Very few things make me go Wow! When I peel the package back but my new Wolfman WR1-DC Polished and stand arrived today and what a great first impression. I have an ATT R2 Colossus and it's a great razor but it feels like a high quality tool where the Wolfman feels like jewelry... I'm almost a little reluctant to get it wet!
Initial impressions are that it feels well balanced despite having a surprisingly lightweight head, the handle is heavier and a little larger diameter than I would have guessed and the knurling is aggressive and gives a confident purchase. The head is thinner than the ATT so I'm looking forward to good handling around the nares. The Wolfman branding on the bottom plate is tasteful and perfectly done. Finish is absolutely beautiful in every respect including under the cap and the threads. Like I said, finished like jewelry. The stand is equal to the razor and holds the razor with confidence. The Wolfman and the ATT stands do not interchange owing to the handle diameters if anyone was wondering.
I'll fire it up later tonight and add my shave impression but reading the reviews and now holding the razor in hand I have pretty high confidence that it will earn a big thumbs up. As has been mentioned in several threads, James is crafting a first class razor and the purchase experience is very positive. I was on the tail end of the old pricing and it feels like I got a bargain but I wouldn't hesitate to purchase at the new prices, this is an heirloom quality tool and even comes with the satisfaction of knowing it was made and finished largely by hand by a real artisan who obviously cares about quality.
Some pictures and more later...
Later...
OK couldn't wait any longer so off to the Fortress Of Solitude I went!
Decided to go with an Astra SP and my favored cream, Simpson's Citrus Burst. Started in with the OC side and flipped to the SB side a few times including under the nose, looking for some comparison data. As I expected, performance (fit) under the nose was very good. Really didn't perceive enough difference in "efficiency" or "aggressiveness" between combs to make conversation although in a couple of my harder hills and valleys like dimples and under the nose I flipped to SB and got good coverage without snagging any fleshy spots. Felt safe enough with it to touch up some ear hair (you laugh now but your time will come smart ***).
I don't really prescribe to the "go this way then go that way" method, preferring to just shave without following rules but for the sake of discussion I shaved "With The Grain" using mostly the OC side and then did a follow up "Across The Grain" pass using only the SB side which was smooth and comfortable and during which I noted that I was still rinsing a fair amount of whiskers. No weepers although I did get some sting with a follow up pass of alum.
After a rinse and a splash of Maggards Orange Menthol I'm feeling like I had an excellent and comfortable shave. I have no desire to compare my face to an infants posterior but I will say that I feel smooth in all directions. I recall having been referenced as a "Hairy ***" or something like that but that's probably not relevant... Anyway, I would rate the shave a smash hit!
In terms of comparison to the ATT R2, I would say roughly equivalent resulting shaves with the comfort level during the shave going to the Wolfman. I felt the Wolfman is a little "smoother" under fire using either comb. The WRH-1 handle felt good in size and balance and as I would have guessed, the grip was excellent. In regards to OC, SB or DC I'm still stuck on the fence in terms of advising others what to buy although I doubt any of them would be a bad choice. Personally, I like being able to decide on the fly so I'm sticking with my DC choice!
Feeling good about the expenditure, potentially one of the best shaving purchases I've made so I wouldn't hesitate to contact James and start the process if you're procrastinating. If you just can't stand the idea of waiting the ATT is also an excellent razor, you'll go crazy with decisions but you will have quick gratification and it will sell easily when you get your Wolfman...
The next day...
Even though I didn't have much beard I hit it again tonight JUST FOR YOU GUYS! And if you believe that, I have King Gilettes razor to sell you, just drop me an email at my Nigerian Prince address... So tonight I dropped a Feather in and lathered up some Bath House Fig Nutmeg. I didn't follow any particular plan and just flipped around between the combs for comparison. For one thing, the Wolf loves Feathers and gave me a very smooth shave regardless of comb. It's still very hard to pick out the differences in the combs but I'm feeling that he OC is the smoothest of the two and the SB is the safest. Make any sense? Nah, I'm still looking for the correct description as well. It's just the best way I can figure to describe it for now. I'm no Engineer (although I did have a train set) but a couple of the discussions about angles and blah blah in this thread seem like they might be viable explanations for the similarity between the two combs. For now I'm thinking if I had to decide on one comb it would be the OC. For comparison with the ATT R2 I'd say it's a step "milder". I haven't tried any of the other ATT heads but I'm going to stick my neck out there and bet it's closest to the M1 and M2 bases because of what I've read and what I know of my R2.
It's not really fair to say I'd buy one over the other yet since I don't really think the Wolf and my R2 and handle are direct comparisons. The geometry is different and the heads are not directly comparable. I can say that the quality is excellent in both although the category has to go to the Wolf, it's pretty much impossible to criticize. With the ATT you can adjust your fit with all the different bases and from what I understand James will produce modified Wolfman bases as well although you'll have to wait your turn, which might be part of the Wolfman's appeal....
So there you go - lot's of words and no damn help. I should've been a politician!
Thats a speck of dust under the WR1...
Those are my hands reflecting on the smooth spots...
And settled in at home...
Initial impressions are that it feels well balanced despite having a surprisingly lightweight head, the handle is heavier and a little larger diameter than I would have guessed and the knurling is aggressive and gives a confident purchase. The head is thinner than the ATT so I'm looking forward to good handling around the nares. The Wolfman branding on the bottom plate is tasteful and perfectly done. Finish is absolutely beautiful in every respect including under the cap and the threads. Like I said, finished like jewelry. The stand is equal to the razor and holds the razor with confidence. The Wolfman and the ATT stands do not interchange owing to the handle diameters if anyone was wondering.
I'll fire it up later tonight and add my shave impression but reading the reviews and now holding the razor in hand I have pretty high confidence that it will earn a big thumbs up. As has been mentioned in several threads, James is crafting a first class razor and the purchase experience is very positive. I was on the tail end of the old pricing and it feels like I got a bargain but I wouldn't hesitate to purchase at the new prices, this is an heirloom quality tool and even comes with the satisfaction of knowing it was made and finished largely by hand by a real artisan who obviously cares about quality.
Some pictures and more later...
Later...
OK couldn't wait any longer so off to the Fortress Of Solitude I went!
Decided to go with an Astra SP and my favored cream, Simpson's Citrus Burst. Started in with the OC side and flipped to the SB side a few times including under the nose, looking for some comparison data. As I expected, performance (fit) under the nose was very good. Really didn't perceive enough difference in "efficiency" or "aggressiveness" between combs to make conversation although in a couple of my harder hills and valleys like dimples and under the nose I flipped to SB and got good coverage without snagging any fleshy spots. Felt safe enough with it to touch up some ear hair (you laugh now but your time will come smart ***).
I don't really prescribe to the "go this way then go that way" method, preferring to just shave without following rules but for the sake of discussion I shaved "With The Grain" using mostly the OC side and then did a follow up "Across The Grain" pass using only the SB side which was smooth and comfortable and during which I noted that I was still rinsing a fair amount of whiskers. No weepers although I did get some sting with a follow up pass of alum.
After a rinse and a splash of Maggards Orange Menthol I'm feeling like I had an excellent and comfortable shave. I have no desire to compare my face to an infants posterior but I will say that I feel smooth in all directions. I recall having been referenced as a "Hairy ***" or something like that but that's probably not relevant... Anyway, I would rate the shave a smash hit!
In terms of comparison to the ATT R2, I would say roughly equivalent resulting shaves with the comfort level during the shave going to the Wolfman. I felt the Wolfman is a little "smoother" under fire using either comb. The WRH-1 handle felt good in size and balance and as I would have guessed, the grip was excellent. In regards to OC, SB or DC I'm still stuck on the fence in terms of advising others what to buy although I doubt any of them would be a bad choice. Personally, I like being able to decide on the fly so I'm sticking with my DC choice!
Feeling good about the expenditure, potentially one of the best shaving purchases I've made so I wouldn't hesitate to contact James and start the process if you're procrastinating. If you just can't stand the idea of waiting the ATT is also an excellent razor, you'll go crazy with decisions but you will have quick gratification and it will sell easily when you get your Wolfman...
The next day...
Even though I didn't have much beard I hit it again tonight JUST FOR YOU GUYS! And if you believe that, I have King Gilettes razor to sell you, just drop me an email at my Nigerian Prince address... So tonight I dropped a Feather in and lathered up some Bath House Fig Nutmeg. I didn't follow any particular plan and just flipped around between the combs for comparison. For one thing, the Wolf loves Feathers and gave me a very smooth shave regardless of comb. It's still very hard to pick out the differences in the combs but I'm feeling that he OC is the smoothest of the two and the SB is the safest. Make any sense? Nah, I'm still looking for the correct description as well. It's just the best way I can figure to describe it for now. I'm no Engineer (although I did have a train set) but a couple of the discussions about angles and blah blah in this thread seem like they might be viable explanations for the similarity between the two combs. For now I'm thinking if I had to decide on one comb it would be the OC. For comparison with the ATT R2 I'd say it's a step "milder". I haven't tried any of the other ATT heads but I'm going to stick my neck out there and bet it's closest to the M1 and M2 bases because of what I've read and what I know of my R2.
It's not really fair to say I'd buy one over the other yet since I don't really think the Wolf and my R2 and handle are direct comparisons. The geometry is different and the heads are not directly comparable. I can say that the quality is excellent in both although the category has to go to the Wolf, it's pretty much impossible to criticize. With the ATT you can adjust your fit with all the different bases and from what I understand James will produce modified Wolfman bases as well although you'll have to wait your turn, which might be part of the Wolfman's appeal....
So there you go - lot's of words and no damn help. I should've been a politician!
Thats a speck of dust under the WR1...
Those are my hands reflecting on the smooth spots...
And settled in at home...
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