Item Description
Price: Rating 6
Moderate price for $25.88 for the Brush w/ free shipping and ‘stand’ from their Website (http://www.amazon.com/Parker-Safety-Razor-Bristle-Shaving/dp/B002ET10S6)
Quality: Rating 8
Keeping in mind it's a Pure Black Badger Hair Brush…it is altogether a very well made brush. The dark ‘tan’ / black knot is tight, dense with ‘coarse’ moderately fine hairs. The Mock Ivory handle is also well made, but, the cheaply applied ‘Parker’ stamp that has already worn-off (just use alcohol…once…trust me). But hey…it does not in any way detract away from effectiveness.
Density: Rating 8
Again, the dark ‘tan’ / black knot is (in my opinion), tight, ‘coarse’ with moderately fine and dense hair and it hasn't shed many hairs in many months of use thus far.
Stiffness of Tips: Rating 7
These tips are ‘supple’ to the touch and the large, developed ’bloom’ neatly resembles a beautiful ‘bulb’ shape which was trimmed by Parker to form the final shape of the brush loft. Compared to my Caswell-Massey (C-M), Pure Badger Brush, which has quite soft tips, the Parker is in a class by itself. ‘Stiff’ might be too strong a word, but I would classify the Parker as ‘firm’ but ‘flexible’…a pure ‘joy’ to run one’s hand through the ‘bloom’. Also, because this Brush is Black Badger (the least expensive of badger types), it gives a ‘springier’, ‘scratchier’ and ‘exfoliating’ sensation on my face which I find quite pleasing and look forward to every morning.
Softness of Tips: Rating 6
The bristles are ‘dark tan / black’, ‘coarse’ with moderately fine and quite bushy hair. The knot is made (in my opinion), to keep this Brush from being ‘soft’. With all things being ‘equal, the Parker is so much ‘firmer’ ‘and ‘springier’ than my C-M Brush.
Ergonomic: Rating 8
This Med Brush has a good sized ‘medium’ loft knot and looks even better ‘in bloom’. The Mock Ivory handle on this Brush is a ‘solid-just-the-right-size’ in view of my carpal tunnel disability in both wrists, I’ve noticed that certain brushes (and razors for that matter), are not very comfortable in my hands, but this brush is a 'dream' to use, the handle is well made and easy to hold, has good heft and I feel very 'pampered'
every time I lather-up.
Total length of handle and knot : 4 ¼ in
Latherability: Rating 9
OMG… this Brush really generates a lot of lather. The courser texture of this Brush I find also makes it very useful for lathering shaving soap (I use Chelsea’s [artisan], Unscented Shave Soap), because of its ability to ‘work up’ the surface of the soap very easily. I believe this ‘action’ of this Brush removes my dead skin cells prior to shaving and it is particularly adept at lifting any embedded whiskers that can cause ingrown hairs and razor bumps. Water retention of this Brush ‘is-what-it-is’ for a Black Badger and with just about (give-or-take-a-few), ten (10), ‘whips’ around in my Robert Becker Med Scuttle, this Brush produced a rich and dense 'stiff peak' lather even though I would categorize this brush as ‘firm’, but, wow, 
what a feeling on my face .
In closing, I really 'like' my Parker Black Badger
and although I have owned this Brush for many months and that even the hair has slightly ‘soften’, however, I believe it may never be as soft on my face as higher grades of badger hair and in my opinion...it is the best Black Badger Brush for your money.
Christopher
Moderate price for $25.88 for the Brush w/ free shipping and ‘stand’ from their Website (http://www.amazon.com/Parker-Safety-Razor-Bristle-Shaving/dp/B002ET10S6)
Quality: Rating 8
Keeping in mind it's a Pure Black Badger Hair Brush…it is altogether a very well made brush. The dark ‘tan’ / black knot is tight, dense with ‘coarse’ moderately fine hairs. The Mock Ivory handle is also well made, but, the cheaply applied ‘Parker’ stamp that has already worn-off (just use alcohol…once…trust me). But hey…it does not in any way detract away from effectiveness.
Density: Rating 8
Again, the dark ‘tan’ / black knot is (in my opinion), tight, ‘coarse’ with moderately fine and dense hair and it hasn't shed many hairs in many months of use thus far.
Stiffness of Tips: Rating 7
These tips are ‘supple’ to the touch and the large, developed ’bloom’ neatly resembles a beautiful ‘bulb’ shape which was trimmed by Parker to form the final shape of the brush loft. Compared to my Caswell-Massey (C-M), Pure Badger Brush, which has quite soft tips, the Parker is in a class by itself. ‘Stiff’ might be too strong a word, but I would classify the Parker as ‘firm’ but ‘flexible’…a pure ‘joy’ to run one’s hand through the ‘bloom’. Also, because this Brush is Black Badger (the least expensive of badger types), it gives a ‘springier’, ‘scratchier’ and ‘exfoliating’ sensation on my face which I find quite pleasing and look forward to every morning.
Softness of Tips: Rating 6
The bristles are ‘dark tan / black’, ‘coarse’ with moderately fine and quite bushy hair. The knot is made (in my opinion), to keep this Brush from being ‘soft’. With all things being ‘equal, the Parker is so much ‘firmer’ ‘and ‘springier’ than my C-M Brush.
Ergonomic: Rating 8
This Med Brush has a good sized ‘medium’ loft knot and looks even better ‘in bloom’. The Mock Ivory handle on this Brush is a ‘solid-just-the-right-size’ in view of my carpal tunnel disability in both wrists, I’ve noticed that certain brushes (and razors for that matter), are not very comfortable in my hands, but this brush is a 'dream' to use, the handle is well made and easy to hold, has good heft and I feel very 'pampered'
every time I lather-up.Total length of handle and knot : 4 ¼ in
Latherability: Rating 9
OMG…
this Brush really generates a lot of lather. The courser texture of this Brush I find also makes it very useful for lathering shaving soap (I use Chelsea’s [artisan], Unscented Shave Soap), because of its ability to ‘work up’ the surface of the soap very easily. I believe this ‘action’ of this Brush removes my dead skin cells prior to shaving and it is particularly adept at lifting any embedded whiskers that can cause ingrown hairs and razor bumps. Water retention of this Brush ‘is-what-it-is’ for a Black Badger and with just about (give-or-take-a-few), ten (10), ‘whips’ around in my Robert Becker Med Scuttle, this Brush produced a rich and dense 'stiff peak' lather even though I would categorize this brush as ‘firm’, but, wow, what a feeling on my face . In closing, I really 'like' my Parker Black Badger
and although I have owned this Brush for many months and that even the hair has slightly ‘soften’, however, I believe it may never be as soft on my face as higher grades of badger hair and in my opinion...it is the best Black Badger Brush for your money. Christopher
