New Elite 316L stainless steel CNC razor and another one available on Aliexpress

[Barberbite]

Recently new razors have been released on Aliexpress.
One is rebranded as Elite 316L stainless steel precision, the other is nice and looks like it comes with two packs of Perma Sharp blades judging by the pictures.

Any idea what razors these are?

 

[Blue Cloud]

BR-1

 

[spacemonkey42]

I saw that on the Ali site and didn't want to give it attention here. It looks like they tried to copy the Blutt BR-1 and the Rocknel Elite. There is a new wave of more direct counterfeiting. Counterfeit TGS Synthesti, Henson, Tatara, Muhle are being produced.

 

[Phoenixkh]

I saw that on the Ali site and didn't want to give it attention here. It looks like they tried to copy the Blutt BR-1 and the Rocknel Elite. There is a new wave of more direct counterfeiting. Counterfeit TGS Synthesti, Henson, Tatara, Muhle are being produced.

I've purchased a couple Yaqi razors lately.... but they've been modeled after razors with no stainless steel options or vintage razors no longer in production.... I won't buy a clone of a razor still in production... It goes against the grain for me... Those direct copies violate copyright laws, of course.... But they don't care... I do....

Edit: I have a Blutt BR-1 and a Rocnel Elite hybrid 2023.... If they were trying to copy those two, from a brief examination, it looks like they failed.

 

[Barberbite]

A new wave of counterfeits on the Ali marketplace??
While I knew the previous razors and they seemed to me to be counterfeits and almost perfect copies, I would judge this Rockwell clone to be a very imperfect copy of the original Elite razor, starting from the handle which seems very different to me.
I searched for the original Rockwell razor but perhaps there could be another model that I don't know.
They're coming down.

 

[Iridian]

They look like Rocnel and Blutt copies.

 

[Phoenixkh]

They look like Rocnel and Blutt copies.

I see it now... I missed the Blutt copy..... They do like outright copyright infringement razors.... I know the prices of the Rocnel Elite and the Blutt BR-1....Those are among my favorite razors.... This stuff really gets to me.... I feel hmmm violated is the word that comes to mind. I guess it doesn't bother other people... It's one of those YMMV things, I suppose.

 

[Barberbite]

I see it now... I missed the Blutt copy..... They do like outright copyright infringement razors.... I know the prices of the Rocnel Elite and the Blutt BR-1....Those are among my favorite razors.... This stuff really gets to me.... I feel hmmm violated is the word that comes to mind. I guess it doesn't bother other people... It's one of those YMMV things, I suppose.

I see that they are still selling counterfeit razors from other manufacturers for a few months now. If after these months the copies
counterfeit of the razors are still there, I think the owners of the respective brands should involve lawyers to take legal action to request the removal of the counterfeit items and enforce their rights. Of course this is just my opinion, if so the process could take a long time.
As for the Chinese shops that offer them, they see that buyers continue to buy them and therefore they think they can always clone new original razors, not caring about the violation of patents and copyrights.

 

[Iridian]

This stuff really gets to me.... I feel hmmm violated is the word that comes to mind. I guess it doesn't bother other people... It's one of those YMMV things, I suppose.

They can be close to the originals, or not at all. They just look similarly. Some butterflies have wings that mimick the eyes of cats to fend off predators like birds, so what one gets from a copycat might not even be what is on the photo.

There is also the moral aspect and that is indeed a YMMV thing.

I wish people who are capable of copying so closely would rather take inspiration and make their own version of a particular head. But the intent is indeed usually to poach on brand reputation and make money this way.

 

[threshyper]

I'm not sure if this is the same factory, but they've previously manufactured counterfeit Henson, Tatara, TGS, and Mühle razors. Now, Recnol and Blutt are the victims. It's truly sad.

 

[esee]

Am I evil? I bought the Blutt clone. I already own a few razors I perceive to be at the pinnacle of what a safety razor can offer, but I think this Blutt clone might be another best and hitting buy oddly felt right.

Now I’m wondering why buying this clone felt right, and I refrained from buying the other clones as it felt wrong. Anyway, I will probably keep my opinion of the razor to myself once I receive it, as I am not planning to help others in questionable decisions.

 

[AshleyC]

Am I evil? I bought the Blutt clone. I already own a few razors I perceive to be at the pinnacle of what a safety razor can offer, but I think this Blutt clone might be another best and hitting buy oddly felt right.

Now I’m wondering why buying this clone felt right, and I refrained from buying the other clones as it felt wrong. Anyway, I will probably keep my opinion of the razor to myself once I receive it, as I am not planning to help others in questionable decisions.

Eh, looks like my Chinese buying days are coming to a close anyway.

 

[Barberbite]

Am I evil? I bought the Blutt clone. I already own a few razors I perceive to be at the pinnacle of what a safety razor can offer, but I think this Blutt clone might be another best and hitting buy oddly felt right.

Now I’m wondering why buying this clone felt right, and I refrained from buying the other clones as it felt wrong. Anyway, I will probably keep my opinion of the razor to myself once I receive it, as I am not planning to help others in questionable decisions.

We could pretend that you didn't know that they were imitated and counterfeit razors so you can rest assured, no one will judge you badly.
I don't know all the razors, so I didn't think they were imitations even if they seem dubious or new to me.

Regarding the copy of Henson, Tatara and Syntesi TGS when I saw them for the first time there I mistakenly thought they were originals. Obviously I have never bought them and I have no intention of doing so now.
Everyone is allowed to make mistakes.

 

[ERS4]

I'm really surprised that it's 2025 and they are still doing this kind of thing openly.

And things are getting even more serious. In the past, they simply copied the designs of Muhle/Merkur/Razorock/Wolfman/Blackland... or transformed Futur into various strange looks; but now they even directly print trademarks and imitate packaging, which shows that they have completely lost their self-respect.

They are capable of high-quality processing and always brag about their strength, but unfortunately this behavior highlights that they always live in inferiority and cannot truly complete their own designs.

 

[Iridian]

I'm really surprised that it's 2025 and they are still doing this kind of thing openly.

We recently had the case where one guy and his buddy ordered a Wolfman WR2 and WR1, and the first thing, after complaining about the finish and some doubts about the veracity of the claims, was to post an image of an at least visually absolutely perfect copy.

The user in question was rather young and I do not want to claim sinister intent, but it is kinda an odd mentality, at least for Westerners, to copy more than the proverbial copycat.

 

[ERS4]

We recently had the case where one guy and his buddy ordered a Wolfman WR2 and WR1, and the first thing, after complaining about the finish and some doubts about the veracity of the claims, was to post an image of an at least visually absolutely perfect copy.

The user in question was rather young and I do not want to claim sinister intent, but it is kinda an odd mentality, at least for Westerners, to copy more than the proverbial copycat.

Yes, I agree 100% with your example.

There are many efficient and smooth razors in the world, and each person's face has a different answer.

The reason why Wolfman is so famous and respected is not only because of its excellent shaving performance, but more importantly, it lies in the customization provided by James and the meticulous creation of all the perfect appearance and internal details.

I have seen several versions of the knockoff Wolfman WR2 on Chinese forums, but those razors always only focus on the appearance and ignore the soul of Wolfman. Therefore, they are never Wolfman, but just similar forms condensed by vanity.

If their craftsmen truly put their heart and soul into perfecting this razor, then any craftsman who loves his work would not want to be someone else's shadow.

 

[Barberbite]

Yes, I agree 100% with your example.

There are many efficient and smooth razors in the world, and each person's face has a different answer.

The reason why Wolfman is so famous and respected is not only because of its excellent shaving performance, but more importantly, it lies in the customization provided by James and the meticulous creation of all the perfect appearance and internal details.

I have seen several versions of the knockoff Wolfman WR2 on Chinese forums, but those razors always only focus on the appearance and ignore the soul of Wolfman. Therefore, they are never Wolfman, but just similar forms condensed by vanity.

If their craftsmen truly put their heart and soul into perfecting this razor, then any craftsman who loves his work would not want to be someone else's shadow.

I agree only in part. Still on razors produced in China, should we consider Yaqi razors artisanal? I remember that when Yaqi they started selling razors on Ali in 2017-2018 the prices were very cheap and accessible even under 20 euros. It seems to me that after seven years their prices are too excessive and not justifiable in my opinion for such a high outlay.

It's okay to put your heart and soul into your creations and make new or original razors but with their prices they are exaggerating.

 

[uptown]

Tariff is up to 154% Yaqi is nuts. Yesterday I bought the Elite but canceled it this morning with a full refund back to my PP.

 

[Barberbite]

Tariff is up to 154% Yaqi is nuts. Yesterday I bought the Elite but canceled it this morning with a full refund back to my PP.

I want to specify that the price increases due to the increase in customs duties from China to the US have nothing to do with it. It's been at least a year and maybe more that the prices of Yaqi razors seem excessively high to me.

 

[uptown]

What Aliexpress is doing more and more on razors is offering two prices. First time buyer price and then the inflated price if you purchased from them before. I know from first hand purchases not just whistling in the dark.