My Best Brush Purchases | Pictures Please | Yours Too!

[Chan Eil Whiskers]

You've acquired a lot of brushes. You are experienced with what's out there in the brush world. You know what you like.

What are your best brush purchases?

One of my best brush purchases is an old friend which has gone through a lot of changes over the years.

This one is a Zenith Manchurian which I acquired brand new several years ago. I've always liked it. This Manchurian began with an unbelievably strong backbone.

How strong a backbone? Think about a transplant and you'll have a rough idea.​

Friends warned me to be careful with the knot as if I were going to lather up with a wire brush. Their warnings were appreciated, and heeded, and accurate.

Over time it's changed many times.

Now it still has what I'd call huge backbone, and a most delicious scrub, but it has become very soft. All the good scritch it once had has turned into soft and delicious scrub. It loads as well as any brush I've ever used, and better than most. In all respects it is a delight to use.

They don't give these Zenith Manchurians away of course, but compared to the prices of truly high end brushes Zenith Manchurians are a real bargain. Over time I've come to realize how smart - okay, lucky - I was to pull the trigger on this one.

The handle is stainless steel coated with copper.

Everything about the brush suits me just fine. Particularly the wonderful knot.

It was one of my very best brush purchases.

I'll post in this thread pictures and mini reviews of a few other brushes. I hope some of you will, too.

Happy shaves,

Jim

 

[Dobric]

My best brush is humble Simpson T3
I love it, works like a charm, I have a spare one, just in case. I need more of them...

 

[Ron R]

I have a few favorite brushes and it kind of goes with the different category's of brushes like boar, badger and synthetic that I feel like using that day that stands out of pack.
But if I was to only pick one brush it would be my Yaqi "Mountain lake" 24mm 2band badger, excellent lather generator, nice splay scrubber, pillow like soft tips + excellent lather painter. Just a great brush for general shaving needs!
I can usually whip up a any lather using hard soaps to soft creams with no issues from my bowl in under 2 minutes and the brush does not lose hairs and just keeps performing the way I enjoy it + bought it one sale which makes it even better.

Have some great shaves!

 

[Phoenixkh]

I love my Zenith Manchurian badger with the 506 solid copper handle but I do wish I had easy access to their 28mm Manchurians with the faux semi-precious handles.

 

[Mr. Shavington]

My best brush purchases are these: a Plisson silvertip (HMW) badger, a Wald synthetic, a Wald two-band badger, a Zenith boar and a Zenith horse. These will do me and they cover a wide range of different feels (and colours, I notice). I’m just picking what I like the most, ignoring the prices.

I think it’s probably in order of preference here.

 

[Phoenixkh]

My best brush purchases are these: a Plisson silvertip (HMW) badger, a Wald synthetic, a Wald two-band badger, a Zenith boar and a Zenith horse. These will do me and they cover a wide range of different feels (and colours, I notice). I’m just picking what I like the most, ignoring the prices.

I think it’s probably in order of preference here.

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I have to admit, I do envy the availability for those Zenith handles in the EU and perhaps the UK.

I tried to get the US eBay guy to stock them but they might be unavailable to import to the US, who knows?

 

[emwolf]

I still go back to the 2018 Contributors Brush from Rudy Vey. Still my favorite brush. (not my photo)

 

[Cal]

My best brush purchase (singular) to date, is my custom Shavemac 20/46 Silvertip 2-Band Fan:

It has gentle tips, good scrub, strong backbone, and excellent flow-through. A lather monster.

 

[Kyle89]

Simpson Eagle G3 in pure badger. Perfect feeling handle, has excellent flow through, and I really enjoy their pure badger grade. I like face feel and how it loads up soap. Great easy lathers with this brush. It was a really interesting find too, as it was probably on the shelf at Pasteurs for years before I scored it. Bought it new a few years ago, but if you have a good eye and notice the sticker and the box, this brush is older.

It's just an excellent brush that suits my tastes, and a cool find out in the wild.

 

[DesertIguana]

My best brush purchase (singular) to date, is my custom Shavemac 20/46 Silvertip 2-Band Fan:

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It has gentle tips, good scrub, strong backbone, and excellent flow-through. A lather monster.

Love the color of handle.

 

[Chan Eil Whiskers]

Keep 'em coming.

Happy shaves,

Jim

 

[Elliot]

To date, Plisson HMW.

 

[CJB3]

Varlet 29mm Beehive:

Tied for first with my Mozingo ZT4 28mm:

And for something completely different, my Wald A1 Synthetic:

 

[tehnothing]

I have a few favorites. This one I like very much. One however is enough. The Morris & Forndran Heritage II L7.

While not my first Shavemac knot the 2022 RV Shaving Contributors Brush is the first in bulb which I prefer. This is my favorite Shavemac knot.

The 2019 RV Shaving Manchurian.

My favorite custom handle is the Elite Razor Laos Iron Wood and Wild Horse Jasper Manchurian Bulb

I'm seriously considering a Zenith Manchurian. Probably not the Copper version though. Probably one of the longer handles.

 

[Marco]

My best brush is humble Simpson T3
I love it, works like a charm, I have a spare one, just in case. I need more of them...
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The Trafalgar T3 is a terrific brush indeed! And it punches way above its price point.

 

[Balin]

Awesome brushes!! I am waiting on the Contibutor's Paladin to arrive before I post here. I hate having to re-do things!!

 

[mr_eleven]

My Rudy Vey w/ an Envy White Supreme knot has been my favorite and daily driver since I got it in 2016...

 

[Chan Eil Whiskers]

As a group these Saponificio Varesino brushes are one of my best brush purchases. Any one of them would fit nicely into that best brush purchase category. In my opinion SV brushes are the bee's knees of brushes, having great qualities, and the perfect balance of qualities.

	These three are SV 2.0 beauties. Tortoise, cocobolo, and horn. Wonderful brushes.​
Two of my SV brushes are larger. Both are numbered limited editions. At 30 mm these are huge. On the left is the 11/28, when it was brand new. On the right is one marked 7-28. It would be hard to say they're better than their SV 2.0 cousins, but they might be. These have bigger handles and knots, for sure.​

Happy shaves,

Jim

 

[Boti2634]

My best brush purchases are these: a Plisson silvertip (HMW) badger, a Wald synthetic, a Wald two-band badger, a Zenith boar and a Zenith horse. These will do me and they cover a wide range of different feels (and colours, I notice). I’m just picking what I like the most, ignoring the prices.

I think it’s probably in order of preference here.

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Those are all beautiful brushes, Mr. Shavington, but that Plisson is just gorgeous! Enjoy!

 

[pierrelortie44]

Simpsons synthétiques.