Adjustable? No thanks.

For sure, multiple base plates = adjustable razor. To say otherwise would be contrary to the manufacturers’ design intention.

 

I find it interesting to see general shifts in prices of vintage products. Though the scales are hugely different, I’ve seen similar up and down swings in asking/selling prices of vintage razors and vintage guitars.

 

I prefer to call them "configurable." You are swapping out a 3rd of the razor to get the shave you want. To me, "adjusting" something is tightening a screw, moving something slightly in place, loosening, etc. Swapping out a part, to me, is not an "adjustment."

If a mechanic fixes your car, he may need to make an "adjustment" to the parts already in place. If he replaces a part, that in and of itself is not an "adjustment." After he replaces the part, he may, however, need to "adjust" it to get it to work properly.

This is purely my opinion. Your's may vary.

 

Good point.

I feel the same. Changing gap, normally changes the exposure. It configures a new geometry.

 

Yes, configurable is a good word. +1

 

I have a love/hate with them.

I've got a Progress that I use when travelling - only because if I have to shave daily, I can tune it down. My Fat Boy is simply great to have because I love a good, well engineered vintage razor.

Not really loving my 1969 Black beauty.

Love my 6S.

More of a working novelty, IMHO.

 

Yes, in the last 6 months I've used that more than any other razor -- the #4 plate. I've had the razor for over 2 years.

It's really cost effective, as opposed to other vendors who sell each plate separately. I don't care that it's "injected molded." I'd never even heard that term until I got into this hobby. All I care about is the end result -- which is an all stainless steel razor.

I don't believe that any other vendor (one that makes more than one base plate for a given model) sells multiple base plates in one package, do they? I don't think they even offer a discount if you buy more than one base plate, other than the cost you save in shipping them all at once.

 

I just read that Karve has different plates like Rockwell. Not sure they sell them as a set. A couple give safety bar and open comb plates. The Pearl Hammer DE razor and the Phoenix Starling V3 SE razor come to mind.

 

I have only one adjustable, the somewhat controversial Vikings Blade Emperor Meiji ... and it's a mixed bag.
With one exception, I always have it set on the lowest setting. It's an aggressive razor and when I've dialed it up, it reminds me of this old album cover.



I do have another adjustable, I guess, the Rockwell 6C.
But it's almost always on the R3 plate setting, occasionally the R4.
So as good as adjustables sound on paper, I'm not sure in reality they're really the answer to anything.

 

They answer the question - What razor do you want?
- I'm not sure.
- Here try this on 1.
- Nope, too mild.
- Okay try it on 2.
- Still too mild.
- Try 8.
- A bit harsh
- 7?
- Better, but not there yet.
- How 'bout 6?
- THERE YA GO!

All that, and you only needed one razor to find what's best. Otherwise you'd be on your 5th razor purchase!! And the other four are wasted money, sitting in a drawer, collecting dust.

 

I found the Pearl Flexi too aggressive on the lowest setting.
Just an example, though.

 

Just to open a can or worms...


What about when I bought a stainless steel handle and a package of mutiple heads for it on Maggard's? Did I buy a configurable/customizable razor in that case? You need to swap out 2 parts, not just 1, to configure/customize it.

In no way, shape or form would I call it an adjustable, though.

 

Controversial because it causes the blade to "smile", or because of the debate of who really makes Vikings Blades razors? Or who deigned them first? Vikings or Baili?

I bought an adjustable on Ali a few years ago that I've never tried, and is branded Yintal, that looks a lot like the Vikings Blade regular Emporer, but I believe is actually a Weishi. I think it was less than $20 -- closer to $10 when I bought it. It feels kinda cheap, and can only be opened and closed on a certain setting -- I forget if it was 0 or on the max setting.

 

I think I just bought an Toggle from ebay for 3 bills. Guess I'll find out.

 

Let's hope so, unless it was 3 one dollar bills, then it's a good deal regardless.

 

Can't say I like adjustables as much as I appreciate them. They're a nifty bit of engineering and a snapshot of a largely bygone era when men took shaving both less and more seriously than we do.

However, while I have four different models on hand, I tend to grab a non-adjustable first.

 

Has anyone spent their hard-earned money on an Osprey yet?

 

3 Ben Franklins, I assume. If I bought it, I'd be afraid to shave with it, for fear of ruining it!

 

Decent assumption. I'll shave with it for sure, for a while...

 

cool score.