Errol
Razor Review Guru
Muhle R89 – 80th Anniversary Model (Germany)
Muhle released the machined stainless steel version of their well respected R89 razor earlier this year to celebrate their 80th anniversary in the wet shaving industry. They made sure everyone knew what the release of the razor was for; it’s there, displayed proudly in large letters on the cap ’80 Years Muhle Razurkultur’ for all the world to see; being in business that long it will not do any harm to let the world know how good you are. There is not a machine mark to be seen on any surface, the underside of the cap and the centre section on the top of the plate are a satin finish and everything else highly polished. If you’ve ever used a R89 Muhle then you will know all about their 80th Anniversary; two raised bars on the plate for blade clamping, matching flats on the cap, round blade posts that protrude through the plate and a serrated edge at face contact. Muhle have drilled and plugged the handle to get the weight down to the 80+g that they have achieved. When I came back to wet shaving, it was an R89 head on a Sophist handle that was the tool of choice, this should be old home week for me.
80 years of waiting for a stainless steel version of the R89 razor might seem like an eternity, but it certainly proved to be worth waiting for. Muhle’s stainless steel R89 delivered everything I look for in a razor, my ideal efficiency level, a close and comfortable shave, smoothness, while always feeling confident in its ability to perform. Efficiency was slightly higher than the plated zinc version but still under the Karve CB level #D and there was sufficient positive blade feel to easily get the shave done. Swapping from the Minora blade to the Feather blade made little, if any difference to the stainless steel R89, it accepted the blade change in its stride. If your feel in razors is anywhere like mine, you too will enjoy the 80th Anniversary R89, another great razor.
Blades Used – Gillette Minora and Feather
Material – Stainless steel
Weight – 81.1g
Blade Tab - Exposed
Head Width – 41.45mm
Handle Length – 87.42mm
Handle Diameter – 12.53mm
Availability – Muhle
Final Word – A special celebration
Muhle released the machined stainless steel version of their well respected R89 razor earlier this year to celebrate their 80th anniversary in the wet shaving industry. They made sure everyone knew what the release of the razor was for; it’s there, displayed proudly in large letters on the cap ’80 Years Muhle Razurkultur’ for all the world to see; being in business that long it will not do any harm to let the world know how good you are. There is not a machine mark to be seen on any surface, the underside of the cap and the centre section on the top of the plate are a satin finish and everything else highly polished. If you’ve ever used a R89 Muhle then you will know all about their 80th Anniversary; two raised bars on the plate for blade clamping, matching flats on the cap, round blade posts that protrude through the plate and a serrated edge at face contact. Muhle have drilled and plugged the handle to get the weight down to the 80+g that they have achieved. When I came back to wet shaving, it was an R89 head on a Sophist handle that was the tool of choice, this should be old home week for me.
80 years of waiting for a stainless steel version of the R89 razor might seem like an eternity, but it certainly proved to be worth waiting for. Muhle’s stainless steel R89 delivered everything I look for in a razor, my ideal efficiency level, a close and comfortable shave, smoothness, while always feeling confident in its ability to perform. Efficiency was slightly higher than the plated zinc version but still under the Karve CB level #D and there was sufficient positive blade feel to easily get the shave done. Swapping from the Minora blade to the Feather blade made little, if any difference to the stainless steel R89, it accepted the blade change in its stride. If your feel in razors is anywhere like mine, you too will enjoy the 80th Anniversary R89, another great razor.
Blades Used – Gillette Minora and Feather
Material – Stainless steel
Weight – 81.1g
Blade Tab - Exposed
Head Width – 41.45mm
Handle Length – 87.42mm
Handle Diameter – 12.53mm
Availability – Muhle
Final Word – A special celebration
