Razor of the Year 2023
Selecting a razor for the Razor of the Year is something that is in the back of my mind whenever I’m shaving with an eligible razor. If a new razor was released at the very end of 2022 or during 2023 it’s up for consideration if I’ve used it. The value of the razor is not a consideration but having said that I generally purchase machined razors and they are inherently more expensive; if it was a plastic razor that was released in 2023 and it delivered the performance I’m looking for, there is no reason why it could not be the Razor of the Year. This year there was a constant stream of new razors to keep me busy. Below are the razors that were considered:
- Razorock Superslant L2++ – Stainless steel adjustable slant, achieved by changing plates, many options, big twist on the bade, small amount of blade protrusion, smooth but requires more efficiency, nothing to write home about.
- Goodfellas Syntesi – Stainless steel, no excess metal on head, sloppy handle thread, good manoeuvrability, low mid-range efficiency, enjoyable.
- Lambda Ares v2 – Bronze alloy, open comb, heavier than the original, efficient with blade feel, no sensation of using an OC, superb.
- La Faulx – Titanium, available in stainless steel, copper, brass and bronze, mid efficiency, blade selection is paramount.
- La Faulx OC – Stainless steel, long sharp teeth, no idea where the blade is positioned, claws dug into face, no chance of a smooth shave, horrible.
- Wolfman Guerrilla 2023 – Bronze, also available in stainless steel, machine finish, a change of position for the blade posts from the plate to the cap is the most obvious change to the original, safe as a house but on the mild side, options of more efficient plates available, comfortable but more oomph required.
- Pearl Hammer – Brass triple plated, Rugged build, heavy and awkward, efficient but not smooth, needs weight removed, comfortable shave, rugged.
- Blackland Lite – Stainless steel, plate only purchased, quality machining, mild and very smooth, prefer the original, watered down Blackbird, just another razor.
- Alysworth Kopparkant – Machined in China, brass, has many of the features of the Drakkant, attractive, very mild shave, neutral blade protrusion, just another razor.
- Bronze Age Achilles – Stainless steel head and plated brass handle, ugly blob on end of handle, very agricultural in appearance, heavy and ugly, delivered a surprisingly good shave.
- Wolfman WR4 0.70 – Made for AC blades, stainless steel, quality machining, no excessive metal in the head, above mid range efficiency, appropriate positive blade protrusion, polished perfection.
- Boti Razor Titanium – Gr5 titanium, artistic finish, higher than mid range efficiency, positive blade, great shave, pretty boy.
- Rocnel SE-36 – 316 Stainless steel, one piece razor with no moving parts, takes ½ of a DE blade, blade retained in a circular cut in the head, long blade tab, mid range efficiency, smooth, a little beauty.
- Reggie’s Razor Titan Ti – Titanium, polished finish, mid range efficiency, smooth and close, there’s not many better.
- Aylsworth Drakkant Ti – Limited production, sold in batches, fitted with the plus plate as standard, broad range of shaving angles, medium efficiency, top stuff.
- Blackland Ospery Adjustable – stainless steel, machine finish, sharp edges, difficult to read engraved numbers, unfinished, nothing new, almost achieved the 100g weight target, smooth and comfortable, a marketing exercise.
- Tatara Muramasa Ti’s Adjustable – Titanium, limited production, very well finished, adjustability achieved by expanding the plate in the horizontal, lower two settings useless, top three settings exceptional, good, but.
- West Coast Shaving American Liberty – 316 Stainless steel, said to be designed by Charcoal Goods, revamp of the Holywood Palm razor, very small efficiency increase, if any, just another razor.
- Yaqi Romulus – Stainless steel, clone of the Blackland Vector, lower mid range efficiency, super smooth shave, sweet.
- Rocnel Sailor 2023 Master Collection – 316 stainless steel, overweight, Rolex watch like finish, difficult to read numbers, useable through all 9 settings, very comfortable.
When I first started writing these reviews, razor producers were in a different frame of mind to what they deliver today and mild was the flavour of the day. Thank goodness, there has been a realisation that users have a vastly different requirement and with many razors it is possible to choose the efficiency of your preference, from mild to wild. There are always razors that don’t live up to their potential, but most of the razors I have used this year have been superb, thus making the final result more interesting. In the hands of someone else their choice could be totally different, and I would never argue their decision because what they require from the razor and how it feels in their hands is very different to my requirement. Drum roll - my Razor of the Year for 2023 is the Wolfman WR4; a choice of metals and a wide selection of efficiency levels. Wolfman have designed and delivered a truly delightful performer with the machining and finishing expertise that only Wolfman can, a worthy winner.
