I got the Parker 22r recently from Rene and it's a fantastic razor for this prize. Main reason for me to buy the razor was that I wanted a razor with a gunmetal finish. And now I'm very glad that I made this decision. I tried it with Lord blades and with english Gillettes and I have to say that this razor provides me the same high quality shaves as my golden Progress. But you have to remember that the costs for the Parker is a quarter of the prize of the Progress. Another reason to buy this razor might be that it comes with a nice case so it can be easy taken with you on a trip. The Merkurs have only a paper box or you have to pay extra for a plastic case and the cases of the vintage Gillettes are often broken or just don't exist.
This razor is absolutely perfect for me, my beard is very heavy, coarse, and rough, my skin tends to be sensitive, and unfortunately, my eyesight is not the greatest at present because of a cataract in my left eye. The parker 22R is also a very forgiving kind of shaver, because I can remember many mistakes I made with my Merkur Vision and Progress, which left me with nicks and cuts, but nothing like that has happened with this great razor. I owe my now great skin to Rene! Jeff
Was my very first DE razor. I love the gun metal finish and the long handle. When I removed it from the plastic case and unwrapped the tissue paper, I thought that this must be what Rambo would use as a DE razor. I gave an 8 for weight, after having purchased a few other razors, some with a bit more heft, but it is adequate. Because of its longer handle, the balance is there and adjustable by where you grip it. The head is heavy enough to make finding the right grip for you very easy. Blade exposure is what I would call a medium to aggressive placement. Not as aggressive as a slant or a Fat Boy or other adjustables, but plenty of exposure for a heavy beard. The grip is good with its deep grooves that barber pole around the handle to the base. The price is classified as very good. I purchased mine for 30 bucks, and that included a kit, bowl, brush and 5 blades! I don't think you'll find a brand new razor that is this aggressive and sexy looking for any cheaper price. One drawback about my beloved 22R is the fact that with its TTO feature, it doesn't lock down like a Gillette razor does. I actually popped the end cap when I gave it one too many twists trying to snug or lock it down. Easily, I repaired it, but from that point on, I have noticed that it will sometimes loosen during my shaves. Now that I am accustomed to it, I always check it between passes. There have been many negative reviews and remarks about the quality of this razor, and I admit that it is lesser than a Gillette TTO as far as quality of the steel. But I do love my Parker 22R and it holds a top spot in my rotation, often times beating out my Merkur Progress and my Gillette Red Tip. They say that you never forget your first, and maybe this is my case.
