What blades are you using? I was happiest with Polsilvers for a while, but when I "discovered" the Gillette 7 O'C Yellow, it was like a revelation, it turned a great razor into a superb one.For me, blade feel is more noticeable on the JAWS, still an excellent shave and I have no issues with it whatsoever, it just makes the R41 seem a little tame as I found it's blade feel to be a bit less obvious. Both are fantastic
Polsilver Si, Polsilver Stainless, Gillette 7 O'Clock Sharpedge (yellow), Super Max Blue Diamond, Bic Chrome Platinum. I found it works best with a sharper blade, especially against the grain. I've even had the opportunity to compare it against the .68 JAWS and found the .84 to be better
Agree, sir. The .95 is a sweet razor that delivers a smooth, Karve D plate efficiency, every time I use it. Thanks again Errol, for all the great reviews.The Lupo 95 is an excellent razor for the money. It may even quench some peoples thirst for a Wolfman.
Would like to hear Errol's review on the Lupo 95.
Certainly no quarrel with Rhodes96 efficiency assessment of the .95. It probably does lean closer IMO to the E plate than the D, but either way, at the price point it’s worth a go, Blackie. It’s a wonderfully smooth shave as Errol so well stated.
Dscosmetic ZO (China)
Advertising for the Dscosmetic ZO razor claims that it is a machined stainless steel clone of the Muhle R41 - those words were a contributing factor as to why the Muhle R41 was put into service last week. I had previously purchased both stainless steel and titanium handles from Dscosmetic and knew the quality of their product to be pretty good so I wasn’t concerned when it came to the purchase of the ZO. Unlike later releases of razors from Dscosmetic, the ZO came as a complete razor. DS have done little/ nothing to disguise where the design of the ZO originated; the head is visually identical to that of the Muhle product. So close that the plate of the ZO mated perfectly with the R41 cap but the other way round, no go.
Every part of the ZO has been polished to a very high standard, including the underside of the cap, however, get the light in the right spot and machining marks are visible but overall, I would defiantly give DS a high pass mark for the quality of the ZO. Both the blade clamping surfaces on the cap and plate match perfectly with no gaps to be seen. Nylon washers are becoming the norm for the protection of the mating surfaces on top shelf razors, DS have obviously seen this and supplied the flimsiest silicon washer for the ZO; it’s the thought that matters, but hey, I used it.
First stroke, this razor has far more blade feel than the Muhle R41 sampled last week. Around the same amount of aggression but that extra blade feel has changed the feel of delivered shave substantially. The ZO must be treated with respect and I can attest that any poor technique will result in a blood bath. This razor is certainly the most aggressive double edge razor I’ve used and it sits in the same ball park as the Claymore Version 2 single edge razor for aggressiveness. It’s not a razor to be played around with. Call it stupidity, but as a personal trial, I just had to try a Feather blade in the ZO. Score: ZO/ Feather blade combination – One; Errol – lacerated and bleeding. At this point, I raised the white flag. There will be those who will appreciate the aggression that the Dscosmetic ZO delivers but it was simply too much razor for me.
Blades Used – Gillette Platinum and Feather
Material – 316 Stainless Steel
Blade Tab – Covered
Weight – 124g
Head Width – 42.28mm
Handle Length – 89.93mm
Handle Diameter – 14.14mm
Availability – Aliexpress
Final Word – Aggression plus
As always @Errol, your review is on the money. The Marvel is a nice, mild, well made razor, and well worth the $40 USD it cost me,Fine Accoutrements - Marvel (China)
It’s a little nugget; cast out of zinc and looking as solid as a brick out house. What really stood out was the heavy-duty plate with one long lather channel on either side and heavy tear shaped protrusions forming the edge of the plate. Matching the heavyweight image of the plate, the handle is short and a stout. In contrast, the cap looks quite light and with blade clamping achieved on flats at its very edge, the blade is clamped very rigid. A drop of rod oil on the thread of the cap put a stop to the chatter being experienced while fitting the handle initially. There were no issues with grip when using the handle even though it was presented in sparkling chrome plate like the rest of the Marvel.
It’s been advised on this very forum that “The Fine Marvel could be the world’s most under-rated razor”. High praise, so while ordering the two stainless steel Lupos reviewed recently, I included the Fine Accruements Marvel in the acquisition. Now to put that strong recommendation to the test. Smooth, by Hell that was a smooth shave, however the efficiency was on the lower side of Karve CB Level #C. Blade feel was all most non-existent, so even though the shave was initially close, it did not feel that way six hours later. It was overlooked during the razor inspection, but during the shave it became evident that the sides of the cap and the plate combine to form a large face contact area – not a big issue after the first shave, but it was an annoyance while adjusting the shave angle. Touch the face straight after running the head under the hot tap and it is immediately notable that the large head retains heat; I compensated by adjusting the temperature of the water accordingly. After using the Marvel, I don’t necessarily agree fully with the comment about the Marvel being the world’s most under-rated razor, however if your preference is for a milder razor, the Marvel may well fit the bill.
Blades Used – Gillette Super Stainless and Gillette Rubie
Material – Moulded Zinc
Blade Tab - Exposed
Weight – 96g
Head Width – 40.65mm
Handle Length – 81.38mm
Handle Diameter – 14mm
Availability – Italian Barber plus
Final Word – Usable
