Criteria
How we test safety razors
A razor is a simple object, which makes it easy to judge. Here are the five things that decide a good one, and how this razor answers each.
The criteria
- The full range of the dial. A dial is only worth having if the lowest number is genuinely forgiving and the highest one is genuinely close. This one is numbered on the neck, with a red index mark; buyers describe one as mild and three as noticeably keener.
- Weight and where it sits. 81 grams is the figure. What matters more is where those grams sit: a razor that is head-heavy drops into the stroke on its own, which is the point.
- Grip with wet, soapy hands. Knurling that works dry and slips wet is knurling that failed. The brass handle is knurled along its whole length, 77 mm long and 12 mm across.
- Changing the blade. Three pieces, one thread. The thread is long enough that you never have to put a finger near an edge to line the blade up.
- Finish in a bathroom. Steam, soap and splashes, every day. The head is zinc alloy and aluminum under a chrome finish, the handle is brass. Rinse the head under a hot tap after each shave, shake it and stand the razor on its end.
What happens if it is not right for you
Shaving preference is personal, and a dial only narrows the gap so far. So the decision stays reversible for a month. Every order carries a 30-day money-back guarantee, so the risk is on us, not you.