The standard base plate feels like an R41 blade feel with the efficiency feeling like a Muhle Rocca (R41 + Rocca = BB Std) it's smooth and edgy
Alright @SpeedyPC your reference to the Rocca does not exactly send a thrill down my back bone but I’ve ordered a couple of Lite plates to try for myself.
Keep in mind everybody is different, believe me, I've been changing base plate from std to lite back and forth for a while using the GSB blade.
I have seen so many of @TroyTools brushes especially of late that have simply been incredible. The funny thing is that you absolutely know by just looking at them that as great as they are they would look even better in person. I can't wait to see what he comes up with next. You have to admire that the fact that each of them are one of a kind masterpieces.
I have not tried it yet but hopefully in a few more hours. Believe me I have your same concerns, I have had such great shaves with the standard plate that I can't see it being any better although I feel like it will still have merit but that's something I will have to wait and see in a few hours. The biggest problem is with two different plates how many more razors will it topple in my collection?
Hey @Rusty Bridges Great review mate. I can cancel my order for the Lite now.
Razor: Blackland Blackbird lite/standard
Blade: Gillette Platinum (Fourth use and probably last)
Soap: Razorock The Deep Sea
Aftershave/Post Shave: Razorock The Deep Sea and Thayers Unscented witch hazel
Brush: Heritage Collection Shave Dubl Duck 5 SHD badger brush
Alum: The Stray Whisker Alum block (Osmo)
Bowl: Pereira Unbreakable Bowl
Initial impressions are that there is not a huge difference between the two in regards to smoothness but the standard plate is a little more efficient. With the correct blade and technique the standard should be tame enough for most people as it can be very smooth too with the added bonus of efficiency. You get a little more blade feel with the standard but it was never to the point where it was menacing. At no point should you be at risk of biting yourself with either of them.
If I compare each side of my face they are both a BBS shave but the lite had to catch up a little especially on the first pass as the standard took down the hair a little lower than the lite on the first pass.
I noticed that on the lite side (left) if I rub my hand against the grain on my neck in a specific spot I can feel some stubble but on the standard side (right) in the same spot there is much less stubble feel. My neck is notoriously more difficult for me to shave at the best of times but both sides of my face are identical with the one exception was that upon post shave applications such as alum there was a little stinging on my right where as on my left there was none but there is no razor burn or redness at all on any side.
With the light I was able to really speed through the shave and kinda aggressively buff with a kinda flicking technique without any issues.
The ERA on straight bar plate 2 is very mild, the Blackbird lite is perfectly capable to complete a three pass shave without issues without needing to go over and over again to catch everything. So in fairness I would say it's mild but not a slouch that it will not even come close to the standard but overall the standard offers a better shaving experience for those that have more experience.
If you own a standard Blackbird you may have limited use for the lite unless you have difficulties shaving every day or every other day and have had problems with the standard Blackbird in that regard.
I did feel that the lite was a slight bit smoother going against the grain than the standard.
I feel like I will have to shave with them a little more with a new blade and a better lather (I over hydrated this lather ever so slightly) or use a different soap but overall they are both great performers. I might just have to be a little more exact next time I try this and follow the same patterns on each side as I cannot discount that there may have been some sort of user error where I may have just missed a spot on the lite (left) side.
That's my thoughts so far. I hope it helps.
If someone else has any experience with both plates can add to this then that would be great.
I feel confident @Errol will be able to provide a better review and impress upon us what it is actually like when he gets it and uses it. Definitely something I'm keen to find out.
Another thing I would like to add that is consistently great about the blackbird is the lather channels. Rinsing out the lather and hair is super easy on this razor, be it on the lite or the standard as it follows the channels and streams out of each side. Just a small observation. The excellence in design from this razor is great.
Welcome back!
Bah! Didn't even press 'post'. Trying to sort out image posting again.
Thanks @Gargravarr . I did miss checking in with you guys.Welcome back!
Yeah the OG Blutt handle isHahaha! Cheeky bugger!!
Nice!!
Two razors I wish I had bought.
Blutt with that striking handle is the chefs kiss and don't get me started on that Dart! I regret no picking one up now. I feel like there is a theme with Blackland razors, they are just all so good you have that curious itch to buy another one and this Dart is such an underdog I cannot help but feel that a lot of people have not discovered the trick to using it correctly yet. Although it was designed to be a price conscious razor I personally enjoy its design. The question is... Are these Dart razors as aggressive as people say they are? I heard the same thing about the blackbird and I completely disagree with that statement.
I largely agree as just because a razor might be 'aggressive' it doesn't mean it will shave efficiently and from experience the few razors that I've used with excessive blade feel - Dart, iKon Tech, Timeless Bronze OC, PAA Bakelite slants all carried different gaps, designs yet shaved horribly due to the blade feel, leaving my face raw and bloody whereas the Rocca, Blackbird and Vector shave mild in comparison but provide a super efficient shave with caveat being the blade that's used as certain blades just deliver crappy shaves with one razor but stellar shaves with a different one but YMMV.Yeah the OG Blutt handle is
The Blackbird is an aggressive razor but it doesn't feel aggressive, I feel like people conflate aggression and blade feel too much. Can a razor can be aggressive without corresponding blade feel? I'm sure there's a matrix to correlate efficiency, aggression and blade feel and nothing will be linearly related.
IMO Blackland is one of the few razor companies that has very strong design differentiation between their individual razors.
The Dart I am still coming to terms with. Sometimes the blade feel is a lot, though I'd say the Nodachi I have has just as much blade feel. But the results I cannot argue with, giving me the same BBS like the Blackbird. I like the look of the Dart too much to discount it so soon.
I hear Blackland have a 30 day return policy so you could probably pick one up and if you don't like it return it for a refund however I am not sure how that works for international customers. If that is too much hassle then I am sure you will have no problems offloading it here.
I wonder what prompted them to change the design, the only thing I could think is that it is so defined that it becomes more of a focal point. I personally feel like sometimes design should and has to take a secondary place to functionality, this is a thought process that Tatara should have taken with the Maramasa razor. (more on that another time)Yeah the OG Blutt handle is
The Blackbird is an aggressive razor but it doesn't feel aggressive, I feel like people conflate aggression and blade feel too much. Can a razor can be aggressive without corresponding blade feel? I'm sure there's a matrix to correlate efficiency, aggression and blade feel and nothing will be linearly related.
IMO Blackland is one of the few razor companies that has very strong design differentiation between their individual razors.
The Dart I am still coming to terms with. Sometimes the blade feel is a lot, though I'd say the Nodachi I have has just as much blade feel. But the results I cannot argue with, giving me the same BBS like the Blackbird. I like the look of the Dart too much to discount it so soon.
