Yeah, I picked an expensive finish too. The premium satin is polished first before brushing. So AU$895 all up. My bad...Each User will post a Different Experience. Errol's review gave the Razor a thumbs up and as usual it's very tempting...but the price tag is a bit of a reality check for me.
YES, but what a feelingYeah, I picked an expensive finish too. The premium satin is polished first before brushing. So AU$895 all up. My bad...
I basically went from multi-blade carts directly to traditional straight razors. I didn't have the courage to really try "safety" razors. After a few years of daily SR shaving, I wanted a further shaving challenge. This is when @LesC stepped in and lent me a couple of his much treasured kamisori. After a couple of weeks kamisori shaving, I was hooked.Well again IMHO I got a Dovo and S K Colling's S/R's, before I got my 1st Kamisori, a Tosuke (Recently PIF'd) I have an Iwasaki by Ryouichi Mizuochi as my only rotation user. I found the Kamisori easier to use (though not initially) than a S/R, it gave a closer shave and the 'feeling' of mastering it was, well GREAT
Wow. That is a price Mate. As long as you enjoy it, I guess it's worth it.Yeah, I picked an expensive finish too. The premium satin is polished first before brushing. So AU$895 all up. My bad...
Totally enjoying your Kamisori journey Richard. Thanks to you and Les I'm learning a lot about Straights and Kamisori's.
I'm a little ignorant on this one - what's the benefit of a half DE blade vs just having a full defender / DE blade head? It doesn't look all that much smaller to aid manoeuvrability vs an AC head for example.Shield Stomper (China)
Shield razors are a quality product and I’ve been suitably impressed with each and every Shield razor it has been my pleasure to use. Their Stomper model is designed for a ½ DE blade and I’m again overwhelmed by their attention to detail; not one machine mark to be seen, smooth thread engagement all completed in a satin finish. Much of the design looks to have been borrowed from a WR2 head; sorry, that should read DE Defender head. Shield have virtually cut the DE Defender head in half, used the corner posts of the cap for two locating points and added a couple of pins to sit the blade on, imaginative, simple, but most importantly it works well in practice. Appealing to my appreciation of its layout is that the blade locating holes in the plate are blind and there are two generous lather clearing grooves. A widish diamond pattern along the length of the handle combined with its matt finish is expected to provide a pleasing grip.
This is not the DE Defender model that I used cut in half, the delivered shave was a lot milder and there was a considerable reduction in blade feel, but it was still positive. Efficiency was in the Karve CB level #C region, making this a very relaxing razor to use, but it was still able to deliver a very close shave. Its pleasant length handle, only just over half the head weight of a corresponding DE razor, combined with the razor being machined in titanium, presented a razor that was well below the 100g benchmark weight. These physical characteristics translated to a razor with incredible maneuverability and the Stomper could be whizzed around without any fear of repercussion. Enjoyed my time using the Stomper.
Blades Used – Gillette Nacet and Leaf
Material – Gr5 Titanium
Weight – 67.8g
Blade Tab - Covered
Head Width – 42.56mm
Handle Length – 90.04mm
Handle Diameter – 13.55mm
Availability – Shield Razors
Final Word – A little stonker
FWIW, I’m 3 days into shaving with their Titanium Gem and really enjoying it, though I found not as manoeuvrable as their AC, both quality workmanship!!
The Blackland list of Razors is a very interesting one, there are many highs and a few lows in the catalogue. I've seen the Blackland Dart and Era pop up for sale every now and then, all of them used but they get snapped up in no time. I have often pondered over why they stopped making razors which they called a failure but still command resale value. Having said that, running a business is not my forte or my thing, so understanding business related decisions isn't either.Blackland Sabre - Level 1 (USA)
Behind the scenes, @Gargravarr has been nibbling away suggesting that I revisit his beloved Sabre; well not his, but a Sabre just the same. While that has been playing in the back of my mind, it was Blackland themselves advising that a new version of the Sabre was on the horizon that pushed this review across the line. Sabre is one of Blackland’s earlier razors and was designed to accept the GEM blade. In razors designed around GEM blades, the securing methods employed are many and varied. Blackbird added an additional method of clamping GEM blades by milling the sides off the handle post to allow its passage through the slot in the centre of the GEM blade. Interestingly, milling the sides off the handle post was no big deal till the release of the Blackland’s own Vector when everyone got on the band wagon and started applauding this magnificent new approach before realised that it was a feature of the Sabre a couple of years prior. Fixing the blade through its centre slot allows the handle to be positioned in similar proportions to that of a DE razor. To imitate something approaching the DE shave angle, the handle post has been angled but in my opinion the angle has gone too far. For this review I’ve selected the Sabre level #1 to see how it feels.
A shave angle that was on the critical side and difficulty shaving under the nose were annoying. Those who use the Sabre regularly will quickly adapt and shave around these annoyances but straight up I found them to be an irritation. Previously I have criticized the handle on the Sabre for being slippery, but there are no complaints this time around. Efficiency wise, the Sabre Level 1 was around a Karve CB Level #C and with its small amount of positive blade provided a comfortable and long lasting shave. Smooth shaving is why many wet shavers migrate to, and never stop using GEM bladed marvels; the Sabre did not let the blade down. At its release the Sabre was available with one plate only, the plate now known as the Level 1. Requests to Blackland for the Sabre to be more assertive prompted the release of their Level 2 plate. I now appreciate why those early requests were made; the Level 1 plated Sabre is not for me.
Blades Used – Personna
Material – Stainless Steel
Weight – 106.7g
Blade Tab - Enclosed
Head Width – 40mm
Handle Length – 84.94mm
Handle Diameter – 11.99mm
Availability – Blackbird
Final Word – Another razor
To be fair not much, the Gillette is definitely smoother but the Baili Bt 131 delivers a fantastic shave. The razor has a nice handle, excellent balance and superb blade clamping. The Gillette feels more solid and classier while the Baili feels a lot lighter and not as classy. Having said that if you compare price point and the fact that you are getting a brand new razor, the Chinese clone is a winner.
