Alright folks, I'm looking for another OC razor, and I'm wanting a modern one for under $30. I've got it narrowed down to 3: RazoRock Jaws, HTGAM Symmetry and HTGAM Name Taker. The Jaws seems to be the lightest handle (being thin) but I like the price of Joe's offering at $15. The Symmetry is the middle ground at long but still thick handle, and at $30 it still ain't bad! The Name Taker is the wild card for me. The short but super thick and hefty handle is both attractive to me and slightly weird (I tend to like a longer handle, but I also love my 1930s New, and it's both short AND light comparatively). It's the same price as the Symmetry, but much heftier. What I want is thoughts from people who have one, or all, of these razors and which you prefer along with a brief description of why!
I can only comment on the jaws. I bought one for one of my sons, he loves it. For the price, you can't go wrong.
I like the product Joe puts his name on, my second razor was a Mission and it's phenomenal, but it just too mild for me now. I find it takes almost 4 passes to get the same smoothness that my cadet OC/fat boy (set on 7)/slim on 8/New give me in 2. I'll probably end up including the Mission (along with my old Weishi that I haven't used in months) in a PIF for a starter kit. I have a friend in trying to convert!
I haven't used the others, but strongly consider the Parker 24c/26c. It would be about $33. Slightly more than what you said, but well worth it.
If you prefer the longer and heavier handle, I would suggest the Parker 26c. The handle on that bad boy was nice. I sold it because Im just not a Open comb guy, and I prefer a shorter handle. The buyer is very happy, and its in hour price range. Good luck.
The only reason I wasn't really looking at Parker's is because of some of the negative things I've heard about their QC. Sounds like they have some plating issues that can actually affect how they shave. No personal experience, it's all heresay at this point, but have I haven't heard the same thing about the HTGAM and RazoRock products. Still, I might have to look into Parker
Only razor of those I used was the Jaws. The shave was rough but not in the flexy-stabby kind of the way like the Fatip. I also think the minimum cutting angle was too large compared to many other DEs leading to a scraping feeling. I had to manually align the blade each time because the pieces didn't really match up perfectly. Cosmetically it wasn't perfect either. The top cap had a gash that was plated over and somehow passed QC. Keep in mind Razorock, and HTGAM are made in India, same as Parker. They are only $15 so what can you expect? You might want it for the handle.
I agree with Fram re: the handle. It is awesome. Parker does suffer from a negative reputation for QC, but there is actually an article on the sharpologist website where they discuss how this has been addressed. Mantic59 recommends this razor. If he thinks it's good, that is good enough for me. Plating is fantastic and blade alignment is great. Handle is awesome. As Fram said, all of the razors you have looked into are from India. I happen to really enjoy my two Parker razors and Indian Gillette black ninjas
I haven't tried the Razorrock Jaws but I have used the Symmetry Open Comb for the first time this morning. Because I have never used an open comb razor before I selected a milder blade - Astra SP which I thought would be a good match. HOLY CRAP! The Symmetry has given me the closest shave ever. I had a few weepers and 1 small nick but all in all a nice shave. I would use with caution as even with a mild blade open combs provide an aggressive shave. The Symmetry is a beautiful razor - I'll just have to see how often I use it - at this point - I don't see me using it everyday.
I've got a Cadet OC and love it, but I don't use it every day. I've got too many now to rotate through! I actually have a couple razors I'll be looking to send off to a new home soon lol
Even with the lightest touch my Symmetry was done after the first pass - hence my caution. A few touch ups and I would be done. However, I just babyed the last 2 but honestly for me this is a 2 pass shave Max - probably WTG and ATG in the future.
I didn't vote as I've never used any of those three razors or have I ? All of those razors remind me(especially the Razorrock) of the shaveabuck OC Cadet(also made in India I believe). I have used both the Cadet OC and a Gillette 1935 "NEW" OC, and of those two razors my face seems to like the Gillette more, for some reason the Cadet, while it certainly gave an ok shave, felt a little more aggressive/rougher than the Gillette. Anyway the Gillette OC gives me "GREAT" shaves and is my go to OC. I use my "NEW" shave head with a greistshaving "FAT" brass handle.
