The Razor Iron Maiden

Reviewing safety razors is not an easy task and there are a few reasons why this is so. First reason is that a safety razor is composed of a lot of different elements which all influence "the shave" in one way or another. We have things like the material, the weight, the balance and, perhaps most important of all, the razor head's geometry. Now if that wasn't enough variety, we have another crucial component we have to take into consideration when trying to transmit how a shaving tool performs. And that's the combination of the user's requirements and preferences. This last element is almost impossible to inventarise because it would mean entering into each user's bathroom and I'm not willing to do that. But the first part of the...

This review is about the Merkur 34C Edition 1896 Introduction The Merkur brand is a classic in Solingen, a city in North Rhine-Westphalia located between Leverkusen and Wuppertal. This city has a protected designation of origin since 1938 and a long tradition of cutting tools. Naturally, razors and safety razors are also part of their offerings. The company was founded in 1896 by Emil Hermes, who couldn't use his surname because it was already registered. Instead, he used the Roman version of the Greek god Hermes, Mercury (Merkur). I've already told you this story in other reviews of Merkur razors but it's still worth repeating because it's the company's origin. And after more than 125 years in the shaving market, Merkur is releasing...

This review is about the Alpha Shaving Works The Guido Introduction Those familiar with my reviews know that I usually use the introduction to paint a picture of the razor I'm reviewing that week. I talk about the manufacturer or the person who designed it to place the razor within a specific style or linked to a certain design philosophy. This gives us an idea of what we can expect from the razor in question, both technically and aesthetically, within a particular stylistic framework. In this case, we have before us the Alpha Shaving Works “The Guido.” A razor manufactured by Steve Tinter of Alpha in collaboration with John Venturino, who runs the YouTube channel “Stubble meets Steel.” John recounts in one of his videos how...

This review is about the Tatara Amakuni Ti Introduction Tatara is one of the few razor brands we have on the Iberian Peninsula. These Portuguese guys have created a line of razors, along with several other shaving products, that are high-quality and have a very distinctive aesthetic. So distinctive, in fact, that they constitute their own shaving peninsula. A clear example of this is the incompatibility of their razor heads with standard handles. The Masamune and Muramasa razors don't accept any other type and the Nodachi can only be used with its own head, the Masamune's, or, with some exceptions, with conventional handles. It seems that Tatara wants to control (almost) every aspect of their razors to ensure the experience is exactly...

This review is about the Blackland Osprey Ti Introduction Blackland is the company that gave us the Blackbird and the Vector, two benchmarks in the world of razors. Whether they are benchmarks for their technical capabilities, aesthetics or innovation, each one can decide for themselves according to what appeals to them most. Today we're reviewing another razor from the collection of the wonderful @J349, who generously sent me a few to review. I send him my warmest regards and a thousand thanks. The razor in question is the Titanium Blackland Osprey. Blackland offers all its base models in different materials, with stainless steel and titanium being the most common. Titanium, in my opinion, is a perfect material for a razor because...

This review is about the Yaqi Ghost Ti 90 DC (Double Comb) Introduction I don't like combination combs. Or rather, I don't like double-edge razors with different combs. I don't see the point. If I want an open comb, I'll buy a razor with two open combs, not just one. And vice versa, if I'm looking for a razor with a closed comb, why would I want one side with an open comb? It doesn't make sense. So why do I own this Yaqi razor? I'm talking about the Yaqi Ghost 90 Ti DC with a combination comb. One side has a closed comb and the other an open comb. If what I just said in the first paragraph were true, my purchase would have no reasonable explanation. And yet, it does. There are a few reasons why I bought it; let me explain my...

This review is about the Alpha Shaving Outlaw Evolution Ti Introduction Steve Tinter owns Alpha Shaving, based in Hong Kong. He started the business because he loved (and still loves) brushes and decided to make them himself. Gradually, he also ventured into designing and manufacturing razors. And not without success. His name is associated with razors like the original Outlaw, the Spirit AC, the Claymore Evo AC, the Eclipse and several custom models he produced for different groups of enthusiasts. Examples include the Cape Cod, the Shave Dad, the Lone Star, the UKWSS and the Gloria. These razors use the same base but are completely different from one another. Today we're focusing on a razor that uses the design that has most...

This review is about the Stando Prowe Introduction Some time ago I did a series of reviews of razors from the Polish manufacturer Stando. What I remember from that series is that all of these razors all had a very good quality standard. Good construction, practical in use and a modest but reasonable finish. Working-class razors that know what they're doing and do it well. And today, thanks to the generosity of @Alb74, we have another Stando to review. This is the Stando Prowe SE. A single-edge razor that uses DE half-blades. At first glance, it seems to follow the same design as its siblings: solid industrial-like construction, a matte sandblasted finish and a functional handle. In these reviews, razors are scored based on several...

This review is about the Lambda Ares v2 Introduction Lambda Razors is Theodoros Dragonas's company and is located in the northern part of the peninsula located west of Athens. This region, bordered by the Gulf of Corinth, boasts endless beaches and picturesque locations—an inspiring landscape. The engineers at Grand Seiko, a highly prestigious watch brand in Japan (and everywhere else except Switzerland), have their design studio in the city of Shizukuishi in Iwate Prefecture, a region with breathtaking scenery. When you strive for a very high level of quality, every detail matters. There's little to no room for error because at that level, every detail is magnified, whether good or bad. I've already reviewed the Ares v2.'s...

This review is about Lambda Athena. Introduction There are times in life when situations arise where you don't quite know how to react. In many cases, these are new situations or surprising events for which you haven't yet found an appropriate response. This is how I feel today as I write this review. Theodoros Dragonas is a craftsman who has created two razors for his Lambda brand. One is the Ares, and the one I'm reviewing today is the Athena. The Lambda Athena is a razor very different from any other I know. And it has surprised me a lot. A quick summary: it's a razor that contains bronze (I've never owned or used a razor with bronze, much less in an alloy), it's a razor with a closed comb (I prefer open combs, and although it...

This review is about the Above the Tie Windsor Ti (R plate) Introduction The Above the Tie brand was created in 2011 by Stan Hickam. To be more precise, the name was created by his son-in-law, Matt, but Stan had already conceived the business idea. Stan worked as a radiologist at a medical center and he and his wife, Lennea, have a daughter named Mariah. When Mariah moved out, Stan began searching for vintage Gillette razors to fully restore and resell on eBay. This continued for a while, but soon after, with his Above the Tie (AtT) brand already up and running, Stan also began offering brushes, soaps and other razors than Gillettes with rhodium plating. He wanted to offer high-quality tools to a broad audience. The next logical...

This review is about the Минлегпищемаш AGAT (Minlegpischemash – Ministry of Mechanical Engineering for Light Industry, Food and Household Appliances of the USSR) Introduction Sometimes reviews come out that represent more than just a couple of shaves. This is reflected, for example, in razors made with special materials, from a particular manufacturer or with an unusual design. And other times it's not these elements that make the razor stand out, but rather the story behind it. But there are razors that combine all of these elements. And in this case, we have a razor before us that does just that. Special materials, a unique manufacturer and a less common design. I'm talking about the Минлегпищемаш AGAT. The owner, who kindly...

This review is about the Kämpfe 30St11-F11X “Slim” Introduction There was a time in China when no one cared if trademarked names were used on products not manufactured by the company in question. In other words, it was acceptable for Chinese-made copies of other companies' products to be manufactured and sold under those other companies' names without a license. These are the classic knock-offs we've always seen from street vendors on the beaches: the crocodile polo shirts, the watches with the crown logo, and the handbags with the intertwined L and V. This practice has now also extended to the realm of razors. With the globalization of markets and the growth of the internet and mega-sales platforms, these products can be sold...

This review is about the Filomatic Inox Introduction “Everything in shaving has already been invented”. It’s a phrase I have used on many occasions because on my journey reviewing razors, the vintage models have never disappointed me and the modern models have never really surprised me. Today we go back. Way back. We go back to a piece of Spanish history, the Filomatic Inox. The Filomatic Inox is a brilliant concept. This razor wasn't designed to be the best razor. No. This razor was created and given away to hundreds of thousands of people in Spain to foster loyalty to the new Filomatic blade. A new razor for a new blade. Until then, blades had used a different design. The Bassat family owned factories that produced cutting...