REVIEW - RazoRock 'Bazooka' Double Edged Razor

WHAT IS IT, AND WHAT DOES IT DO?
RazoRock Bazooka DE Razor

It is a double edged safety razor, that shaves your boat race.

DESCRIPTION:
Bazooka by name, Bazooka by nature.  You can understand why it inherited the name it has when you first lay eyes on the razor.  It is one huge hunk of metal.  It is a heavy piece of metal too.

The handle is a solid stainless steel beast, nicely knurled and very solid.  It adds some heft to the razor, allowing it to tip the scales at 5.6 ounces.  It is not a long handle, rather it allows the razor overall to stand at a not so lofty 3 11/32 inches.  The steel is polished in non knurled areas, and has a slightly rounded base.

Size comparison here, against my Merkur 39C (top) and an Edwin Jagger DE89 variant (bottom):

The head is of a closed comb design, and appears to be a plated pot metal, probably zamak.  It is etched with the RazoRock logo on the top cap.  Whilst the plating and overall finish of the two head pieces isn't up there with the likes of Edwin Jagger, Muhle and Merkur, it is not bad.  The cap allows for reasonable blade alignment, nothing that would detract from the quality of the shave.

CONCLUSIVE COMMENTS:
I was looking for a razor that was different from my slant, but emulated one of the properties I loved about a Mongoose, the hefty weight.  This razor delivers in that department well!  It is a joy to hold and a joy to shave with.  The weight of the razor allows you to shave well with no pressure.  It has a good amount of blade exposure, enough so that the blade almost sings as it slices through your whiskers.  I first thought the short stature of the razor would present a problem, but I am glad to say it was not to be.  Did it blow me away in any way?  Well yes it did, the quality of the shave was superb.  A fresh Astra Superior Stainless blade allowed for a close, but drama free shave.  In one pass, it gets closer than my slantbar razor, not something I expected from what has to be considered a budget razor.  Budget you say?  Yes.  It comes in for less than twenty Imperial Credits of the Realm.  For a solid, quality stainless steel handle, and a nice shaving head, you'd expect to pay more.

REVIEW - Edwin Jagger DELLI89bl

WHAT IS IT, AND WHAT DOES IT DO?
Edwin Jagger DELLI14bl Lilac Double Edge Razor - Purchased for the wife as a gift after she expressed an interest in DE shaving.  I will admit I've used it a few times myself, after all, when in Rome!

DESCRIPTION:
Blurb below direct from Edwin Jagger:

"The all new Edwin Jagger Lady's Pearl-Effect DE Razor is the only wet-shaving product designed specifically for women who are looking for a clean and effective shave, with a razor that reflects personality. A longer handle provides enhanced reach, for those trickier areas and a choice of four beautiful new pearl-effect colours means you can have a smooth shave without compromising on style. This razor will give you a soft and close shave when used with our Edwin Jagger shaving creams and lotions and we advise that you swap your blades regularly for optimal use. These fabulous, much talked about, DE razors are fitted with a precision Edwin Jagger DE blade head, a favourite amongst experienced wet shavers. The closed comb head is expertly engineered and is finished with high quality chrome plate. Dimensions:Handle Length 93mm(3.7in) Total Length 101mm(4in)"

I've taken some photos showing the individual parts of the razor and how they fit together.  Notice the quality of the plating, the finish overall and the fit.  It's a quality item make no mistake.

CONCLUSIVE COMMENTS:
This is a well built razor, mild in use and quite forgiving.  For those starting out in traditional wet shaving, or those looking for a mild razor, you'd be hard pressed to beat the DE89 head from Edwin Jagger.  The handle personally for me is a little on the slippery side, but not to the point it is rendered unusable.  The colour too, as per the description from EJ, is really aimed at women or those who really like lilac!  Not my personal taste, but my wife loves it.  She is able to use it with comfort (as indeed can I), without feeling too much of the blade.

Merkur 39C Double Edged Slant Bar Razor (aka The Sledgehammer)

Welcome fellow shavers!

This post is dedicated to my first and favourite double edged razor, the Merkur 39C Slant.

I spent an inordinate amount of time researching this purchase, looking for what was meant to be the best razor to suit my sensitive skin and tough beard growth.  Everywhere I looked I saw slants purported to suit, so, a good look around at the modern options (I wasn't ready to buy vintage just yet) available led me here.

As you can see from the photograph, there is a subtle 'twist' to the head, meaning the blade runs at a slight angle from perpendicular to the handle, ensuring a guillotine type slicing action.  When you consider why this is, you begin to understand how it is more efficient at cutting whiskers.

 

 This is a two piece razor, and you release the head by twisting the ball end at the bottom, a simple and effective design, ensuring blade loading is simple and generally hazard free.

The razor is a closed comb design, with a heavily notched safety bar as seen below.

The subtle twist and closed comb design makes for a very comfortable shave, when combined with a nice sharp blade.  I personally favour Astra Superior Stainless (blue pack) and Gillette 7 o'clock Yellow blades in this razor.  They are sharp to the point where they cut very efficiently, yet retain a smoothness that renders irritation to the past.  I can shave in all directions with complete comfort (with, across and against the grain) when paired with a quality soap or cream, something I could never do with a cartridge razor.  Shave in short strokes for best results and you will be rewarded with quite probably the closest shave you will ever have.  Total BBS (baby bottom smooth) shaves were once a pipe dream, now they are an every day occurrence.  My skin, not to mention my wife, thank me for it.

The Merkur 39C is a well built razor, solid in it's construction, the plating is of high quality, and the overall impression from day one was that this was a very good purchase.  I have not been let down in any way.  

Merkur do state that the release mechanism requires a little maintenance, in as much as they suggest a little oil to prevent sticking.  This is no hardship at all, something that given you care for your face enough to consider proper shaving, will prove no issue at all.  It takes all of one minute maximum, and I do this once a fortnight.  I put a few drops of oil down the razor handle (through the hole in the middle, in the last picture shown), and sit the razor upright to allow it to flow down the handle.  Whilst doing this, I turn the release ball mechanism to work the oil in.  I then sit the razor inverted (head down) on a folded piece of tissue paper to absorb excess oil.  It's then ready to use next time.

So there we have it.  If you are looking for your first razor (or indeed an addition to your ever increasing collection), and you have sensitive skin and heavy growth, then you really should consider the Merkur 39C.  It is worthy of a place in anybodies shave den.

Thanks for reading!
Nick