This is something that I've been wanting to do for perhaps a year now. Our Wiki includes a great reference for blade gaps, but the "Double-Edged Safety Razors Ranked by Aggressiveness" has never actually included a list of razors....
The goal of this list was well explained by GBinOZ, below:
Part of why I haven't tried to get this going yet is that I keep wanting to make it perfect (and complicated). So, to get it actually finally going, I'm just going to throw something out to you guys and hope something useful can evolve from our discussion.
First some notes:
Legend:
10 = Most aggressive DE on the market
Numbers between are a compilation of (mostly) experience-based opinions of the relative differences between razors. These numbers are not based on any objective measurements, but are a compilation of subjective and qualitative best guesses from member's replies below in this thread.
1 = Least aggressive
~ indicates a razor that is seeing some variance in opinions ... please reply with your vote so we can get a better average
? indicates a razor that is seeing a lot of variance in opinions ... PLEASE REPLY WITH YOUR VOTE!
List as updated on 6/11/2014 at around 1pm CST:
10.0 Muhle R41 (2011) (out of production, but included as the most-aggressive reference point)
10.0 Merkur Futur on 6.5
9.5 Muhle R41 (2013)
9.0 ATT H2
8.5 ATT H1
8.5 Joris
8.5 FaTip
8.0 Cadet OC / RazoRock OC
~7.0 RazoRock SLAB
7.0 I Kon SB
6.5 ATT R2
6.5 RazoRock Slant
6.5 RazoRock Jaws
5.5 ATT R1
~5.0 Merkur 37C/39C Slant
?5.0 I Kon Slant
5.0 ATT M2
4.0 I Kon Shave Craft 101
4.0 ATT M1
4.0 Weber Polished Head (PH)
4.0 I Kon OC
3.5 Merkur 34C HD
3.5 Merkur 38C Barber pole
3.5 Muhle or Edwin Jagger 89
3.0 Utopia Long Handle
3.0 RazoRock Mission
3.0 SS Pils 101
3.0 I Kon OSS (OC side is 2.0?)
3.0 Giesen and Forsthoff Timor
2.5 Merkur 1904
2.5 RiMei
2.0 Feather Popular
2.0 Feather AS-D2
1.5 Weishi / Micro Touch One
1.0 Feather AS-D1 (out of production, but included as the least aggressive reference point)
Looking for any initial votes on:
?? Merkur Vision (used at settings other than the max at 6.5)
?? Merkur Futur (either at max and lowest settings, or a complete listing of settings?)
?? Merkur Progress (either at max and lowest settings, or a complete listing of settings?)
?? Any other Merkurs in current (focusing on distinct heads ... with the assumption that heavier handles yield more aggression)
?? Any Parker razors (focusing on distinct heads ... with the assumption that heavier handles yield more aggression)
Please cast your votes to help us build a better list:
Thank you!
Shawnsel
The goal of this list was well explained by GBinOZ, below:
"A chart that someone could look at and say " I have razor X and want something more aggressive", and be able to locate his razor X on the chart and see which razors are more aggressive and by how much more than his razor, all based on other members impressions rather than on measurements."
Part of why I haven't tried to get this going yet is that I keep wanting to make it perfect (and complicated). So, to get it actually finally going, I'm just going to throw something out to you guys and hope something useful can evolve from our discussion.
First some notes:
- To start, I'd like to limit this list to current production models. This will help to keep the list shorter and more manageable. Perhaps later we can also create a ranked list of vintage razors.
- I have come to accept that this is definitely a YMMV subject ... but I still think a general consensus should be obtainable with a degree of quality that will provide a useful reference.
- I'd like to define aggressiveness loosely and subjectively. Those higher on the list will have some combination of larger blade gaps, greater blade exposure (which is hard to accurately measure), and/or position the blade at a steeper angle against the skin. Aggressive razors will also likely be heavier, and may be balanced differently between handle and head. Longer handles (independent of weight and balance) may also increase aggressiveness for some (likely depending on technique).
On the flip side, precise tolerances, precise blade alignment between the base bar and head, and an even blade gap (consistent on both ends of the razor head), coupled with good quality control by the manufacture may help to make a razor feel more mild than it might otherwise be.
It would be too easy for us to get permanently stuck on debating what aggressiveness is ... I'd like to just to give it our best shot for now. I realize that some shavers will get a less-harsh (on the skin) shave from a carefully handled Muhle R41 (2011) that they would from many passes with a Feather AS-D1 ... and I will explain that if this ever evolves into a wiki-worthy page, but my hope is that we can still come up with a sort of public opinion poll, qualitative list ... that while scientifically less-rigorous will be useful as a rough guide.
- Blades are for many a critical part of this equation, but this thread isn't focusing on the blade/razor combo.
Legend:
10 = Most aggressive DE on the market
Numbers between are a compilation of (mostly) experience-based opinions of the relative differences between razors. These numbers are not based on any objective measurements, but are a compilation of subjective and qualitative best guesses from member's replies below in this thread.
1 = Least aggressive
~ indicates a razor that is seeing some variance in opinions ... please reply with your vote so we can get a better average
? indicates a razor that is seeing a lot of variance in opinions ... PLEASE REPLY WITH YOUR VOTE!
List as updated on 6/11/2014 at around 1pm CST:
10.0 Muhle R41 (2011) (out of production, but included as the most-aggressive reference point)
10.0 Merkur Futur on 6.5
9.5 Muhle R41 (2013)
9.0 ATT H2
8.5 ATT H1
8.5 Joris
8.5 FaTip
8.0 Cadet OC / RazoRock OC
~7.0 RazoRock SLAB
7.0 I Kon SB
6.5 ATT R2
6.5 RazoRock Slant
6.5 RazoRock Jaws
5.5 ATT R1
~5.0 Merkur 37C/39C Slant
?5.0 I Kon Slant
5.0 ATT M2
4.0 I Kon Shave Craft 101
4.0 ATT M1
4.0 Weber Polished Head (PH)
4.0 I Kon OC
3.5 Merkur 34C HD
3.5 Merkur 38C Barber pole
3.5 Muhle or Edwin Jagger 89
3.0 Utopia Long Handle
3.0 RazoRock Mission
3.0 SS Pils 101
3.0 I Kon OSS (OC side is 2.0?)
3.0 Giesen and Forsthoff Timor
2.5 Merkur 1904
2.5 RiMei
2.0 Feather Popular
2.0 Feather AS-D2
1.5 Weishi / Micro Touch One
1.0 Feather AS-D1 (out of production, but included as the least aggressive reference point)
Looking for any initial votes on:
?? Merkur Vision (used at settings other than the max at 6.5)
?? Merkur Futur (either at max and lowest settings, or a complete listing of settings?)
?? Merkur Progress (either at max and lowest settings, or a complete listing of settings?)
?? Any other Merkurs in current (focusing on distinct heads ... with the assumption that heavier handles yield more aggression)
?? Any Parker razors (focusing on distinct heads ... with the assumption that heavier handles yield more aggression)
Please cast your votes to help us build a better list:
- List your suggested rankings in the #.# brand and model fashion
- If any of these razors are out of production, please let us know
- If I've misspelled or labeled anything incorrectly, please point it out
- If you have experience with currently-in-production models not on the list ... please attach a number to it and vote
- Please specify if your votes come from personal experience OR from what you've heard/read. A vote from personal experience will be given a lot more weight.
- Feel free to explain qualifiers or caveats underneath your votes
- In about a week I'll throw our current rough-consensus up on the wiki page ... and then we can cast more specific votes to move relative rankings up or down
- If you have time, I'd love your help. Please feel free to create and edit the wiki page at any time
Thank you!
Shawnsel
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