There won’t be a bronze one.Oof.At €230 for the most basic finish, that was an expensive mistake.
I‘ve purchased every razor, bar one that I’ve reviewed, that is why I can tell the story as I see it. I’m not relying on a bullshit story to rely on my next razor for review.
The Italian Barber just last week reintroduced a small batch of Wunderbars.RazoRock Wunderbar (Canada)
My Wunderbar is not from the original batch, it was acquired sometime later, but to the best of my knowledge there is no differences between the batches. When RazoRock developed their Wunderbar slant, they designed it to have a massive amount of blade twist; the head is screwed to apply even more torque to the blade, offsetting the angle of the head to the horizontal, a true slant. No movement of the blade is possible because it is fully clamped between the tight radius on the top plate and the cap. One wide lather groove in each side of the plate ensures that lather is not going to clog up anything. There are many similarities in appearances between the head on the Wunderbar and the Ikon B1 slant however the Wunderbar lacks the roll over comb of the Ikon. Attaching a Super Knurl handle completed the build on the razor. It’s an interesting finish on the Wunderbar, more like a half-hearted attempt at a polish than anything else.
Loading the blade into the Wunderbar was a simple action but screwing the handle down required a couple of extra twists to clamp everything up tight, there is a lot of twisting action applied to the blade. It's a while since I sampled a slant and if they were all as good as the Wunderbar, why would you want to shave with anything else. With its Karve CB Level #C efficiency, smooth cutting action and a small amount of positive blade protrusion, the Wunderbar delivered a magnificent shave. It’s the guillotine cutting action of the true slant that demonstrated just how efficient a razor can be. This razor deserves all the accolades that have been given to it over the years, very enjoyable.
Blades Used – Gillette Super Stainless White and Glatz
Material – 316 Stainless steel
Blade Tab - Covered
Weight – 103.9g
Head Width – 43mm
Handle Length – 90mm
Handle Diameter – 12.69mm
Availability – Italian Barber
Final Word – Thumbs up
Nice to see the Wunderbar reviewed by guru @Errol as its a solid performer.RazoRock Wunderbar (Canada)
My Wunderbar is not from the original batch, it was acquired sometime later, but to the best of my knowledge there is no differences between the batches. When RazoRock developed their Wunderbar slant, they designed it to have a massive amount of blade twist; the head is screwed to apply even more torque to the blade, offsetting the angle of the head to the horizontal, a true slant. No movement of the blade is possible because it is fully clamped between the tight radius on the top plate and the cap. One wide lather groove in each side of the plate ensures that lather is not going to clog up anything. There are many similarities in appearances between the head on the Wunderbar and the Ikon B1 slant however the Wunderbar lacks the roll over comb of the Ikon. Attaching a Super Knurl handle completed the build on the razor. It’s an interesting finish on the Wunderbar, more like a half-hearted attempt at a polish than anything else.
Loading the blade into the Wunderbar was a simple action but screwing the handle down required a couple of extra twists to clamp everything up tight, there is a lot of twisting action applied to the blade. It's a while since I sampled a slant and if they were all as good as the Wunderbar, why would you want to shave with anything else. With its Karve CB Level #C efficiency, smooth cutting action and a small amount of positive blade protrusion, the Wunderbar delivered a magnificent shave. It’s the guillotine cutting action of the true slant that demonstrated just how efficient a razor can be. This razor deserves all the accolades that have been given to it over the years, very enjoyable.
Blades Used – Gillette Super Stainless White and Glatz
Material – 316 Stainless steel
Blade Tab - Covered
Weight – 103.9g
Head Width – 43mm
Handle Length – 90mm
Handle Diameter – 12.69mm
Availability – Italian Barber
Final Word – Thumbs up
Yup. There are so many razors out there that should include the phrase "A dud!" in their marketing. It would save us all so much trouble and money. But then it would leave @Errol with way too much time on his hands.
But a fuller wallet
How many times do I have to keep on telling you @Errol, it's just another bloody razor.
I bought this one many years ago (2016). I don't recall if it was from the first run or there was a second run but I always thought that there was some small variation at some point but I could never find a trace of it so I think you may have solved a long niggling mystery for me that I have for years. In terms of your review you are concise and accurate as usual. I agree with you. The Wunderbar is an excellent slant razor. It can bite if you aren't careful or are intimidated by it but that can happen with many razors. I shaved with mine quite recently actually and felt that the shave longevity was pretty good too.RazoRock Wunderbar (Canada)
My Wunderbar is not from the original batch, it was acquired sometime later, but to the best of my knowledge there is no differences between the batches. When RazoRock developed their Wunderbar slant, they designed it to have a massive amount of blade twist; the head is screwed to apply even more torque to the blade, offsetting the angle of the head to the horizontal, a true slant. No movement of the blade is possible because it is fully clamped between the tight radius on the top plate and the cap. One wide lather groove in each side of the plate ensures that lather is not going to clog up anything. There are many similarities in appearances between the head on the Wunderbar and the Ikon B1 slant however the Wunderbar lacks the roll over comb of the Ikon. Attaching a Super Knurl handle completed the build on the razor. It’s an interesting finish on the Wunderbar, more like a half-hearted attempt at a polish than anything else.
Loading the blade into the Wunderbar was a simple action but screwing the handle down required a couple of extra twists to clamp everything up tight, there is a lot of twisting action applied to the blade. It's a while since I sampled a slant and if they were all as good as the Wunderbar, why would you want to shave with anything else. With its Karve CB Level #C efficiency, smooth cutting action and a small amount of positive blade protrusion, the Wunderbar delivered a magnificent shave. It’s the guillotine cutting action of the true slant that demonstrated just how efficient a razor can be. This razor deserves all the accolades that have been given to it over the years, very enjoyable.
Blades Used – Gillette Super Stainless White and Glatz
Material – 316 Stainless steel
Blade Tab - Covered
Weight – 103.9g
Head Width – 43mm
Handle Length – 90mm
Handle Diameter – 12.69mm
Availability – Italian Barber
Final Word – Thumbs up
Actually there were some slight variations along the way -- and I studied this carefully back in the day. In later versions the long edge of the blade was closer to parallel with the long edge of the topcap. But I'm embarrassed to admit that I don't know if this made for more or less twist in the blade.
Thank you for adding some clarity to this. I always remembered there being something about it that had changed and for the life of me I could not find any details on it anymore. I have a vague recollection that the first models were a bit more unforgiving than the later ones. I do not know which category mine falls into only that it did bite me once and I never really forgot about it haha. Thankfully time heals all wounds and I was more recently able to rekindle my love for this razor. It's certainly an interesting shaver with quite the twist.
Another great blast from the past @Errol. I have an old silver plate version, which still gets occasional use.Hoffritz Slant Safety (Germany)
Hoffritz slant razors were made in Germany but were sold almost exclusively to the US market. Hoffritz razors are in fact rebranded Mercur razors, but the Hoffritz is acknowledged as having has superior plating to the doner product. There must have been thousands of Hoffritz Slant razors sold because at just about any time, a pristine example can be purchased for a reasonable outlay. It’s an older style razor with a longer than what we now call ‘normal’ handle post, complete with a knurled knob on the end of the handle to secure all parts together. The design of the head ensures that there is visible twisting of the blade. Adding to it credentials is that the blade is clamped on flats between the outer edge of the cap and a mating flat on the plate. Round blade posts protrude through the plate to expose their little rounded ends to gleam in the light and lather is cleared by one groove down each edge of the plate.
I never even finished the shave with my last razor; rip the blade out of that poor excuse for a razor, dug out the Hoffritz and stuck the Feather blade straight in. Medium efficiency, blade feel; this is living. Many who have shaved with a Hoffritz report that they thoroughly appreciated the experience and now I can fully understand their reasoning. Its efficiency sits around the Karve CB level #C and as with its pleasant amount of blade feel, the shave was ever so smooth. The guillotine action of the slant allows it to operate effectively at an efficiency level below a run of the mill DE. Its shortish, 75mm long handle proved to be very comfortable and provided excellent maneuverability for the razor, but I don’t think I’d like to go too much shorter. Hoffritz’s slant delivered an exceptional shave and although it’s not been sold for years, it can hold its own against many modern razors. Very enjoyable.
Blades Used – Feather and Howard
Blade Tab - Exposed
Weight – 75.5g
Head Width – 41.25mm
Handle Length – 75.94mm
Handle Diameter – 11.54mm
Availability – Out of production
Final Word – A delight
My favourite slant @Errol it just has so much going for it, vintage, affordable, a true slant that twists the blade, the short handle for under the neck, and smoothest of all the slants I have tried.Hoffritz Slant Safety (Germany)
Hoffritz slant razors were made in Germany but were sold almost exclusively to the US market. Hoffritz razors are in fact rebranded Mercur razors, but the Hoffritz is acknowledged as having has superior plating to the doner product. There must have been thousands of Hoffritz Slant razors sold because at just about any time, a pristine example can be purchased for a reasonable outlay. It’s an older style razor with a longer than what we now call ‘normal’ handle post, complete with a knurled knob on the end of the handle to secure all parts together. The design of the head ensures that there is visible twisting of the blade. Adding to it credentials is that the blade is clamped on flats between the outer edge of the cap and a mating flat on the plate. Round blade posts protrude through the plate to expose their little rounded ends to gleam in the light and lather is cleared by one groove down each edge of the plate.
I never even finished the shave with my last razor; rip the blade out of that poor excuse for a razor, dug out the Hoffritz and stuck the Feather blade straight in. Medium efficiency, blade feel; this is living. Many who have shaved with a Hoffritz report that they thoroughly appreciated the experience and now I can fully understand their reasoning. Its efficiency sits around the Karve CB level #C and as with its pleasant amount of blade feel, the shave was ever so smooth. The guillotine action of the slant allows it to operate effectively at an efficiency level below a run of the mill DE. Its shortish, 75mm long handle proved to be very comfortable and provided excellent maneuverability for the razor, but I don’t think I’d like to go too much shorter. Hoffritz’s slant delivered an exceptional shave and although it’s not been sold for years, it can hold its own against many modern razors. Very enjoyable.
Blades Used – Feather and Howard
Blade Tab - Exposed
Weight – 75.5g
Head Width – 41.25mm
Handle Length – 75.94mm
Handle Diameter – 11.54mm
Availability – Out of production
Final Word – A delight
