Weekly Razor Review

[Nicked]

Now awaiting your next journey into the unknown with a another challenging razor.So tempted to get the Roedter 1909 across to ya.

I love how "Don’t send me any bloody razors." = 'see if Errol will do it anyway"
Cheeky bugger

 

[Bladerunner7]

I love how "Don’t send me any bloody razors." = 'see if Errol will do it anyway"
Cheeky bugger

Now someone from the band of Merry Men has to trouble Sir Robin every now and then.

 

[Nicked]

Now someone from the band of Merry Men has to trouble Sir Robin every now and then.

@Errol 5 delivers later....

 

[SpeedyPC]

Now someone from the band of Merry Men has to trouble Sir Robin every now and then.

@Errol has been wearing tights for too many years, no wonder he has itchy testicles on Chinese razors

 

[Vittoria]

@Errol 5 delivers later....

@Errol has been wearing tights for too many years, no wonder he has itchy testicles on Chinese razors

Settle down girls and boys @Errol reviews are always based on his knowledge of different razors and his opinion of the reviewed razor
Its never personal and we are free to make up our own minds if we have used the razor in the review.
He writes it as he sees it.
Cheers.

 

[Bladerunner7]

Settle down girls and boys @Errol reviews are always based on his knowledge of different razors and his opinion of the reviewed razor
Its never personal and we are free to make up our own minds if we have used the razor in the review.
He writes it as he sees it.
Cheers.

Well said Mate. At the end of the day, shavers from every forum come over to read Errol's reviews before buying a Razor. As @TomG put it, we should be proud to have Him as one of our Own.

 

[Errol]

Yaqi Helmet Knight (China)



Not content to pass on just the one razor, @Bladerunner7 included two others, this, the Yaqi Helmet Knight being the second. Helmet Knight - how on earth do these companies come up with the names they burden their razors with? I cannot see any reason for them, but the Helmet Knight cap has long rectangular slots across it. It is only in the centre that these slots go completely through the cap, leaving what looks like a rectangular section visible. On the Helmet Knight there is a different style of plate to the Melon, a bit thicker with wider glide sections at the edge. For the Helmet Knight I chose a similar style handle to the Melon used last week and for no particular reason, this one is green. And you thought it was to match the Verdigris that formed on the bronze of the helmet, sorry, this razor is plated zamac.

There is an overabundance of positive blade present in the Helmet Knight, too much for me, I nicked myself during every shave while using the Personna Platinum blade, but things did improve when I switched to the easier going Muhle blade, it was certainly the better choice of blade for the Helmet Knight. Efficiency is well and truly above the Karve CB Level #D; virtually it is like what I expect shaving with a blade glued to a stick would feel. The blade glued to a stick would probably cause less blood than the Knight Helmet, at least you’d be expecting it. This aggressiveness does not translate to a close shave however, and for me the whole exercise is a complete and utter waste of time. Something milder for me, about ten steps down the aggression ladder than the Helmet Knight, leave this one for those whose skin matches that of a leather football. Thanks Bluntblade for the opportunity to sample the Yaqi Helmet Knight, but no thanks.

Blades Used – Personna Platinum and Muhle

Material – Zamac plated

Weight – 86g

Blade Tab – Exposed (on one side)

Head Width – 42.67mm

Handle Length – 90.94mm

Handle Diameter – 12.12mm

Availability – Etsy

Final Word – Blood bath special

 

[klinker]

Yaqi Helmet Knight (China)



Not content to pass on just the one razor, @Bladerunner7 included two others, this, the Yaqi Helmet Knight being the second. Helmet Knight - how on earth do these companies come up with the names they burden their razors with? I cannot see any reason for them, but the Helmet Knight cap has long rectangular slots across it. It is only in the centre that these slots go completely through the cap, leaving what looks like a rectangular section visible. On the Helmet Knight there is a different style of plate to the Melon, a bit thicker with wider glide sections at the edge. For the Helmet Knight I chose a similar style handle to the Melon used last week and for no particular reason, this one is green. And you thought it was to match the Verdigris that formed on the bronze of the helmet, sorry, this razor is plated zamac.

There is an overabundance of positive blade present in the Helmet Knight, too much for me, I nicked myself during every shave while using the Personna Platinum blade, but things did improve when I switched to the easier going Muhle blade, it was certainly the better choice of blade for the Helmet Knight. Efficiency is well and truly above the Karve CB Level #D; virtually it is like what I expect shaving with a blade glued to a stick would feel. The blade glued to a stick would probably cause less blood than the Knight Helmet, at least you’d be expecting it. This aggressiveness does not translate to a close shave however, and for me the whole exercise is a complete and utter waste of time. Something milder for me, about ten steps down the aggression ladder than the Helmet Knight, leave this one for those whose skin matches that of a leather football. Thanks Bluntblade for the opportunity to sample the Yaqi Helmet Knight, but no thanks.

Blades Used – Personna Platinum and Muhle

Material – Zamac plated

Weight – 86g

Blade Tab – Exposed (on one side)

Head Width – 42.67mm

Handle Length – 90.94mm

Handle Diameter – 12.12mm

Availability – Etsy

Final Word – Blood bath special

Sorry for your loss (of blood) @Errol. Seems that reviewing razors is not without some amount of danger. In that vain, may I suggest that in the near future you do a review of "a blade glued to a stick."

 

[Bladerunner7]

Yaqi Helmet Knight (China)



Not content to pass on just the one razor, @Bladerunner7 included two others, this, the Yaqi Helmet Knight being the second. Helmet Knight - how on earth do these companies come up with the names they burden their razors with? I cannot see any reason for them, but the Helmet Knight cap has long rectangular slots across it. It is only in the centre that these slots go completely through the cap, leaving what looks like a rectangular section visible. On the Helmet Knight there is a different style of plate to the Melon, a bit thicker with wider glide sections at the edge. For the Helmet Knight I chose a similar style handle to the Melon used last week and for no particular reason, this one is green. And you thought it was to match the Verdigris that formed on the bronze of the helmet, sorry, this razor is plated zamac.

There is an overabundance of positive blade present in the Helmet Knight, too much for me, I nicked myself during every shave while using the Personna Platinum blade, but things did improve when I switched to the easier going Muhle blade, it was certainly the better choice of blade for the Helmet Knight. Efficiency is well and truly above the Karve CB Level #D; virtually it is like what I expect shaving with a blade glued to a stick would feel. The blade glued to a stick would probably cause less blood than the Knight Helmet, at least you’d be expecting it. This aggressiveness does not translate to a close shave however, and for me the whole exercise is a complete and utter waste of time. Something milder for me, about ten steps down the aggression ladder than the Helmet Knight, leave this one for those whose skin matches that of a leather football. Thanks Bluntblade for the opportunity to sample the Yaqi Helmet Knight, but no thanks.

Blades Used – Personna Platinum and Muhle

Material – Zamac plated

Weight – 86g

Blade Tab – Exposed (on one side)

Head Width – 42.67mm

Handle Length – 90.94mm

Handle Diameter – 12.12mm

Availability – Etsy

Final Word – Blood bath special

I couldn't have said it better @Errol , blade on a stick it is. It makes the Ikon Tek seem like well behaved shaver. I do ride the cap a bit and use the razor only when I'm in the mood for an adventurous outing. Having said that, the Knight Helmet is one of the two Razors that helped perfect my technique and also got me into straight razors. For the latter I just had to leave the rest in the skillful hands of @rbscebu.

That green handle does add character to the Razor head, I have to get one of those. Good on ya Errol on taking the Knight Helmet out for a spin.

 

[lu20vt]

Tatara Amakuni (Portugal)



Advice that Tatara was about to release a SE razor raised a lot of interest among the wet shaving fraternity right around the world, it certainly grabbed my attention, not just a SE, but a two piece SE razor modelled around the Artist Club blade. In a trend that I suspect is going to increase in popularity, Tatara have joined the band of manufacturers using magnets to secure the cap. Tatara is well known for delivering a quality product so I’m hoping that they have done their homework, and the magnetic cap retention idea has been proven before the Amakuni’s release. Four small magnets are positioned in the plate and cap to facilitate the cap’s retention. These magnets are extremely thin allowing for their fitment into blind holes in what is a very thin plate and an even thinner cap. Retention of the plate to the handle is achieved by a slotted screw through the plate and into the handle. I cannot see any necessity to remove this screw, but some users must have thought it a good idea to separate the two parts and in the process have damaged the screw head. Tatara responded quickly and sent a replacement Torx screw to all purchasers, mine will probably never be fitted. Many small initiatives indicate the high level of thought that has gone into the design of this razor. Two pins are located on the top of the plate for blade positioning and retention and there is a cut out at the back corners to aid blade and cap removal. There is no weight to the cap and for something different, the ends have been extended to enclose the blade. A signature Tatara pole style handle with fading dots ensures that Amakuni handle remains instantly identifiably as a Tatara razor, plus its matte finish also assists with family recognition.

Magnets in the plate assist with positioning the blade over the locating pins and the cap then snaps into its position. These magnets are not super strong and removal of the cap is quite simple, with a gentle push on the back corner of the cap, it separates easily from the plate. For the first time ever, I’ve had a Tatara razor slip in my hand while in use, after that I must have maintained a firmer grip as it never happened again. Because the Amakuni is built out of proportion, heavyish handle and a very light head, there is no stability provided by the head so you must concentrate on where the head is positioned. At some time I will probably purchase the titanium variant; the natural grip offered by titanium should slow down any slip problem, but I think my ideal Amakuni would be a titanium handle on a stainless steel head; that would allow the lighter titanium handle to provide the grip and the additional weight of the stainless steel head to hopefully provide some extra stability. At no time while I was using the Amakuni did I feel that the magnets were not positively performing their function. However, once when I removed the cap to flush off the residue after shaving there was difficulty with its reassembly, the blade just did not want to seat properly when it was wet; dry – easy as. Tatara have set the razor up to shave below Karve CB Level #D efficiency and combined with a pleasant amount of blade feel, the shave was ever so smooth but the lack of any weight at the head meant I had to concentrate more than I normally do. If Tatara set out to produce a super lite head, they have achieved their aim, but I’m not convinced that the Tatara style of handle matches, the balance is all wrong. While I enjoyed the shave, I can’t say that I’m in any rush to use the titanium variant.

Blades Used – Schick P-30 and Feather Super Pro

Material – 316 Stainless Steel

Weight – 80.4g

Blade Tab – Enclosed

Head Width – 52.71mm

Handle Length – Approx 93.4mm

Handle Diameter – 10.97mm

Availability – Tatara

Final Word – There’s better

This razor works really well for me, it's on par with my favorite SE The Faulx

 

[Gargravarr]

This razor works really well for me, it's on par with my favorite SE The Faulx

Wow. I remember you saying you preferred La Faulx to the WR4 (but I don't remember which blade gap you have with the latter) so there's another interesting comparison.

 

[lu20vt]

Wow. I remember you saying you preferred La Faulx to the WR4 (but I don't remember which blade gap you have with the latter) so there's another interesting comparison.

It's difficult to choose the right gap in Wolfman, mine 0.5 is a bit aggressive for me. The Durdan geometry in incredible

 

[Gargravarr]

It's difficult to choose the right gap in Wolfman, mine 0.5 is a bit aggressive for me. The Durdan geometry in incredible

Now that's interesting. I've lately been switching between my Vestige with the ++ plate and the WR4 with the 0.7. The Vestige is super-comfortable, and the WR4 is perfect for when I want a very quick (and close) shave. I've come to think of the two as my Rolls-Royce and my Ferrari.

Both get me to a GBS, but I do notice a (pleasant) sting when I apply witch hazel after using the WR4, but nothing with the Vestige. If I were to use a WR4 every day, I think I'd want a 0.6 gap.

 

[Bladerunner7]

Now that's interesting. I've lately been switching between my Vestige with the ++ plate and the WR4 with the 0.7. The Vestige is super-comfortable, and the WR4 is perfect for when I want a very quick (and close) shave. I've come to think of the two as my Rolls-Royce and my Ferrari.

Both get me to a GBS, but I do notice a (pleasant) sting when I apply witch hazel after using the WR4, but nothing with the Vestige. If I were to use a WR4 every day, I think I'd want a 0.6 gap.

Now the lonely American Sabre sits and watches the world go by as the French Vestige and the Canadian Wolf battle it out for the @Gargravarr Numero Uno Pick.

 

[Gargravarr]

Now the lonely American Sabre sits and watches the world go by as the French Vestige and the Canadian Wolf battle it out for the @Gargravarr Numero Uno Pick.

I don't have to pick a Numero Uno, since I have both. But if I could only keep one, it would be the Vestige.

 

[Bladerunner7]

I don't have to pick a Numero Uno, since I have both. But if I could only keep one, it would be the Vestige.

Now the young Wolf has to join forces with the monkey Sabre as they watch the Vestige stand tall.

Good choice Bruh

 

[LesC]

Now the young Wolf has to join forces with the monkey Sabre as they watch the Vestige stand tall.

Good choice Bruh

Wolf will not join with Sabre (though Trump wants it to?) but the Vestige can’t be alone hence the French/Canadian connection? Oh the “deep” thought process for a Monday morning!!

 

[Errol]

Blade Glued to a Stick



Following last week’s review of the Yaqi Helmet Knight, that cheeky bloody @klinker put out the challenge for me to review a blade glued to a stick shave. Because you’re reading this indicates that I’m not over endowed with intelligence and decided to give it a go. There are no kids in the house so the supply of paddle pop sticks is non existent, first logical choice for a stick down the gurgler. I’ll have a whip around the house to see what I can find. In the laundry I found a wooden peg, nice flat surface but maybe a bit short, file that option away. A length of bamboo is propping up the tomato bush, right size, that’s exactly what I want, that tomato stake is now 6” shorter. Feather blades are renowned as being one of the sharpest blades in the business, that’s going to be my blade of choice; if there’s going to be blood, let’s get it over and done with quickly. With the application of some 2 part epoxy to the handle and blade, I now have my shave ready razor. When the epoxy set, I noted that the blade was not exactly sitting parallel to the handle. It’s only a little bit out, more than a whisker, I’ve got more to worry about than that, anyhow it can’t make that much difference - can it? There’s one way to find out.

I wasn’t exactly briming with enthusiasm about the encounter that lay ahead but at the same time I wasn’t particularly worried because I have some experience in this field; I once tested a half blunt knife by cutting the hair on my arm. Must be similar, surely?

Why change a shaving routine that I have been using successfully since I started shaving, so I started with an attempt at a down stroke along the jaw line in front of the right ear. That silver bevelled edge of the blade shining in the light now looks menacing and every way I try holding the razor does not look like I can achieve the result I desire. As I tried raising the razor towards what should be the top of the stroke, there was a dropout in the connection between the brain and what the right hand had to do. All of a sudden I’m trying to shave with three left hands and none of them would do what my eye could see had to be done. With the blade eventually positioned, I achieved a short stroke with about ½” of shaved whiskers. It did not take long for me to work out that the angle of the blade needed to be almost flat; that effectively ruled out the underside of the blade, the bamboo would not allow the blade to achieve the shallow angle I was seeking. Short strokes along the jaw line worked till I got to the chin and had to go around it, another challenge. Everything was opposite for the left side and just as difficult. Shaving upstrokes on the neck was easier than I expected, but under the nose – not good, should have used a GEM blade. One pass completed and to put it bluntly, it’s bloody rough. That’s enough for me, I done a second pass with a real razor and tidied everything up. There were a couple of nicks but nothing serious; even so shaving with a blade glued to a stick is out for me. I now understand why safety razors are so popular, thank you Mr Gillette.

I can thick that one off the bucket list; not that I ever remember seeing it on the list anyhow. It would be remiss of me not to warn that shaving with a blade glued to a stick is dangerous. Most readers will understand that waving a razor blade around your face can have disastrous consequences but for the brain dead, and there is an ever growing number of them: SHAVING WITH A BLADE GLUED TO A STICK IS DANGEROUS – DON’T DO IT.

Blade Used – Feather

Material – Bamboo

Weight – 4.3g

Blade Tab – Fully exposed

Head Width – 21.96mm

Handle Length – 94mm

Handle Diameter – 7.65mm

Final Word – You idiot Errol

 

[Gargravarr]

but under the nose – not good, should have used a GEM blade.

No. They have a nice edge, but the corners are scary.

Well done for taking up the challenge though...

 

[SpeedyPC]

Final Word – You idiot Errol