade location are four stubby pins protruding from the top of the plate; the cap snapped into position and was held firm by the magnets. Viewing the lather channel from the top, it is not wide, but the underside of the plate has been machined out to be much wider. One side of the plate is smooth and the other side features serrations along its length but that is not the only visual difference; there is a different end profile on each side of the end plate.
I know at the introduction I nominated the handle as being square; maybe it is for a short distance but for the most part it is rectangular due to starting off thin, progressing through the square section where the razor is gripped and then tapering off towards its end. Both the top and bottom of the handle have five shallow circular cutouts in the grip area. On one side of the handle there is a machined out section that I can’t see the significance of and the name Everyday is engraved towards the end of the handle in a large font for all the world to read. Engraved on the other side of the handle is a series of hexagonal depressions representing a beehive and at the very end is a very small bee, that’s the justification for it being named the Stinger.
You’d need to be a contortionist to grip the Stinger by the top and bottom grip areas of the handle while shaving, my grip on the handle is constantly changing with each pass and direction change, no wonder I like a round handle. For the first shave and I used the safety bar edge, second shave the serrated edge; then it was time to change the blade. Unclipping the cap was a lot easier than normally expected, then I noticed that I had one long blade post on the plate and a hole in the cap. Yes, one of the magnets in the cap had dislodged during my shave. That’s it, pack the Everyday Shaving Stinger away. On the smooth side, efficiency was just on the high side of Karve CB level B with very little blade feel. If you want a close shave, you’re going to have to work for it. Over to the serrated edged side and it was a different razor, Karve CB Level D efficiency and oodles of positive blade; I’m thinking maybe a loose cap might have contributed to these results.
At the beginning of August I went to the Everyday Shaving website to check a specification and the site was down. Three days later, it’s still down and has been ever since, it looks like Everyday Shaving have folded. There goes my chance of a warranty claim. I was drawn to the Stinger by the man behind the project’s association with the mighty Charcoal Goods razors; Brian tried something different and being nice to him, the Stinger is a total disaster.
Blades Used – Sputnik
Material – Aluminium
Weight – 42.1g
Blade Tab - Covered
Head Width – 44.49mm
Handle Length – 87.52mm
Across the Flats – 10.15mm
Availability – Unknown
Final Word – A flop
Thanks to you mate I turned into a massive CG fan and really wanted to get this Razor but was on the fence due to the design, the magnets and the metal. When I did go to the site to purchase it, they had folded up and now in retrospect what a blessing in disguise that was.
stikeyoda
Member
I'll be a little contrarian. First, I am sorry for your bad experience. Mine has been solid with no manufacturing flaws. It is definitely not for everyone, but I have found a use for it. It is in my adventure "go bag" with a load of PermaSharps (which worked best for me). Sometimes, I head into the woods with no plans. That generally involves a lot of hand work, and at my age - arthritis and swelling soon result. I, too, prefer a round handle, but when the hands aren't working, a square handle is definitely easier to manipulate (finger tips only with little finger bend). I also like the two different profiles - clean up every day or skip (quite) a few and it handles it. It's not an everyday razor, but I think it's a tool with a place.Everyday Shaving Stinger (USA)
If there’s something about the name of this razor that sounds familiar, it could be that this razor was machined by Brian Twilley the very man behind Charcoal Goods razors. When it comes to razors there can be many variables but the big thing that rubs me the wrong way is dual comb razors, magnets to hold the blade in place are not far behind, aluminium I can take or leave, and I’ve never had much luck with square shaped handles; the Everyday Shaving Stinger incorporates all four attributes. I bought the thing, so what the hell, might as well run an eye over it, it’s not going to cost me anymore. Two magnets approximately 6mm diameter are positioned in the bottom of the cap and another two in the top of the plate. They are super strong and thankfully Everyday has added a tab to each end of the cap for leverage, otherwise I don’t think you’d get the cap off without using a tool. Assisting with blade location are four stubby pins protruding from the top of the plate; the cap snapped into position and was held firm by the magnets. Viewing the lather channel from the top, it is not wide, but the underside of the plate has been machined out to be much wider. One side of the plate is smooth and the other side features serrations along its length but that is not the only visual difference; there is a different end profile on each side of the end plate.
I know at the introduction I nominated the handle as being square; maybe it is for a short distance but for the most part it is rectangular due to starting off thin, progressing through the square section where the razor is gripped and then tapering off towards its end. Both the top and bottom of the handle have five shallow circular cutouts in the grip area. On one side of the handle there is a machined out section that I can’t see the significance of and the name Everyday is engraved towards the end of the handle in a large font for all the world to read. Engraved on the other side of the handle is a series of hexagonal depressions representing a beehive and at the very end is a very small bee, that’s the justification for it being named the Stinger.
You’d need to be a contortionist to grip the Stinger by the top and bottom grip areas of the handle while shaving, my grip on the handle is constantly changing with each pass and direction change, no wonder I like a round handle. For the first shave and I used the safety bar edge, second shave the serrated edge; then it was time to change the blade. Unclipping the cap was a lot easier than normally expected, then I noticed that I had one long blade post on the plate and a hole in the cap. Yes, one of the magnets in the cap had dislodged during my shave. That’s it, pack the Everyday Shaving Stinger away. On the smooth side, efficiency was just on the high side of Karve CB level B with very little blade feel. If you want a close shave, you’re going to have to work for it. Over to the serrated edged side and it was a different razor, Karve CB Level D efficiency and oodles of positive blade; I’m thinking maybe a loose cap might have contributed to these results.
At the beginning of August I went to the Everyday Shaving website to check a specification and the site was down. Three days later, it’s still down and has been ever since, it looks like Everyday Shaving have folded. There goes my chance of a warranty claim. I was drawn to the Stinger by the man behind the project’s association with the mighty Charcoal Goods razors; Brian tried something different and being nice to him, the Stinger is a total disaster.
Blades Used – Sputnik
Material – Aluminium
Weight – 42.1g
Blade Tab - Covered
Head Width – 44.49mm
Handle Length – 87.52mm
Across the Flats – 10.15mm
Availability – Unknown
Final Word – A flop
Errol
Razor Review Guru
Atelier Durdan Dwemer (France)
‘Inspired by the mythical universe of The Elder Scrolls and the ingenuity and sophisticated aesthetics of the Dwemer civilisation’, someone might understand but to me they are speaking gobbledegook. All was not well on the Dwemer front though; the company Bethesda who copywrite the name Dwemer do not authorise the use of the Dwemer name for any product. My shipping notification has the razor listed as a Dwarf razor; I purchased it as a Dwemer and it is engraved Dwemer so I will refer to it as a Dwemer and let Atelier Duran sort out any trouble. All I need to know is that this is a limited edition with eight examples, lines engraved over the plate and cap, and that it’s a razor: ah, and it’s bronze.
My flippant description above does not do justice to this piece of art and the work that has gone into its creation. Atelier Durdan own garden variety Le Maurice delivers an exceptional shave when one of the more efficient plates is fitted so why not use it as the basis for the Dwemer, and to my eye, that is exactly what has been done. But there have been changes made that make the Dwemer unique. Wherever one looks there are indicators that this is a very special razor; the ends of the cap enclose the blade but instead of just being squared off they have been given a profile and made to look like they are attached by a screw, all added to visually arouse one’s senses. There is a flat underside to the cap with round blade posts, wide but angled blades clamping flats, and the engraving over the top of the cap extends through to the blade clamping flats. It’s a standard looking plate except for the engraving that engulfs the whole plate; whether the engraving starts on the front or the back, a mug like me will never know (or care) but the pattern carries on over the ends of the plate to the opposite side. Another feature is the diamond shape machined out of the back of the plate as a recess for the handle to locate into. Now to the handle; simple in structure but it would have been a machinist’s nightmare to program; the three high point sections have diamonds machined around the perimeter and the lower sections have longitudinal lines. Weigh apparently was never a consideration when Atelier Durdan penned this razor, it weighs in at a mammoth 144g; fair enough, the other seven who share this creation may never put a blade anywhere near theirs, but I’m going to. When I say that the bronze médiéval finish is superb, I mean that it is as good as you’re ever likely to see and every bit of the razor is polished, even the underside of the cap but it should be on such a special edition razor.
I’m not normally known for worrying about using any razor; I’m usually in there boots and all, but this one had me a little concerned about damage to the médiéval bronze finish. I remembered that many users of Charcoal Goods razors used some sort of protective wax on their antique finished brass razors. A little research had me purchasing a jar of Renaissance Wax/ Polish to protect the médiéval bronze finish on the Dwemer. Simple to apply with a soft rag and it seemed to protect the finish, it looked just as good after I used it as it did before.
This razor is never going to make it as anyone’s daily driver and most Dwemer razors are destined for a life of being the centrepiece of a collection and spend their life sitting in display cabinet. Most of the eight will never be used but it would be good to know if it can deliver a very comfortable shave if ever it’s called on to do so. Karve CB Level C efficiency and more than a hint of positive blade feel led to super smooth shaves. Shaving with the Feather blade made the whole experience even more positive, it made everything just that little bit more appealing. There is no way of getting away from the weight of the Dwener, it is heavy, but that weight probably contributed to the comfortable shaves it delivered. Now that I know that I can safely call on the Dwemer for a shave if ever the need arises, it is now time for this one to be displayed as the centre piece of my Atelier Durdan collection. Expensive, but for me, money well spent.
Blades Used – Gillette Minora and Feather
Material – Bronze
Weight – 144.4g
Blade Tab – Enclosed
Head Width – 47.06mm
Handle Length – 82.54mm
Handle Diameter – 14.19mm
Availability – Atelier Durdan
Final Word – Very refined
‘Inspired by the mythical universe of The Elder Scrolls and the ingenuity and sophisticated aesthetics of the Dwemer civilisation’, someone might understand but to me they are speaking gobbledegook. All was not well on the Dwemer front though; the company Bethesda who copywrite the name Dwemer do not authorise the use of the Dwemer name for any product. My shipping notification has the razor listed as a Dwarf razor; I purchased it as a Dwemer and it is engraved Dwemer so I will refer to it as a Dwemer and let Atelier Duran sort out any trouble. All I need to know is that this is a limited edition with eight examples, lines engraved over the plate and cap, and that it’s a razor: ah, and it’s bronze.
My flippant description above does not do justice to this piece of art and the work that has gone into its creation. Atelier Durdan own garden variety Le Maurice delivers an exceptional shave when one of the more efficient plates is fitted so why not use it as the basis for the Dwemer, and to my eye, that is exactly what has been done. But there have been changes made that make the Dwemer unique. Wherever one looks there are indicators that this is a very special razor; the ends of the cap enclose the blade but instead of just being squared off they have been given a profile and made to look like they are attached by a screw, all added to visually arouse one’s senses. There is a flat underside to the cap with round blade posts, wide but angled blades clamping flats, and the engraving over the top of the cap extends through to the blade clamping flats. It’s a standard looking plate except for the engraving that engulfs the whole plate; whether the engraving starts on the front or the back, a mug like me will never know (or care) but the pattern carries on over the ends of the plate to the opposite side. Another feature is the diamond shape machined out of the back of the plate as a recess for the handle to locate into. Now to the handle; simple in structure but it would have been a machinist’s nightmare to program; the three high point sections have diamonds machined around the perimeter and the lower sections have longitudinal lines. Weigh apparently was never a consideration when Atelier Durdan penned this razor, it weighs in at a mammoth 144g; fair enough, the other seven who share this creation may never put a blade anywhere near theirs, but I’m going to. When I say that the bronze médiéval finish is superb, I mean that it is as good as you’re ever likely to see and every bit of the razor is polished, even the underside of the cap but it should be on such a special edition razor.
I’m not normally known for worrying about using any razor; I’m usually in there boots and all, but this one had me a little concerned about damage to the médiéval bronze finish. I remembered that many users of Charcoal Goods razors used some sort of protective wax on their antique finished brass razors. A little research had me purchasing a jar of Renaissance Wax/ Polish to protect the médiéval bronze finish on the Dwemer. Simple to apply with a soft rag and it seemed to protect the finish, it looked just as good after I used it as it did before.
This razor is never going to make it as anyone’s daily driver and most Dwemer razors are destined for a life of being the centrepiece of a collection and spend their life sitting in display cabinet. Most of the eight will never be used but it would be good to know if it can deliver a very comfortable shave if ever it’s called on to do so. Karve CB Level C efficiency and more than a hint of positive blade feel led to super smooth shaves. Shaving with the Feather blade made the whole experience even more positive, it made everything just that little bit more appealing. There is no way of getting away from the weight of the Dwener, it is heavy, but that weight probably contributed to the comfortable shaves it delivered. Now that I know that I can safely call on the Dwemer for a shave if ever the need arises, it is now time for this one to be displayed as the centre piece of my Atelier Durdan collection. Expensive, but for me, money well spent.
Blades Used – Gillette Minora and Feather
Material – Bronze
Weight – 144.4g
Blade Tab – Enclosed
Head Width – 47.06mm
Handle Length – 82.54mm
Handle Diameter – 14.19mm
Availability – Atelier Durdan
Final Word – Very refined
Bugger off bronzey you're too bloody heavy, start losing some bloody weight.
WTF!Atelier Durdan Dwemer (France)
‘Inspired by the mythical universe of The Elder Scrolls and the ingenuity and sophisticated aesthetics of the Dwemer civilisation’, someone might understand but to me they are speaking gobbledegook. All was not well on the Dwemer front though; the company Bethesda who copywrite the name Dwemer do not authorise the use of the Dwemer name for any product. My shipping notification has the razor listed as a Dwarf razor; I purchased it as a Dwemer and it is engraved Dwemer so I will refer to it as a Dwemer and let Atelier Duran sort out any trouble. All I need to know is that this is a limited edition with eight examples, lines engraved over the plate and cap, and that it’s a razor: ah, and it’s bronze.
My flippant description above does not do justice to this piece of art and the work that has gone into its creation. Atelier Durdan own garden variety Le Maurice delivers an exceptional shave when one of the more efficient plates is fitted so why not use it as the basis for the Dwemer, and to my eye, that is exactly what has been done. But there have been changes made that make the Dwemer unique. Wherever one looks there are indicators that this is a very special razor; the ends of the cap enclose the blade but instead of just being squared off they have been given a profile and made to look like they are attached by a screw, all added to visually arouse one’s senses. There is a flat underside to the cap with round blade posts, wide but angled blades clamping flats, and the engraving over the top of the cap extends through to the blade clamping flats. It’s a standard looking plate except for the engraving that engulfs the whole plate; whether the engraving starts on the front or the back, a mug like me will never know (or care) but the pattern carries on over the ends of the plate to the opposite side. Another feature is the diamond shape machined out of the back of the plate as a recess for the handle to locate into. Now to the handle; simple in structure but it would have been a machinist’s nightmare to program; the three high point sections have diamonds machined around the perimeter and the lower sections have longitudinal lines. Weigh apparently was never a consideration when Atelier Durdan penned this razor, it weighs in at a mammoth 144g; fair enough, the other seven who share this creation may never put a blade anywhere near theirs, but I’m going to. When I say that the bronze médiéval finish is superb, I mean that it is as good as you’re ever likely to see and every bit of the razor is polished, even the underside of the cap but it should be on such a special edition razor.
I’m not normally known for worrying about using any razor; I’m usually in there boots and all, but this one had me a little concerned about damage to the médiéval bronze finish. I remembered that many users of Charcoal Goods razors used some sort of protective wax on their antique finished brass razors. A little research had me purchasing a jar of Renaissance Wax/ Polish to protect the médiéval bronze finish on the Dwemer. Simple to apply with a soft rag and it seemed to protect the finish, it looked just as good after I used it as it did before.
This razor is never going to make it as anyone’s daily driver and most Dwemer razors are destined for a life of being the centrepiece of a collection and spend their life sitting in display cabinet. Most of the eight will never be used but it would be good to know if it can deliver a very comfortable shave if ever it’s called on to do so. Karve CB Level C efficiency and more than a hint of positive blade feel led to super smooth shaves. Shaving with the Feather blade made the whole experience even more positive, it made everything just that little bit more appealing. There is no way of getting away from the weight of the Dwener, it is heavy, but that weight probably contributed to the comfortable shaves it delivered. Now that I know that I can safely call on the Dwemer for a shave if ever the need arises, it is now time for this one to be displayed as the centre piece of my Atelier Durdan collection. Expensive, but for me, money well spent.
Blades Used – Gillette Minora and Feather
Material – Bronze
Weight – 144.4g
Blade Tab – Enclosed
Head Width – 47.06mm
Handle Length – 82.54mm
Handle Diameter – 14.19mm
Availability – Atelier Durdan
Final Word – Very refined
€1.500,00 EUR That's nearly $2,455 AUD
klinker
... seems to have LOTS of brushes
Thanks for another detailed review @Errol. The Dwemer (Dwarf) is a real beauty and would look great in anyone's collection. But at more than $1,600 USD, it probably won't end up in mine. However, it's good to know that as well as being a beautiful; collector's piece, it can also cut whiskers.Atelier Durdan Dwemer (France)
‘Inspired by the mythical universe of The Elder Scrolls and the ingenuity and sophisticated aesthetics of the Dwemer civilisation’, someone might understand but to me they are speaking gobbledegook. All was not well on the Dwemer front though; the company Bethesda who copywrite the name Dwemer do not authorise the use of the Dwemer name for any product. My shipping notification has the razor listed as a Dwarf razor; I purchased it as a Dwemer and it is engraved Dwemer so I will refer to it as a Dwemer and let Atelier Duran sort out any trouble. All I need to know is that this is a limited edition with eight examples, lines engraved over the plate and cap, and that it’s a razor: ah, and it’s bronze.
My flippant description above does not do justice to this piece of art and the work that has gone into its creation. Atelier Durdan own garden variety Le Maurice delivers an exceptional shave when one of the more efficient plates is fitted so why not use it as the basis for the Dwemer, and to my eye, that is exactly what has been done. But there have been changes made that make the Dwemer unique. Wherever one looks there are indicators that this is a very special razor; the ends of the cap enclose the blade but instead of just being squared off they have been given a profile and made to look like they are attached by a screw, all added to visually arouse one’s senses. There is a flat underside to the cap with round blade posts, wide but angled blades clamping flats, and the engraving over the top of the cap extends through to the blade clamping flats. It’s a standard looking plate except for the engraving that engulfs the whole plate; whether the engraving starts on the front or the back, a mug like me will never know (or care) but the pattern carries on over the ends of the plate to the opposite side. Another feature is the diamond shape machined out of the back of the plate as a recess for the handle to locate into. Now to the handle; simple in structure but it would have been a machinist’s nightmare to program; the three high point sections have diamonds machined around the perimeter and the lower sections have longitudinal lines. Weigh apparently was never a consideration when Atelier Durdan penned this razor, it weighs in at a mammoth 144g; fair enough, the other seven who share this creation may never put a blade anywhere near theirs, but I’m going to. When I say that the bronze médiéval finish is superb, I mean that it is as good as you’re ever likely to see and every bit of the razor is polished, even the underside of the cap but it should be on such a special edition razor.
I’m not normally known for worrying about using any razor; I’m usually in there boots and all, but this one had me a little concerned about damage to the médiéval bronze finish. I remembered that many users of Charcoal Goods razors used some sort of protective wax on their antique finished brass razors. A little research had me purchasing a jar of Renaissance Wax/ Polish to protect the médiéval bronze finish on the Dwemer. Simple to apply with a soft rag and it seemed to protect the finish, it looked just as good after I used it as it did before.
This razor is never going to make it as anyone’s daily driver and most Dwemer razors are destined for a life of being the centrepiece of a collection and spend their life sitting in display cabinet. Most of the eight will never be used but it would be good to know if it can deliver a very comfortable shave if ever it’s called on to do so. Karve CB Level C efficiency and more than a hint of positive blade feel led to super smooth shaves. Shaving with the Feather blade made the whole experience even more positive, it made everything just that little bit more appealing. There is no way of getting away from the weight of the Dwener, it is heavy, but that weight probably contributed to the comfortable shaves it delivered. Now that I know that I can safely call on the Dwemer for a shave if ever the need arises, it is now time for this one to be displayed as the centre piece of my Atelier Durdan collection. Expensive, but for me, money well spent.
Blades Used – Gillette Minora and Feather
Material – Bronze
Weight – 144.4g
Blade Tab – Enclosed
Head Width – 47.06mm
Handle Length – 82.54mm
Handle Diameter – 14.19mm
Availability – Atelier Durdan0
Final Word – Very refined
Bloody American cheapy bastard, why, Australian have to be so expensive against the American bastard.
klinker
... seems to have LOTS of brushes
Bladerunner7
Member
@Errol, it never fails to amaze me at how Artisans continue to push the boundary of engineering and design with creating Razors that look like a piece of art and yet perform superbly.
Given the price tag only a select few will own this razor but it is one exceptional tool matched by an equally exceptional review. Top stuff Mate.
Given the price tag only a select few will own this razor but it is one exceptional tool matched by an equally exceptional review. Top stuff Mate.
Errol
Razor Review Guru
Yaqi Harlequin OC (China)
Harlequin - isn’t that something to do with those colourful costumed tricksters. I just couldn’t work out if I was being set up as the clown for buying the razor, or was it the manufacturer, or the bloke who suggested I give it a try; only one way to find out. Yaqi’s Harlequin is a highly polished open comb razor that stands out from the crowd with diamonds engraved on its cap and along the length of the handle. On examination, one of those diamonds on the cap is in fact the edge of a hole with the blade post protruding through, fooled me for a till I stripped it down. Yes, the blade posts are diamond shaped protrusion that pass through the cap. Blade clamping is via wide flats on the cap that mate to the round top on the plate. Its open comb teeth are rounded and smoothly polished, so I don’t expect much feel from them. Not all is so good with the Harlequin, the thread engagement is sloppy, and that’s being nice; come on Yaqi, pay a decent operator to set your machines up. While he’s fixing thread engagement, he can back that polish machine off to give some definition to the razor’s features.
I had an inkling that the Harlequin was going to be efficient when @Bladerunner7 suggested that I try it; his preference in efficiency is always further up the aggression scale to mine. My thinking was spot on, the Harlequin’s efficiency was on the high side of Karve CB level D but not by much, however when combined with the adequate positive blade, the shave felt less than relaxed. There were no mishaps, but the Harlequin made me keep my mind on what I was doing. It was pleasing to see that the over-polished finish on the Harlequin handle did not provoke any grip issues; the diamonds engraved along the length of the handle can be thanked for that. Good looks and an efficient shave were not enough to get the Harlequin over the line; sloppy thread engagement and an over polished finish let down what could be a good razor; there are better razors available.
Blades Used – Royal II and Wizamet Polsilver
Material – Stainless steel
Weight – 104.6g
Blade Tab – Covered
Head Width – 43.03mm
Handle Length – 46.02mm
Handle Diameter – 11.95mm
Availability – AliExpress
Final Word – Another razor
Harlequin - isn’t that something to do with those colourful costumed tricksters. I just couldn’t work out if I was being set up as the clown for buying the razor, or was it the manufacturer, or the bloke who suggested I give it a try; only one way to find out. Yaqi’s Harlequin is a highly polished open comb razor that stands out from the crowd with diamonds engraved on its cap and along the length of the handle. On examination, one of those diamonds on the cap is in fact the edge of a hole with the blade post protruding through, fooled me for a till I stripped it down. Yes, the blade posts are diamond shaped protrusion that pass through the cap. Blade clamping is via wide flats on the cap that mate to the round top on the plate. Its open comb teeth are rounded and smoothly polished, so I don’t expect much feel from them. Not all is so good with the Harlequin, the thread engagement is sloppy, and that’s being nice; come on Yaqi, pay a decent operator to set your machines up. While he’s fixing thread engagement, he can back that polish machine off to give some definition to the razor’s features.
I had an inkling that the Harlequin was going to be efficient when @Bladerunner7 suggested that I try it; his preference in efficiency is always further up the aggression scale to mine. My thinking was spot on, the Harlequin’s efficiency was on the high side of Karve CB level D but not by much, however when combined with the adequate positive blade, the shave felt less than relaxed. There were no mishaps, but the Harlequin made me keep my mind on what I was doing. It was pleasing to see that the over-polished finish on the Harlequin handle did not provoke any grip issues; the diamonds engraved along the length of the handle can be thanked for that. Good looks and an efficient shave were not enough to get the Harlequin over the line; sloppy thread engagement and an over polished finish let down what could be a good razor; there are better razors available.
Blades Used – Royal II and Wizamet Polsilver
Material – Stainless steel
Weight – 104.6g
Blade Tab – Covered
Head Width – 43.03mm
Handle Length – 46.02mm
Handle Diameter – 11.95mm
Availability – AliExpress
Final Word – Another razor
klinker
... seems to have LOTS of brushes
Another thorough review @Errol. Just goes to show that looks can be deceiving.Yaqi Harlequin OC (China)
Harlequin - isn’t that something to do with those colourful costumed tricksters. I just couldn’t work out if I was being set up as the clown for buying the razor, or was it the manufacturer, or the bloke who suggested I give it a try; only one way to find out. Yaqi’s Harlequin is a highly polished open comb razor that stands out from the crowd with diamonds engraved on its cap and along the length of the handle. On examination, one of those diamonds on the cap is in fact the edge of a hole with the blade post protruding through, fooled me for a till I stripped it down. Yes, the blade posts are diamond shaped protrusion that pass through the cap. Blade clamping is via wide flats on the cap that mate to the round top on the plate. Its open comb teeth are rounded and smoothly polished, so I don’t expect much feel from them. Not all is so good with the Harlequin, the thread engagement is sloppy, and that’s being nice; come on Yaqi, pay a decent operator to set your machines up. While he’s fixing thread engagement, he can back that polish machine off to give some definition to the razor’s features.
I had an inkling that the Harlequin was going to be efficient when @Bladerunner7 suggested that I try it; his preference in efficiency is always further up the aggression scale to mine. My thinking was spot on, the Harlequin’s efficiency was on the high side of Karve CB level D but not by much, however when combined with the adequate positive blade, the shave felt less than relaxed. There were no mishaps, but the Harlequin made me keep my mind on what I was doing. It was pleasing to see that the over-polished finish on the Harlequin handle did not provoke any grip issues; the diamonds engraved along the length of the handle can be thanked for that. Good looks and an efficient shave were not enough to get the Harlequin over the line; sloppy thread engagement and an over polished finish let down what could be a good razor; there are better razors available.
Blades Used – Royal II and Wizamet Polsilver
Material – Stainless steel
Weight – 104.6g
Blade Tab – Covered
Head Width – 43.03mm
Handle Length – 46.02mm
Handle Diameter – 11.95mm
Availability – AliExpress
Final Word – Another razor