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Natterings of a Nasal Barbarian

jgreenepa said:
Dave:
I never had concerns about the finish. It's every bit as good as my H&S No75 or Blackland Blackbird. My initial concern had to do with its packaging. But I do get it now. Todd saved on packaging costs to allow him to provide a top quality SS razor. He, of course, said it was worth $500. I might take issue with that, but the razor is definitely the equivalent of SS razors sitting well to the north of $220.
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If you stand by your comments now that's good enough for me. Was referring to your initial thoughts and I believe another member said there's was rough when received too as you did.

"I received mine today, and am totally underwhelmed! Like the earlier poster, I was offered the razor at discount if I agreed to post a review. I will do so, but as a fan of the New LC, Deluxe and Standard am not at this positively disposed toward this razor. It arrived in a plain paper wrapper with each piece in a separate plastic bag. I assume there will be better packaging for the production versions. I'm not sure these are. My handle is somewhat rough. There were apparently only 20 razors available for the reviewers. I believe the enterprising Mr. Fine decided to sell his sample first production razors. We'll see how the shave goes tomorrow morning."
 
Dave in KY said:
If you stand by your comments now that's good enough for me. Was referring to your initial thoughts and I believe another member said there's was rough when received too as you did.

"I received mine today, and am totally underwhelmed! Like the earlier poster, I was offered the razor at discount if I agreed to post a review. I will do so, but as a fan of the New LC, Deluxe and Standard am not at this positively disposed toward this razor. It arrived in a plain paper wrapper with each piece in a separate plastic bag. I assume there will be better packaging for the production versions. I'm not sure these are. My handle is somewhat rough. There were apparently only 20 razors available for the reviewers. I believe the enterprising Mr. Fine decided to sell his sample first production razors. We'll see how the shave goes tomorrow morning."
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Dave, I was referring to the knurling which didn't feel finished to me. My eyes not being what they once were required a magnifying glass to reveal the very precise Guilloche knurling which literally feels rough. I'm sorry for misleading. If you examine my photos you'll see that my later review stands as far as my assessment of the handle goes.
 
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SOTD WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2020

Really enjoyed my shave yesterday with the Fine SS New LC Homage razor from Fine Accoutrements. 100 razors will be available today for purchase on the Fine site. So today I loaded a Feather blade and had another VBBS dome shave. I'm starting to enjoy this razor. In order to keep moving towards my goal of 100 straight shaves I pulled out the Koa Wood Scaled Damascus razor from CobraArt Blades in Arizona. Although Danish is primarily a custom knife maker, he does make the odd razor now and then, and built the two I have on contract from my son for Father's Day. Ben reset the bevels and honed both razors for me after not being satisfied with the edges as delivered. He returned both back to me yesterday after honing and stropping them. The razor shaved beautifully. Right on the cusp between DFS and BBS, but I wasn't willing to push it on my usual trouble spot below my Adam's Apple with the straight. So I grabbed the Fine razor and buffed it smooth. All in all, a great shave leaving me cool, clean and velveteen!

RAZOR: Cobra Art Koa Scaled Straight Damascus Razor (Mug), Fine Accoutrements SS New LC Homage Razor (Dome)
BLADE: Feather DE (1)
PREP: Cold water rinse followed by a scrub with the Rabid Banana Preshave Cube
BRUSH: Alpha Shaving T-400 Tribute fitted with 26mm Two Band Badger Ferrule
SOAP: Mitchell's Wool Fat w/ 6 drops of M-Bomb
POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with brush squeezings followed by Humphreys Lilac WH. Finished with Osage Rub.
 
SOTD THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2020

RAZOR: Cobra Art Damascus 6/8 Koa Wood Scale (Mug), AS-D2 (Dome)
BLADE: Kai DE
PREP: Cold water rinse followed by a scrub with Rabid Banana Preshave Cube
SOAP: Mitchell’s Wool Fat w/ 6 drops of M-Bomb
POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with brush squeezings followed by Humphreys Lilac WH and Osage Rub. Finished with Mentholated Mysterium Serum and Krampert’s Frostbite.

Another good shave! I really believe at this point that there’s something to the healing effects of lanolin. On pass three (XTG) of the mug shave SWMBO came waltzing in leading me to pause my stroke momentarily. I felt what I thought was a pinch, put down the razor to take a look thinking I might have a cut. All I saw was a very slight red line. I pulled on the side, but no cut despite it initially feeling like one. Well back to finishing the pass for a very close DFS+++. After my regular wash with the MWF brush squeezings, which I leave on during shave cleanup, I discovered after rinsinsing clean that I could not find where I thought I’d cut myself. Go figure!

My friend, Jim (@jluc) mentioned yesterday that Kai blades were very slightly wider than the Feather blades I usually use in my AS-D2. Since he had just acquired an AS-D2, he mentioned he was going to give the Kai a run. So for the Dome shave today, I unloaded my Feather blade and loaded a Kai. With the Kai I did hear a very slight ‘buttering toast’ song from the blade, but that was with the hearing aids cranked all the way up. The regular two pass (WTG, ATG) noggin shave seemed comparable to the shave with the Feather, and the result was no different. The baby was put to bed (VBBS), leaving your happy narrator - cool, clean and definitely velveteen!F2353ED2-4356-40AA-8D04-771762F9B120.jpeg
 
SOTD SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2020

Today I just felt the need for a spectacular VBBS shave. Enough frittering with the open edge stuff! A number of folks on another forum have been insisting that there is no shave like a straight razor shave for closeness. My unwillingness to buy into their orthodoxy has apparently moved some of the ‘mentors’ on that forum to react in a less than friendly manner when I simply insist that I’ll believe that when I experience it. So today, I grabbed my Blaxkland Vector loaded with a fresh Feather Super, bloomed my MWF, and soaked my @MrEE Brush while I took my shower.

All I can say is that the shave was everything I could have hoped for. Instead of my usual two pass shave, I decided on a traditional, relaxed, leisurely three pass (WTG, XTG, ATG) whisker reduction exercise after not having shaved for two days. The result of which is that I cannot imagine a shave any closer than my shave today! In fact, a metric that would allow me to compare escapes me. So all I’ll say is if I can achieve a shave this close with a straight razor, I’ll be amazed and pleased! Cool, clean, and oh so velveteen!

RAZOR: Blackland Vector
BLADE: Feather Super AC
PREP: Cold water rinse followed by a scrub with the Rabid Banana Preshave Cube
BRUSH: MrEE Aluminum Handle Hybrid Knot
SOAP: Mitchell’s Wool Fat w/ 6 drops of M-Bomb
POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with brushsqueezings followed by Humphreys Lilac WH andOsage Rub. Finished with Mentholated Mysterium Serum
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Jeff, I always come to the same conclusion. I don't need any closer than I get with my de's and se's so why go thru the learning curve and subpar shaves to get where I already am..........other than the straight razor cool factor 😎
 
Dave in KY said:
Jeff, I always come to the same conclusion. I don't need any closer than I get with my de's and se's so why go thru the learning curve and subpar shaves to get where I already am..........other than the straight razor cool factor 😎
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Dave, a bunch of us, which includes both Straight and Safety razor users, over at TSD are in total agreement! A BBS is a BBS regardless of how one arrives there. At Sharp Razor Forum the party line is that no razor shaves closer than a straight. Failure to accept the company line is thought to be nothing more than foolish, inexperienced statements from the uninitiated without the requisite level of expertise. Moderator after moderator spewed the same company line. One even went so far as to say he had shaved with DEs for 50 yrs and could never get as close a shave as he could with a straight razor. When I replied that it sounded like he’d never learned good safety razor technique he blocked me. I think they consider me some kind of troll, just because I kep insisting that I wouldn’t accept their assertions until I experienced it myself. Go figure??
 
jgreenepa said:
Dave, a bunch of us, which includes both Straight and Safety razor users, over at TSD are in total agreement! A BBS is a BBS regardless of how one arrives there. At Sharp Razor Forum the party line is that no razor shaves closer than a straight. Failure to accept the company line is thought to be nothing more than foolish, inexperienced statements from the uninitiated without the requisite level of expertise. Moderator after moderator spewed the same company line. One even went so far as to say he had shaved with DEs for 50 yrs and could never get as close a shave as he could with a straight razor. When I replied that it sounded like he’d never learned good safety razor technique he blocked me. I think they consider me some kind of troll, just because I kep insisting that I wouldn’t accept their assertions until I experienced it myself. Go figure??
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Doesn't sound like it's worth wasting time someplace like that. I stay nowhere when they are that closed minded. I like your response to him 😂
 
SOTD TUESDAY MORNING, JULY 28, 2020

I would say that my two sharpest straight razors are the Genco 35 and this Double Duck Goldedge. Neither razor’s shave comes close to my two Feather SS Barber’s Razors equipped with a Feather Super. I’ll just say it, they are an order of magnitude sharper! I shaved my right non-dominant side with the Feather SS and the left dominant side with the DD Goldedge to give it a leg up. The DD was recently honed with a new bevel set and about as sharp as it could be. Maybe I’m psychologically predisposed towards the Feather and the Feather Super blade, but the comparison was a DFS on the left side above the jawline and a VBBS on the right. I realize I’m only thirty or so shaves in, but I will spend next month with a shave focus on my three Barber’s razors.

Thank heavens for the new Fine Accoutrements safety razor. I used it to clean up my mug to the requisite VBBS level. It provided the same level of service for my dome. Now I realize the whole straight razor mantra about the willingness to settle for a nice smooth DFS. I’ll admit it. I just can’t do it! I’ve grown accustomed to that lovely velveteen feeling on both face and head, and find myself running my hand over the shave surfaces over the course of the day. I admit that I do tend to be bit OCD, but that always served me well during my working career, and it’s just too ingrained in my personality at this point to change, not that I’d even want to. More power to all my shave brothers who can settle for what I consider a sub par shave. I just can’t. I feel cool, clean and delightfully velveteen.

RAZOR: Double Duck Goldedge 6/8 (Mug), Fine Accoutrements New LC Tribute Safety Razor (Dome)
BLADE: Suneko DE (5)
PREP: Cold water rinse followed by a scrub with Rabid Banana Preshave Cube
BRUSH: Viking Silvertip Badger
SOAP: Mitchell’s Wool Fat w/ 6 drops of M-Bomb
POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with brush squeezings followed by Humphreys Lilac WH and Osage Rub. Finished with A&E Post-Shave Serum.

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Good reads and as to your comments from some of the other places, I wish I could tell you we did not hear that more. I have been shaving with DE's, SE's. Gems, and of course Straight razors, for almost 40+ years, including a 6 part Tutorial from Beginning to Advanced, and when I hear that no shave is as close to a straight I take issue, as it speaks elitism. A shave is the closest with the razor YOU feel the best with, shave the best with , and most importantly enjoy the most even if that is a cart and good. Judgemental shavers really need to get a life. I may be bias, but my advice to you would be ditch the rest and stay with the best. The TSC.... I hear it is a good joint LOL

Again good reads and watching you straight journey has and continues to be fun to follow
 
BarberDave said:
Good reads and as to your comments from some of the other places, I wish I could tell you we did not hear that more. I have been shaving with DE's, SE's. Gems, and of course Straight razors, for almost 40+ years, including a 6 part Tutorial from Beginning to Advanced, and when I hear that no shave is as close to a straight I take issue, as it speaks elitism. A shave is the closest with the razor YOU feel the best with, shave the best with , and most importantly enjoy the most even if that is a cart and good. Judgemental shavers really need to get a life. I may be bias, but my advice to you would be ditch the rest and stay with the best. The TSC.... I hear it is a good joint LOL

Again good reads and watching you straight journey has and continues to be fun to follow
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Thanks, Dave! I’m enjoying it, thus far. I do love my VBBS, and have been shaving with DEs and SEs for 50+ yrs. I’ve only used a cart a few times, the Omnishaver, and it gave me ingrown hairs.
 
SOTD WEDNESDAY MORNING, JULY 29, 2020

I enjoyed the shave with the Monsieur Charles Barber’s razor. The Schick B-20 Proline took a bit of doing to load, but performed decently. DFS all around the mug which I cleaned up with the Rex Ambassador to my desired VBBS level. The Rex is an awesome head shaver and delivered the same quality shave to the dome. This little Kent Synthetic is a surprisingly good lather generator. Great shave! I feel cool, clean and velveteen!

RAZOR: Monsieur Charles (Mug), Rex Ambassador (Dome)
BLADE: Schick B-20 Proline (Mug), Suneko (6) (Dome)
PREP: Cold water rinse followed by Rabid Banana Preshave Cube
BRUSH: Kent Infinity Synthetic
SOAP: Mitchell’s Wool Fat w/ 6 drops of M-Bomb
POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with brush squeezings followed by Humphreys Lilac WH and Osage Rub. Finished with Krampert’s Frostbite AS Splash.

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You definitely have quite a shave setup going! And Osage and Krampert's Frostbite...definitely going to catch a chill with that combination! Good stuff all around!
 
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