I am grumpy.
After getting 3 nicks during a single WTG pass using Mike's lather, 2 minor scrapes, and cutting my first 2 fingers on my left hand, I am . . . grumpy. Let it never be said again that I didn't shed blood to evaluate at least 1 razor in my life. Anyway . . .
I ordered a Matador open comb (Capa Azul) and Matador Toro Mastiff (closed comb; they don't have open combs for the Toro Mastiff handle or I would have just got that one) from Razor Blades & More. Excellent service, arrives quickly, no problem. My understanding is that the Matador open comb is the same head as the Cadet/Sabi/Pearl open combs, but perhaps with a touch more quality control and cool handles/engraving. I basically wanted to try the open comb head and the Toro Mastiff handle.
I opened the box and found both razors, as well as 3 5-packs of razor blades (Astras, Gillette Silver Blues, and blue Personna labs). Another nice touch was a small 1 oz tube of Cremo Cream.
Razor #1 - Toro Mastiff. Arrived in excellent condition, mildly surprised and discouraged to see a visible flaw at 2 feet on the handle. Only 1, and close inspection by myself (take that for what it's worth!) didn't pick up anything more. Nice, small, grippy handle. Photo showing handle flaw -
Razor #2 - Capa Azul open comb. Arrived in excellent condition in a tiny wooden box (I wouldn't characterize it as worth keeping, but nevertheless a nice touch). Razor is in excellent condition except for . . . the head is twisted. I've tried to replicate it in the photo; that's about how slanted it looks. The opposite side doesn't have that slant to it.
On to the shave . . .
I did 1 pass WTG with the Toro Mastiff on one side, and my old Muhle R89 on the other. Prep etc was as usual - hot shower, lathering with Mike's using my Muhle silvertip fiber brush.
Both razors did a decent job. Not as close in 1 pass as my 2013 R41, but decent. I did get 3 small nicks from the Toro Mastiff that I didn't get with my Muhle. I also noticed something else problematic with both razors, but moreso with the Toro Mastiff - the blade edges/tabs (the unsharpened edges I hold the blade by to put it into a razor) stick out a tiny bit more. It stuck out enough that I painfully nicked my nose doing a sideways pass under my nose.
I did try to figure out how tightly blades sat in each razor to determine tolerance and fit - I gripped each blade and wiggled it a bit when the razors were loosened (when tightened the blades looked well aligned and didn't move). Maybe a tiny bit more play on the Toro Mastiff. This is where I discovered that unsharpened razor edges will also cut, and now have bandages on 2 fingers of my left hand.
Soooo . . .
After getting 3 nicks during a single WTG pass using Mike's lather, 2 minor scrapes, and cutting my first 2 fingers on my left hand, I am . . . grumpy. Let it never be said again that I didn't shed blood to evaluate at least 1 razor in my life. Anyway . . .
I ordered a Matador open comb (Capa Azul) and Matador Toro Mastiff (closed comb; they don't have open combs for the Toro Mastiff handle or I would have just got that one) from Razor Blades & More. Excellent service, arrives quickly, no problem. My understanding is that the Matador open comb is the same head as the Cadet/Sabi/Pearl open combs, but perhaps with a touch more quality control and cool handles/engraving. I basically wanted to try the open comb head and the Toro Mastiff handle.
I opened the box and found both razors, as well as 3 5-packs of razor blades (Astras, Gillette Silver Blues, and blue Personna labs). Another nice touch was a small 1 oz tube of Cremo Cream.
Razor #1 - Toro Mastiff. Arrived in excellent condition, mildly surprised and discouraged to see a visible flaw at 2 feet on the handle. Only 1, and close inspection by myself (take that for what it's worth!) didn't pick up anything more. Nice, small, grippy handle. Photo showing handle flaw -
Razor #2 - Capa Azul open comb. Arrived in excellent condition in a tiny wooden box (I wouldn't characterize it as worth keeping, but nevertheless a nice touch). Razor is in excellent condition except for . . . the head is twisted. I've tried to replicate it in the photo; that's about how slanted it looks. The opposite side doesn't have that slant to it.
On to the shave . . .
I did 1 pass WTG with the Toro Mastiff on one side, and my old Muhle R89 on the other. Prep etc was as usual - hot shower, lathering with Mike's using my Muhle silvertip fiber brush.
Both razors did a decent job. Not as close in 1 pass as my 2013 R41, but decent. I did get 3 small nicks from the Toro Mastiff that I didn't get with my Muhle. I also noticed something else problematic with both razors, but moreso with the Toro Mastiff - the blade edges/tabs (the unsharpened edges I hold the blade by to put it into a razor) stick out a tiny bit more. It stuck out enough that I painfully nicked my nose doing a sideways pass under my nose.
I did try to figure out how tightly blades sat in each razor to determine tolerance and fit - I gripped each blade and wiggled it a bit when the razors were loosened (when tightened the blades looked well aligned and didn't move). Maybe a tiny bit more play on the Toro Mastiff. This is where I discovered that unsharpened razor edges will also cut, and now have bandages on 2 fingers of my left hand.
Soooo . . .