Just how aggressive is the 91r by Parker? My normal razor is a GEM G Bar, how they compare? How mild is the 65r? Is it as mild as Gillette Slim (I consider very, very mild) or Lord L6?
Hi jay bird.. all Parker TTO's as far as I know, share the same head geometry giving them similar levels of aggression. What's different is the weight factor. The parker 91r is a monster razor.. pretty heavy shaver and much more so than your gem. IMO the weight differences are gonna enter into the aggressive equation. In time though your razor wielding skills will develop and perhaps help to even out the playing field eventually..but your gonna notice the weight right away. I've heard the Parker is probably a slim on 5..hope that helps...
Ya.. Parker DE's are not the easiest razor to get info on. They don't generally get a lot of love nor is there a whole lot about them on the shaving boards. Honestly if you found a cranked up slim to be too mild then maybe you could look at an r41, slant or a heavy weight open comb Gillette.. I've got one that'll shave a Klingon Targ lol...
The Parker 65 three piece uses the same head as many other Parker three piece razors, the handles are different. Geometries between all razors depends upon the curvature of the head / silos as well as length of handle. They do differ. Even the Slim and Fatboy have a different size and curvature on the head based on measurements. I measured both my EJ89 and three piece Parker for blade gap size. The blade gap on an EJ89 is about 58mm which falls into the average group on the gap scale now weight and angle make it more aggressive than a Tech or silver Super Speed. The Parkers' blade gap measured slightly less than 62mm which is slight more aggressive, but here is where the problems come in. The EJ89 has a tight tolerance for fit and finish. Parkers are well known to be all over the map in terms of tolerances so it might be more aggressive if the head and plate do not align with the same gap all the way across and the same size on both sides. A Gillette Slim on 9 is a more aggressive razor than most and a Fat Boy at the same 9 setting is slightly more aggressive due to the steeper angle caused by the greater curvature. From my usage, the EJ89 would be around a 4 and the 65 depending on whether yours has good tolerances should be about a 5. To see a better discussion of blade gaps and how they can affect blade exposure go to this thread. http://theshaveden.com/forums/threads/the-rise-of-the-russian-bear.24462/
Very helpful info Carrington. Would you agree the blade angle and weight can be made up for with technique? The comparison between the EJ and the 65 was helpful. I use a Lord L6 when in a rush, which is often, and believe this is a middle of the road razor. It's not too aggressive and not too mild. Would you consider the 65 similar to the Lord?
Yes. In most instances a technique trumps the tools, but there are cases where your face becomes the final arbiter over both technique and tools. I have not used the Lord L6. From what I have read from those who have used it that it strongly resembles the EJ. In fact some call it an "Poor Mans EJ89" based on performance (not fit and finish) which is a high complement. You might want to take a look at this excellent thread as well. http://theshaveden.com/forums/threads/the-traveling-lord-l6-aka-lp1822l-review.24202/ Good fortune.
Extremely well said.. Your L6 probably has a head geometry very close to a Gillette Tech with a similar blade gap and exposure. For increased efficiency you can try running your razor closer to a 45 degree angle.. that is holding the razor so the head lies more perpendicular to the cutting surface. You could also adjust pressure...
I see on BandB a lot of reviews believe the L6 is about an 8 out of 10 on the aggression scale with the GEM G Bar about the same. With this in mind I'm thinking the 91r can't be that bad. Just how mild is the 65 then?
Just did some digging around.. the parker 91r and 65r are both 3 piece razors and share the same head design. Rarely does a razor company ever make more than one or two heads for all their models and Parker makes one 3 piece head model and one TTO head model.. what differs are the handles. Now due to qc issues as Mr Carrington said, the aggression factor might be all over the map on this one.. so you takes your chances. What you call a L6 is probably the company's name for a Lord Smart and has a head geometry which is very much like a Merker.. maybe a tad milder .. a slim on 3 and something like a Gillette Superspeed. The head of the Lord razor is probably a tad milder than a Parker providing you get a good one. The heavy handle though might make some difference here IMO..And that's about it..so good luck.. we gawn bbye...
Thank you, that was helpful. I ordered the 65r, mostly for the looks. I hope to post a few comments about it after I use it. The reviewers on Amazon seem to like it and most other Parker razors. The 65r has 15 reviews with eight giving it 5 stars and five giving this razor 4 stars. I have to wonder if the DE community has a tendency to show a little razor snobbery?
Hello, First off I like Parker Razors very much and feel they are very underrated. I have two of their razors and found their fit and finish to me on par with Merkur. I am certain that others may have had a different experience with them. I have read of people having to manually check the blade gap (Sabi razors may have this problem) but mine are fine. The Parker 98 is my favorite razor and weighs in at about 4 ounces. I've found that the heavier razors tend to the aggressive side. The Parker 98 is one of the smoothest razors I've used. It is a 3 piece design with a closed comb. Barry
It was clear that Parker executives in India felt that the U.S. traditional shavers would accept less expensive but lower quality products when they entered the market a few years ago. They viewed that the U.S. market would be accepting of low quality and defective merchandise if it was prices somewhat lower than other similar razors. Parker soon found out that the U.S. traditional shavers simply would go elsewhere for higher quality even at a higher prices. There were just too many higher quality alternatives then and now. Even though Parker has improved their quality over the past year or two, they still suffer from this mistake. They burned themselves with many current traditional shavers who bought an early product only to have major issues such as head alignment, broken/stripped base to handle screws, etc.
I look forward to your report on the razor. I have been itching to get myself one of these, based solely on the fact the handle looks so darn good.
I see that it has been shipped out and should be here the beginning of next week. I've read so many mixed reviews I really don't know what to expect other then it looks nice. Some rate it as low as 4 for aggression and as high as 7. It was only $32 bucks with free shipping so I thought what the heck.
Pros: Striking design, heavy, 4 inch long textured handle. Price: 9 Quality: 9 User Friendly: 9 Grip: 10 Ease of Blade Replacement: 10 Aggressiveness: 8 Adjustability: 1 Balance: 10 Price: I ordered the 65r through Wish4Blades on Amazon.ca for $32.95 Canadian. Excellent price considering I didn't pay tax or shipping charges and the dealer sent 20 Shark blades along. Quality: I know other, older reviews, mention quality issues but I can't find a flaw and I've been looking. The plating looks good, no flaws, not tarnished or anything like that. The blade gap is even on both sides and it tightens nicely. User Friendly: The 65r is a three piece design with a 4" handle. Friendly enough. Grip: The textured handle feels great in the hand and doesn't seem likely to slip from my grasp while shaving. Ease of Blade Replacement: It is what it is: three piece design. I have use of all my fingers and find the blade replacement easy. Aggressiveness: BIG blade gap. It was a lot more aggressive then what I had read in other reviews, perhaps Parker changed the design of the head? I would say it is as aggressive as my G Bar, maybe a little more, with plenty of audio feedback as slices off whiskers. Balance: The handle on this razor is long and heavy, excellent in the hand. I ordered this razor for the looks but overall I really like the Parker 65r and look forward to finding the perfect blade for it.
Glad it worked out jay bird..sounds like you got one from an aggressive batch lol. The handles are pretty solid construction with a brass core and I believe there is also brass under the head plating as well.. something even Muhle doesn't do. Maybe it's gonna be around for a while. Use it in good health...
Edit addition: You might also want to put a dab of Vaseline on the head screw to help protect it and make it easier to tighten up...
