Blackland Blackbird vs. Outlaw standard plate

[Eben Stone]

I can feel the razor is tugging my skin without blade inside. I believe the reason is the finish option.

And I agree about the BB finish: it is surprisingly draggy, much more so than you would expect by simply looking at the finish and touching it.

Interesting. I'm curious what y'alls lather consistency is like. I haven't experienced this so called drag with any of my razors, even the infamous Henson. Both my polished and machine Darts feel and glide the same to me. My lather consistency is typically like Yoplait yogurt.

I have a satin BB on the way. I'll be sure to share my results with some wet paint Body Shop Maca Root...

 

[Blackland Razors]

Interesting. I'm curious what y'alls lather consistency is like. I haven't experienced this so called drag with any of my razors, even the infamous Henson. Both my polished and machine Darts feel and glide the same to me. My lather consistency is typically like Yoplait yogurt.

I have a satin BB on the way. I'll be sure to share my results with some wet paint Body Shop Maca Root...

While I can't speak to the experiences of the users in this thread, sometimes the perceived drag is caused by using too steep an angle with the Blackbird. The angular base plate is designed to be used with a quite shallow angle. When used too steeply it can remove some of the lather before the blade arrives, reducing glide. The key to the Blackbird is letting the geometry of the head guide your technique. It will force you into the optimal shallow angle if you allow it to.

Thank you for order! Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on the Blackbird soon.

 

[hduty]

Interesting. I'm curious what y'alls lather consistency is like. I haven't experienced this so called drag with any of my razors, even the infamous Henson. Both my polished and machine Darts feel and glide the same to me. My lather consistency is typically like Yoplait yogurt.

My lather is always as wet as it can get, without it starting to drip. I only use a single shaving cream product, so that's a constant factor between all shaves.

While I can't speak to the experiences of the users in this thread, sometimes the perceived drag is caused by using too steep an angle with the Blackbird. The angular base plate is designed to be used with a quite shallow angle. When used too steeply it can remove some of the lather before the blade arrives, reducing glide. The key to the Blackbird is letting the geometry of the head guide your technique. It will force you into the optimal shallow angle if you allow it to.

I can say for sure it's not the angle, at least not in my case. I use the BB (standard and Lite plate) exclusively very shallow. I have tried steep angle strokes a few times but it's noticeably less comfortable, so much so I would say that the BB works only with a shallow angle.

I think the reason for that slightly draggy sensation are the horizontal micro machine marks on the cap, which are clearly visible with the naked eye. If they were vertical instead, in the same direction as the cap glides across the skin, I'm sure it wouldn't be an issue. If that is feasible at all from a machining perspective is another matter, of course...

 

[Iridian]

I rarely experience drag issues with this or that cap, actually I haven't ever, thinking about it.
Probably because I am ridiculously slimy for a non-frog entity.

I strongly suggest going with a polished or machined razor / razor cap. Matte/Stain handles are interestingly often very grippy even without any major knurling or similar grippy patterns, I am thinking of my Tatara Masamune Nodachi when writing this.

This said, I like to pay the extra for polishing. It costs more, but it saves me the pain and effort of doing it myself... and the finish will very likely be better. I am lazy, for sharpening my knives I bought Lansky and KME guided sharpener systems. They are almost idiot proof.

I once turned something shiny matte by sharpening it with a sharpening rod, my Victorinox Spartan SAK.
With practice and due to a massive feeling of humilitation and frustration I got better at sharpening and polishing, but I still prefer when someone else does it for me.

 

[kaankkaraman]

I have bought a second hand polished blackbird stainless by the way. We will see how it gonna perform with its smooth surface.

 

[kaankkaraman]

I have tried to show what I am trying to talk about in the video. Full the sound of the video please.

 

[Blackland Razors]

I think the reason for that slightly draggy sensation are the horizontal micro machine marks on the cap, which are clearly visible with the naked eye. If they were vertical instead, in the same direction as the cap glides across the skin, I'm sure it wouldn't be an issue.

After tens of thousands of Blackbirds and other razors sold over the last decade - mostly in the machined finish - I have become quite skeptical of this. So we've tested it many times and have never found a notable difference in the real world with water and lather present. It's also worth noting that this finish is on the Vector, Osprey, Sabre, and Dart - none of which have this "drag" reputation associated.

That said, I've come to understand that those who are concerned about drag will almost always experience it so I would recommend the polished finish to them. That's why we make both! For me personally, the machined finish is my favorite and the only one I use.

If anyone has a machined finish Blackbird and they aren't loving the finish, send it in using our services and we will happily give it the shiny, glidey treatment!

 

[hduty]

After tens of thousands of Blackbirds and other razors sold over the last decade - mostly in the machined finish - I have become quite skeptical of this. So we've tested it many times and have never found a notable difference in the real world with water and lather present. It's also worth noting that this finish is on the Vector, Osprey, Sabre, and Dart - none of which have this "drag" reputation associated.

That said, I've come to understand that those who are concerned about drag will almost always experience it so I would recommend the polished finish to them. That's why we make both! For me personally, the machined finish is my favorite and the only one I use.

If anyone has a machined finish Blackbird and they aren't loving the finish, send it in using our services and we will happily give it the shiny, glidey treatment!

Most of my razors certainly don't feel draggy to me. And even those that do, they exhibit it to various degrees - it's not a binary thing, all or nothing.

So to say that anyone who finds the machined BB draggy likely finds most razors to be draggy, I frankly find to be a very dismissive, if not nonchalant, reply.

 

[Blackland Razors]

So to say that anyone who finds the machined BB draggy likely finds most razors to be draggy, I frankly find to be a very dismissive, if not nonchalant, reply.

No, sorry that's not what I'm trying to say. What I'm saying is that people who go into the Blackbird with a concern about drag will almost always experience drag when they try the Blackbird. So for those people I strongly recommend the polished finish to alleviate the concern entirely.