I ordered a bunch of stuff from china recently (mostly cheap DE razors ordered for the handles), and just received my first package. It is a cheap aluminum handled "silvertip brush". I paid 7 bucks for it, so didn't really care much if it works out or not. If you search silvertip shaving brush it is the first aka cheapest result with the aluminum handle on ebay. When it came in and I unboxed it something didn't feel right. It was springy, and the hairs didn't look like any of my other badger brushes. They were too glossy and every strand was identical. It is most definitely synthetic.
I used the brush all week this week and have to say even though it is the cheapest brush I own it is by far the easiest to use. I tried it with five different soaps (L'occitane, AOS sandalwood, RR Mudder focker, Proraso green, and Edwin jagger aloe) all gave me the exact same result. It has more backbone than my Omega s brush and is a tad softer on the skin.
Thanks for sharing this! Sometimes the little cheapies end up doing a great job.