Weekly Razor Review

Version 3? WOW, modern razors are so complex ;)

Another great review mate!
 
Rocnel SE-50 Gen 1 (Turkey)



This razor is one of the original Generation 1 releases of the Rocnel SE-50’s probably from around 2015. The advertisement read “This is the only one I have seen. The head is larger than the Gen 2” so I bought it. Other than a different handle (still Rocnel) the head is exactly the same as the SE-50 I already had. I’ve now ended up with two of the supposedly rare SE-50’s.

Stainless steel stock must be cheap in Turkey because Rocnel have made very little attempt to reduce the weight of the head. The way Rocnel has gone about securing the blade is certainly different to the methods employed by most manufacturers but Rocnel are always innovative. Firstly the plate is channelled and the cap has a corresponding rib that slides sideward (either way); insert the blade onto the locating rib on the plate and slide the cap back into position. Now here’s the odd piece, a 5mm allen headless screw has to be screwed down to hold the cap and plate in position; in turn clamping the blade. An allen key could be used to nip up the screw but I have been advised that finger tight is all that is required and now the handle can be fitted. A feature of the plate is that there are no lather holes however there is a reasonably large lather channel at the rear of the blade. The whole razor has been machined and then given what can best be described as an average looking machine polish finish. All the information you’d ever want to know about the razor is engraved into the front of the cap. I would have thought the rear of the plate would be the best place to do the engraving but it’s up there loud and proud on the cap for the world to see.

Loading the blade for the first time was not the simple procedure I thought it was going to be. The back of the blade seemed cocked up and did not appear to be seated correctly on the very low rib used for locating the blade. Push, shove, try another old blade and then I realised that the blade was exactly where it should be and it was me who was wrong. All good now, the blade is loaded and I’m ready. First shave and I’ve got to say this is one great razor, Karve CB #C/D level of efficiency and at no time did I have the feeling I was going to get hurt. As I always do at the completion of every shave, I loosened off the handle, ran some hot water through the head and gave the razor a flick to remove the excess water. Bang- crash – tinkle –tinkle – tinkle as the cap and blade exploded into the basin right before my eyes; Errol left holding a handle with a plate attached and a total look of bewilderment. When I loosened the handle I had taken the pressure off the cap and the flick had sent the whole cap and blade assembly flying. Adrenalin must have kicked in because I had that razor assembled in seconds; that’s one to remember. Second and remaining shaves were even better than the first so I come away really liking this razor, super smooth, close and very impressive. Rocnel’s SE-50, Gen 1 is certainly quirky and if you don’t mind a bit of heft put one of these on your search list, you’ll not be disappointed.

Blades Used – Kai Captain Titan Mild and Feather Professional

Material – Stainless Steel

Weight – 155g

Head Width – 48.62mm

Handle Length – 85.1mm

Handle Diameter – 13.3mm

Availability – Out of Production

Final Word – Wonderful experience
 
Rocnel SE-50 Gen 2 (Turkey)



Generation 2 of the Rocnel SE-50’s are now out of production and all the usual haunts have only recently sold out of their stock. If only I’d known about their being two different generations of the Rocnel SE-50 earlier it would have been no trouble to acquire the Gen 2. I sent out a couple of feelers and was rewarded with an offer on one which I immediately jumped at. A Gen 2 Rocnel SE-50 at last; maybe I shouldn’t say that because I did not even know of its existence till I owned two Gen 1’s.

Engraved on the blade side of the plate is the word ‘GEN 2’ so I can confirm the exact version of this razor. Rocnel have put the SE-50 Gen 2 on a diet reducing the overall weight by 9g. It is still a robust razor though and they have continued with a same principle of blade clamping employed on the Gen 1. Polishing and finish of the Gen 2 is far superior to that of the Gen 1 and while there is still the makers name and the material the razor is made from engraved on front of the cap, the model and serial number are now engraved on the back of the plate. On the Gen 2, Rocnel have seen fit to cut lather slots while still retaining a smaller lather channel.

Having been caught out with the second version of the Claymore I was very cautious for the first stroke with the Gen 2 SE-50. As it turned out there was nothing to worry about. I concluded that the Gen 2 was so very similar to the V1 in efficiency; again about Karve CB #C/D level and any difference would be attributed to the reduced weight of the head. This is another fantastic razor that continues to display all the positive attributes of the Gen 1 SE-50; smooth, exceptionally close and always making the user feel like they are in control. As I said about the Gen 1 last week, it’s a little bit quirky, it’s hefty but this razor is certainly impressive.

Blades Used – Feather ProGuard and Schick Proline P-30

Material – Stainless Steel

Weight – 146g

Head Width – 49.24mm

Handle Length – 90mm

Handle Diameter – 14.22mm

Availability – Out of Production

Final Word – Wonderful experience
 
Seygus Zeppelin Titanium - 0.7 + 0.7mm (Spain)



Seygus has been a busy little razor manufacturing workshop this year and here is their third incarnation of the Zeppelin, the Titanium. Seygus snuck the Titanium onto the world stage without too much fanfare but they are being released in limited numbers and you might need to wait till the machining runs are complete. Making the decision on the choice of plate selection was easy because I’ve tried all the different stainless steel plates and knew that the 0.7 + 0.7mm plate was for me. After I confirmed with Seygus that I had received the razor, I was informed that this very razor is the first complete Seygus Zeppelin Titanium razor ever delivered so I felt very privileged for a short period by owning the only one in existence.

Looking precisely the same as its Stainless Steel cousin, there is no visual indication (other than the writing on the back of the plate) that this razor is machined from titanium. A 0.7 + 0.7mm plate is fitted with one side of the plate being flat and the other side scalloped, same cupped cap design, matching tapers on the plate and presented with the same highly polished finish as the V2. Feel the weight of the razors and the difference is immediate; the Titanium is considerably lighter than the V2. Seygus have really done a good job with the polishing on the Ti. I’ve been advised that while the boss was machining parts it was actually the apprentices who finished the polishing work on the Ti. If they maintain the same level of detail presented on this razor to the rest of their work, they have a wonderful future in their trade in front of them. Let’s hope they are wet shavers.

Razors???? Just when you think you know what they’re doing they throw another curved ball. This time I was expecting a shave very similar to the stainless steel V2 fitted with the 0.7 + 0.7mm plate but the efficiency of this razor is very much on the milder side of the Karve CB #C plate level, well below what I expected. The shave delivered is beautifully smooth, close and makes you feel like you are as safe as house while you’re using it. You may think that is a great result but as soon as I use a mild razor, I cannot help myself and start using force on the razor in an effort to get a closer shave. In an effort to liven up the performance I chose a Feather as the second blade and to a point the experiment worked. If a mild razor is your desire than this razor delivers but for me I prefer a little more efficiency. I’m now convinced that both aluminium and titanium razors machined to the same specification as their stainless steel cousins are considerably less efficient. It’s happened many times and I cannot think of any other reason for it. In the pursuit of more efficiency the simple answer is to fit a more efficient plate. Here’s my quandary, the stainless steel V2 with the 0.9 + 0.9mm plate was unpredictable and randomly cut me. I’m wondering if there is enough difference in the mildness of the 0.9 + 0.9mm plates between titanium and stainless steel to chance it going for a titanium 0.9 + 0.9mm plate.

Blades Used – Gillette Platinum and Feather

Material – Titanium

Blade Tab – Covered

Weight – 62g

Head Width – 43.44mm

Handle Length – 95mm

Handle Diameter – 12mm

Availability – Seygus

Final Word – Another razor
 
Colonial Silversmith (USA)



Silversmith is Colonial’s first foray into the DE razor market. Previously Colonial have been active in the single edge market delivering a superb range of razors manufactured from aluminium, brass and stainless steel so it will be interesting to see how their first offering of a DE will fare. Previously, all of the Colonial SE razors were designed in the USA and manufactured in China but this time, everything from the design to the machining and sale has been completed in the USA. Machined from 316 stainless the fit of all the parts of the Silversmith is exceptional. There are four corner posts and two small dimples machined onto the cap for positioning and securing the blade, much like the system employed on the Above The Tie DE razors. There were no complaints from me re fitting the blade or its alignment. A glass bead blast has been applied to all surfaces to give the Silversmith a very durable dull finish. Doubts about the torpedo shaped handle not being up to the task were dismissed as soon as the razor was loaded and ready to shave; it actually feels very comfortable to use, maybe it could have been 5/ 10mm longer though.

With an advertised efficiency of 5/ 10 I was not at all surprised when I determined the shave to be less efficient than that provided by a Karve CB #C. This razor is so predictable to use and not once did I ever feel that the razor was going to do anything unexpected. There was no blade feel and the shave was close and smooth. While on the milder side of the efficiency level I prefer, I would have no hesitation in recommending the Silversmith to a new shaver about to use a double edge razor for the first time. Another plate with a step up in efficiency would be very welcome.

Blades Used – Rapira Sweedish Supersteel and Gillette Nacet

Material – 316L Stainless – Glass bead blasted

Blade Tab - Exposed

Weight – 95g

Head Width – 40.86mm

Handle Length – 83.12mm

Handle Diameter – 12.42mm

Availability – Colonial

Final Word – Another razor
 
Colonial General SE V2 (USA)



I had the razors for review all pencilled in for the remainder of the year and there certainly wasn’t any SE’s included on that list. After opening a package from Kyle Evans all my best laid plans went out the window; here in front of me was the all new Colonial General Single EdgeV2. It wasn’t the packaging, a piece of bubble wrap taped around the razor that inspired me, it was the new slimmed down General V2 complete with its 1930’s look tapered handle complete with longitudinal flutes that had done the trick. Colonial’s new General is not in the same weight loss league as a Blackland Vector but the transformation from the previous General was amazing. A 27% reduction in size to the V1 is claimed but it looks to be more. Head width has been reduced to such an extent that Colonial had to take a notch out of the centre post just to align the blade. When fitting a blade to the V2 it has to be slipped into the notch before it can be positioned over the locating pins, really simple after the first go. The centre post, complete with its notch looks and feels strong but I don’t know how strong the post would be if the razor fell and landed onto the corners of the cap. Hopefully Colonial has replacement caps available as spares but I don’t want to find out. A superb satin finish has been applied to the whole razor so I’m giving Colonial top marks for their presentation of the V2.

There is a small amount of blade feel with this razor; just enough to let you know that there is some. General’s V2 has an efficiency level around that of a Karve CB fitted with a #D plate therefore the efficiency is right in my preferred zone. Smooth and close are the order of the day and there was no perceivable variation felt between the blades used. In use, the results were very similar to the well respected V1 version so I came away well pleased that I had slipped the General V2 into the schedule.

Blades Used – Kai Captain Titan Mild and Feather Professional

Material – 316L Stainless Steel – Glass bead blasted

Weight – 93g

Head Width – 50.2mm

Handle Length – 87mm

Availability – Colonial

Final Word – Brilliant
 
Errol said:
Colonial General SE V2 (USA)



I had the razors for review all pencilled in for the remainder of the year and there certainly wasn’t any SE’s included on that list. After opening a package from Kyle Evans all my best laid plans went out the window; here in front of me was the all new Colonial General Single EdgeV2. It wasn’t the packaging, a piece of bubble wrap taped around the razor that inspired me, it was the new slimmed down General V2 complete with its 1930’s look tapered handle complete with longitudinal flutes that had done the trick. Colonial’s new General is not in the same weight loss league as a Blackland Vector but the transformation from the previous General was amazing. A 27% reduction in size to the V1 is claimed but it looks to be more. Head width has been reduced to such an extent that Colonial had to take a notch out of the centre post just to align the blade. When fitting a blade to the V2 it has to be slipped into the notch before it can be positioned over the locating pins, really simple after the first go. The centre post, complete with its notch looks and feels strong but I don’t know how strong the post would be if the razor fell and landed onto the corners of the cap. Hopefully Colonial has replacement caps available as spares but I don’t want to find out. A superb satin finish has been applied to the whole razor so I’m giving Colonial top marks for their presentation of the V2.

There is a small amount of blade feel with this razor; just enough to let you know that there is some. General’s V2 has an efficiency level around that of a Karve CB fitted with a #D plate therefore the efficiency is right in my preferred zone. Smooth and close are the order of the day and there was no perceivable variation felt between the blades used. In use, the results were very similar to the well respected V1 version so I came away well pleased that I had slipped the General V2 into the schedule.

Blades Used – Kai Captain Titan Mild and Feather Professional

Material – 316L Stainless Steel – Glass bead blasted

Weight – 93g

Head Width – 50.2mm

Handle Length – 87mm

Availability – Colonial

Final Word – Brilliant
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And on the wish list it goes.

Will you try Feather Pro Supers in this razor?
 
Errol said:
@SpeediePC I‘m not going to try a Schick Proline P30 but I have no doubt that it would be good.
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Pbgoose said:
And on the wish list it goes.

Will you try Feather Pro Supers in this razor?
Click to expand...

Since I first tried the Supers in the Asylum Rx I’ve been very hesitant to use them again. What a mistake? They work brilliantly in the General V2 and take the performance up another level. Close was the order of the day and smooth as well. I’ll certainly be using Supers again now.
 
@Errol love the reviews mate. do you think that for someone like me that uses the v1 as a daily driver that the upgrade is worth spending the dollars on or is the shave still very similar? and with the price being so close with the vector now which would you consider the better upgrade from the v1, the v2 or vector?
 
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