I received the new REX Envoy and a tub of Razor Emporium Barbershop soap as part of a pass around. I had my first shave with the Envoy tonight. I ended up testing the soap also just to make it a complete RE shave experience. At first I wasn't going to spend time reviewing the soap, but the performance of the soap changed that real quickly. The soap was fantastic. It was easy to lather and the scent was as close to a true Barbershop scent of any soap I tried. It was not overpowering, but it was lasting. A half hour after the shave, I can still smell it. It was easy to build a rich lather, but it was not a thirsty soap. When I though I could build the lather a bit more, I added a couple more drops of water and the lather turned airy. Still, it laid a slick and well cushioned base for my shave.
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The Envoy itself is a dead ringer for the Ambassador except for the absence of the adjustment area. Even the handle mimics a two piece razor very well, however it is a three piece razor. It is very hefty like the ambassador and does include a serial number and date code on the base plate. The base plate is indented where the handle screws in and the handle is also indented to fit. This makes it hard (but not impossible) to use other handles. Overall build quality and finish is excellent and equal to the Ambassador.
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I loaded the Envoy with a blade that did not have much shaves left on it, which is something I do when I test all new razors. This is so I can get a feel of the characteristics of the razor. I remember that Matt from Razor Emporium had said it was supposed to be equivalent to a 3 setting of the Ambassador, however it felt a little more (like closer to a 4). Weight and balance of the Envoy was very similar to the Ambassador. While shaving, I found that I could adjust the angle to go milder or more aggressive by about a half setting. I'm not sure if the Ambassador could do that, but this was primarily because I never tried it since I adjusted the setting between passes. I ended up with a two pass plus minimal touch up BBS. Tomorrow, I will try shaving with a new blade and if I feel as comfortable with the razor as I did tonight, I will compare the Envoy to the Ambassador by the weekend.
For those that prefer medium range razors and don't want to spend the money on an Ambassador, the Envoy is definitely a razor to consider.
