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Timeless Bronze vs Karve recommendations

BadgerFiend

BadgerFiend

Sr. Shave Member
First Responder
Hello. Im looking to get either Timeless bronze 0.38 SB or Karve with an A or B plate SB - I prefer mild razors. Currently, I’ve been enjoying ATT M1 which is mild but efficient and smooth, for me at least. Which should I go with and why? Thank you for your feedback in advance.
 
Sounds like what you're currently using is working great & is already what you're looking for.
However, if you want another razor just because (and trust us we understand how deep the holes are!) then either one of those are great choices! I have extensive experience with the Karve B,C, & D plates. It's a great razor & I prefer the D plate myself as the B required to much buffing & more strokes to get where I wanted it. The D plate got there me there much faster & with fewer strokes.
The standard answer is get both!!
 
ShavePastor said:
Sounds like what you're currently using is working great & is already what you're looking for.
However, if you want another razor just because (and trust us we understand how deep the holes are!) then either one of those are great choices! I have extensive experience with the Karve B,C, & D plates. It's a great razor & I prefer the D plate myself as the B required to much buffing & more strokes to get where I wanted it. The D plate got there me there much faster & with fewer strokes.
The standard answer is get both!!
Click to expand...
With the Karve, they change both the gap and the exposure between plates. I think B is slightly negative in exposure. C is either zero or very slightly positive. I had A, B, and C... I liked C, but it got too agressive for me at times. I also felt B required a bit of work to get a smooth clean DFS. Plate A I couldn't get to work for me... I felt it would have been a 12 pass shave.
 
Haven't tried the Timeless Brass SB but have wanted to. The OC was too much for me although I got a smooth save. When I had the Karve I preferred the C
 
Thanks for all the replies. Probably will get both eventually, just trying to distract myself another week with research until I let myself pull the trigger.
the ATT M1 has a 25mm blade gap, so quite a bit less than both. Unsure of blade exposure on it. I’m leaning toward the A plate Karve. Rationale is that I have a Merkur 34c, which seems to be a similar spec blade gap as the B plate. The Merkur is mild but always bites my neck once a shave. I know there is more physics and design involved with how it performs but this all I have to go by.
RAD has never hit me hard since I started 5 years ago - guess I better embrace and invest in a few quality razors that work for me while I’m afflicted by it.
 
BadgerFiend said:
Thanks for all the replies. Probably will get both eventually, just trying to distract myself another week with research until I let myself pull the trigger.
the ATT M1 has a 25mm blade gap, so quite a bit less than both. Unsure of blade exposure on it. I’m leaning toward the A plate Karve. Rationale is that I have a Merkur 34c, which seems to be a similar spec blade gap as the B plate. The Merkur is mild but always bites my neck once a shave. I know there is more physics and design involved with how it performs but this all I have to go by.
RAD has never hit me hard since I started 5 years ago - guess I better embrace and invest in a few quality razors that work for me while I’m afflicted by it.
Click to expand...

Have you acquired the Razorock Game Changer SB (.68) or (.84)? This is in my opinion a smoother & more mild razor (as far as how it feels on the face) than the Karve!

Or perhaps the Razorock Mamba (.53) or (.70)? These are also really great mild razors
 
ShavePastor said:
Have you acquired the Razorock Game Changer SB (.68) or (.84)? This is in my opinion a smoother & more mild razor (as far as how it feels on the face) than the Karve!

Or perhaps the Razorock Mamba (.53) or (.70)? These are also really great mild razors
Click to expand...
I got to agree with that. I just shaved with my GC 84 last week and with my Mamba 70 last night. If you are more a mild shaver, I would recommend the Mamba 70 because it is truly a ghost shaver. You don't even feel it shaving. the GC does have some blade feel to it, but not much. both are extremely efficient.

As for the Timeless, I have not tried the bronze, however I own a stainless smooth cap with a safety bar and generally I find the head a little too bulky and not easy to shave with.
 
So in full disclosure, I don't have either. I have tried the Karve and I have tried a Timeless (various heads and plates but not the bronze). I have to say...in my opinion, I feel the Timeless is a better razor. I believe it to be better made as well. But honestly it's all going to be what you prefer.
 
Pulled the trigger on the Karve - B SB and 3.25” handle. Full disclosure, I ordered one a few weeks ago but after not hearing anything for about 2 weeks, asked for a refund. Was told it would be shipped the following week. Proceeded with a refund, which was promptly done - had a little freak out moment comparing the transaction to an eBay purchase gone bad. After researching more, found I wasn’t the only one to get that kind of service - I get it now, just a busy guy making these razors and we are accustom to quick shipping (prime) and/or top notch customer service (Maggards for example). I figure anyway, I’ll have purchased the Timeless and used it several times as well while waiting for the Karve .... hopefully this cures the acute case of RAD I have been afflicted with.🙃
 
BadgerFiend said:
Pulled the trigger on the Karve - B SB and 3.25” handle. Full disclosure, I ordered one a few weeks ago but after not hearing anything for about 2 weeks, asked for a refund. Was told it would be shipped the following week. Proceeded with a refund, which was promptly done - had a little freak out moment comparing the transaction to an eBay purchase gone bad. After researching more, found I wasn’t the only one to get that kind of service - I get it now, just a busy guy making these razors and we are accustom to quick shipping (prime) and/or top notch customer service (Maggards for example). I figure anyway, I’ll have purchased the Timeless and used it several times as well while waiting for the Karve .... hopefully this cures the acute case of RAD I have been afflicted with.[emoji854]
Click to expand...
Yep, Karve is definitely a slow operator. It used to be a one man job, and a side job at that. I don't know his situation now.

In this day and age, it can be tough to swallow, but his work is great. Hopefully you will be happy in the end. [emoji846]

Which did you order... SS or Brass? The brass is quite a deal, you just need to know how you want it to look and be proactive.
 
mrdoug said:
Yep, Karve is definitely a slow operator. It used to be a one man job, and a side job at that. I don't know his situation now.

In this day and age, it can be tough to swallow, but his work is great. Hopefully you will be happy in the end. [emoji846]

Which did you order... SS or Brass? The brass is quite a deal, you just need to know how you want it to look and be proactive.
Click to expand...
The brass for sure - really like the look and look forward to the patina. I enjoy the patina of my Case CV pocket knives :cool:
 
BadgerFiend said:
The brass for sure - really like the look and look forward to the patina. I enjoy the patina of my Case CV pocket knives :cool:
Click to expand...
The Brass looks nice, and I love the patina...... what did it for me was the smell. I couldn't stand the smell of the brass, when it was close to my face. Sold mine for mainly that reason. Also, I'm a fan of mild razors, and for me the C plate was too harsh and the B plate was too mild. Hope the B plate works for you.
 
I wasn't a fan of the patina, so I coated mine in Renaissance wax shortly after getting it. I never noticed a smell. I wonder if the wax had anything to do with it? Curious.
 
Spider said:
The Brass looks nice, and I love the patina...... what did it for me was the smell. I couldn't stand the smell of the brass, when it was close to my face. Sold mine for mainly that reason. Also, I'm a fan of mild razors, and for me the C plate was too harsh and the B plate was too mild. Hope the B plate works for you.
Click to expand...
I’m hoping the smell isn’t an issue; didn’t even think about that.
I always thought I needed more aggressiveness the past few years.... menacing large blade gap slants, adjustable set to 11, Muhle R41, etc., but since I always went back to the Merkur 34 and recently bumped my #1 spot to the ATT M1, I finally figured out that mild is the way to go. I almost got the A plate instead but read somewhere that the B plate was the baseline for the Karve so I would start there.
 
BadgerFiend said:
I’m hoping the smell isn’t an issue; didn’t even think about that.
I always thought I needed more aggressiveness the past few years.... menacing large blade gap slants, adjustable set to 11, Muhle R41, etc., but since I always went back to the Merkur 34 and recently bumped my #1 spot to the ATT M1, I finally figured out that mild is the way to go. I almost got the A plate instead but read somewhere that the B plate was the baseline for the Karve so I would start there.
Click to expand...
The 34C was my go-to razor for a very long time, and until recently was my only modern razor. I think you made the right call on the B plate. IF you do find it too aggressive for your tastes, you can probably pick up an A plate on the second hand market..... I suspect there are a lot of them out there getting no use.
 
Spider said:
The 34C was my go-to razor for a very long time, and until recently was my only modern razor. I think you made the right call on the B plate. IF you do find it too aggressive for your tastes, you can probably pick up an A plate on the second hand market..... I suspect there are a lot of them out there getting no use.
Click to expand...
I think the B was a good choice. I don't recall ever feeling it was too agressive.

Oddly enough, I have never used a 34c. Almost bought one several times, but always stopped short.
 
ShavePastor said:
Good job @BadgerFiend!! Now let us know when you get the Timeless! (& of course shave reports)
Click to expand...

Not wanting to complicate things even more, but what are friends for ...

My ATT Atlas M1 could have been my last razor. Sure I rotated through others but it was my go to razor and has now become my go to travel razor. As to my everyday go to razor I had an itch to try a Timeless. The Timeless Titanium 0.68 SB is now the last razor I will ever need. It is smooth and efficient and the titanium face feel makes no sense but is somehow softer on my face than any other material. The first few shaves were a great for mildness and comfort but lacking in efficiency. And then I discovered the key for me. The Timeless needs to be used at a steeper angle. After changing to a steep angle, I get three pass BBS shaves with no irritation almost daily. I am a daily shaver with a light moderate to moderate blonde turning grey beard.

Full disclosure, even though the Timeless Titanium is the last razor I need, a Janus should be at my door next month.
 
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