Should I give the R41 a try? I could buy just a head and I have Edwin Jagger handles to try it on. It's one of the common modern razors I have not tried. I still have not found alot of new production razors that have knocked out any of the vintage stuff I have. Tried the Rex Ambassador, sent it back. Here is a list of all the stuff I currently have: Razor Gillette New Premium Short Comb Gillette Cased Gold Aristocrat 1946 Gillette Fat Handle Tech Gillette Super Speed Red Tip Gillette 195 "Fatboy" Gillette Slim Adjustable Merkur Chrome Slant Merkur Bakelite Reissue Gillette Super Adjustable 84 Schick Adjustable M3 Gillette Rocket HD British Phoenix Ascension Red Flare Tip Gillette Heritage Edition Schick G3 Schick J1 Lady Gillette Blue Lady Gillette Champagne, Cased Gillette Heritage Edition Gillette 195 "Fatboy" Gillette New Standard, Cased Gillette Red and Black Deluxe Long Comb, Cased Gillette Super Adjustable 84 Edwin Jagger DE89 Eversharp Schick G4 66 Merkur Gold Slant Schick I2 , Cased Shick G2, Cased GEM Pushbutton, Black and Gold Schick DE Krona, Cased Schick Dial Adjustable M3, NOS Closet Gillette President, Uncased in velvet bag, closet Gillette Richwood Gillette Flare Tip Superspeed Cased Gillette Milord, Cased Gem Micromatic Bullet Tip Gem 1924 Shovelhead Gem Micromatic Clog Pruf Gem Jr Gold Gem Jr Nickel Replate Gillette Fat Handle Tech in Box Gillettte British No. 58 Cased Gillette British Aristocrat #66, Cased Gillette Heritage Edition Gillette No 88 Star DE Original Box and Blades Gillette New Bostonian Gillette Old Type Anything in there that says "don't bother"? Is it's aggressiveness over-played? Do I just have a desire to spend more money, knowing that no matter what I am not going to find a razor that makes me throw away all the others, and scream "eureka, this the holy grail!!!"
I have a few of great, large selection of razors you have and can tell you the R41 probably won't make you throw away the others, but the R41 is a fun razor to use. If money is no object (and the R41 head is typically $25-30 for head only, so not too costly) then I say go for it since I still like using my 2013 R41 head occasionally for a nice two-pass plus touch-up shave. I find the shave not as mild (comfort) on the first pass but very mild on the second pass with very good efficiency. Great results even though the first pass isn't as smooth as some on your list. I still like using mine even though recently I like my Karve Brass CB plate D as my current favorite.
I think you have enough DE razors. Skip the R41 and move into Artist Club razors. The RR Hawk V3 is stainless, reasonably priced, and will fit on your favorite handle. Grab a pack of Schick Proline blades to go with it.
R41 is one of those razors that once you got the hang of it, you are glad you did. The razor is stupid aggressive at first but once you get the sweet spot locked in you dont notice it a such and you get such a great shave. Heck, i tend to leave it at arms reach when ever a razor isnt working out for me.. the r41 comes in for the save. Lol funny thing is.. I’m on my 3rd one. The first 2 i got i hated them.. so i traded / sold them off. But i kept coming back..
Are these the ones on the Italian Barber website? I think I would just go ahead and buy one with a handle. I do like the SE shaves, and was never able to get my hands on a Cobra, so maybe one of these is the trick. Are they essentially like a slightly wider Schick Injector?
cool collection,you have a few gillette heritage editions a well..about the only razor that keeps tugging my buy button is the colonial silversmith..thankfully it's expensive and scarce so the urge goes away .
If money is not an obstacle, get the head and try it. I’ve used an R41 daily for a while now. You do have to learn to use it ( somewhat), but I think its worth it.
For me the thing the R41 does better than anything else is steep angles. I get very comfortable shaves from it that are also very close and that's a good enough reason for me to have one and keep it around. It's not my daily driver but it could be and I'd be happy with it.
The 2011 R41 has been my daily driver for years and years. The 2013 is mild in comparison. If you are wanting to try an R41, find the 2011 issue. Otherwise, don't bother. I have a backup 2011 just in case the original ever fails me, should I drop it, or otherwise damage it.
People seem to like them a bunch, but they are beyond what I would pay for a razor any more. I picked up my razor used on another boards BST for $50 shipped and it included a partially full cartridge of blades. I liked it enough that I picked up both the Aggressive and OC versions. The OC was too much for me and the A version hit the sweet spot for me. I used a number of SE razors, but this is my only foray into AC blade razors.
Here ya go. The Razorine Flatboy. An excellent, aggressive and forgiving razor. Also priced very well. Personally, I never could get the R41 to work for me and was aware of the aggressive nature of the Flatboy. I've had a few shaves with it so far and it's a great razor. If you ever decide to buy another DE...and you will.
I'd be in favor to give it a try, I like mine, its aggressive, but in my opinion, the people that say its so aggressive to the point that its scary, in my opinion that is overhyped. I mean she will bite so take care, but won't any razor bite if care isn't taken. I have recently found that if I let my hair grow enough to be able to shave with the direction of hair growth, it goes alot better. But as far as the r41 goes, it is just a matter of getting used to, and oh boy does it take the hair off
I've had about three shaves with it now, and today went three passes, WTG, XTG, and finished with an ATG pass. End of the day and still very smooth. Using the Schick Proline blades. Very happy with it so far, get user the nose easily, as easy as a Schick Injector. Would have had more shaves in, but was dealing with a hot water slab leak this past week, so probably going to put a damper on purchases for a bit. As for the Hawk, it's a winner so far! Thanks for the suggestion PanChango!