October 5, 2024

• Brush: Chisel & Hound Lost Nativ 26mm Fanchurian V13

• Razor: F.W. Engels Chas R. Coates & Sons 6/8 Full Hollow

• Lather: Noble Otter - Thé Noir et Vanille - Soap

• Toner: Thayers - Rose - Toner

• Aftershave: Noble Otter - Thé Noir et Vanille - Aftershave

2 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave.

This was a test shave of this F.W. Engels razor. The Jnat edge on this came out stunningly good, and the whole experience was enhanced by the wonderfulness that is Thé Noir et Vanille.

October 4, 2024

• Brush: Wild West Brushworks Blue Space 26mm Cashmere

• Razor: River Razors 6/8 3/4 Hollow

• Lather: Catie's Bubbles - Blugère - Soap

• Toner: Thayers - Lavender - Toner

• Aftershave: Catie's Bubbles - Blugère - Aftershave

2 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave.

Very nice shave today; enjoying the scent of Blugère and the Premium soap base.

The color on those scales contrasts with the gold nicely. I just test the edge on a razor when I get it. If it makes it past the packing peanut, I'll give it a try. Otherwise, straight to the "to-hone" pile. Another nice photo!

lol!!

October 3, 2024

• Brush: Wald Nimbus Chryselephantine 29mm A1 Fan

• Razor: J.A. Henckels Friodur 14 Full Hollow Square Point

• Lather: Mäurer and Wirtz - Tabac - Soap

• Toner: Thayers - Rose - Toner

• Aftershave: Mäurer & Wirtz - Tabac - Balm

• Fragrance: Mäurer & Wirtz - Tabac - Eau de Toilette

2 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave.

Ah yes, German Reunification Day. Well, any chance to celebrate works for me. I'm honoriing it with an all German setup. After 31 days without a single strop, the Frio 14 sports a brand new sharp, feather-like edge. And, of course, The Stank® needs no introduction.

October 2, 2024

• Brush: Wald Nimbus Bloodline 27mm J3

• Razor: Hart Steel 6/8 Quarter Hollow

• Lather: Declaration Grooming - Cerberus - Soap

• Aftershave: Noble Otter - Cerberus - Aftershave

• Fragrance: Declaration Grooming - Cerberus - Eau de Parfum

2 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave.

Today's shave was a very enjoyable test shave of this Le Grelot Royal Canadian. Cerberus was fantastic, as always!

Very cool razor! As you already know, I like these a lot! But that’s only from reputation. I have the same feeling about the finish work on my Dovo Facharbeit as you do on the work on this Böker. Form and function ‘A’, glamour ‘C’.

Great write-up and photos, BTW.

October 1, 2024

• Brush: Chisel & Hound Classic 26mm V23 Fanchurian

• Razor: Pinget A St. Rampert 7/8 Half Hollow

• Lather: Mäurer and Wirtz - Tabac - Soap

• Aftershave: Mäurer & Wirtz - Tabac - Aftershave

• Fragrance: Mäurer & Wirtz - Tabac - Eau de Toilette

2 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave.

Basking in Glorious Stankitude on day one of TabOKtober. Today was a test shave of this Pinget A St. Rampert that was sent for honing. Another razor that the owner of it will love, I think.

video

September 30, 2024

• Brush: Zenith B40 28mm Boar

• Razor: Koraat 14-2.0 8/8" Full Hollow

• Lather: Shulton - Old Spice - Soap

• Aftershave: Shulton - Old Spice - Aftershave

2 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave.

Ending Straightember with the good stuff! Shulton Old Spice never disappoints. The Zenith B40 boar has been a real pleasure to Raw Hog all month. It's a terrific brush. Finally, the Koraat, with it's fresh JNat edge, performed magnificently.

September 29, 2024

• Brush: Zenith B40 28mm Boar

• Razor: W. Greaves & Sons 6/8 Wedge

• Lather: Wholly Kaw - Entropy Man - Soap

• Aftershave: Wholly Kaw - Entropy Man - Aftershave

2 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave.

The shave-test of the W. Greaves & Sons wedge razor (honed yesterday) went far better than I expected. Entropy Man was excellent, as always.

Firefighter++;

That one is such a winner!

I'm looking forward to TabOKtober!

Very nice photo! Honestly, the second or third use is just magic on a fresh Frio edge that has been really pushed for sharpness. The first shave or two helps it to settle in a little.

September 28, 2024

• Brush: Zenith B40 28mm Boar

• Razor: Ralf Aust 5/8 Stainless Full Hollow Spanish Point

• Lather: Elysian Soap Shop - Olympus - Soap

• Toner: Thayers - Lavender - Toner

• Aftershave: Elysian Soap Shop - Olympus - Aftershave

• Fragrance: Elysian Soap Shop - Olympus - Eau de Parfum

2 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave.

Very nice shave today. I used another Elysian soap. Olympus is more high key and subtle than El Dorado, but very enjoyable. The soap base is harder than your typical artisan soap, and it starts a little sudsier, but it becomes thick and dense with a little work.

I'm in 😁

September 27, 2024

• Brush: Zenith B40 28mm Boar

• Razor: Ralf Aust 5/8 Full Hollow Spanish Point

• Lather: Elysian Soap Shop - El Dorado - Soap

• Toner: Thayers - Lavender - Toner

• Aftershave: Elysian Soap Shop - El Dorado - Aftershave

• Fragrance: Elysian Soap Shop - El Dorado - Eau de Parfum

2 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave.

I enjoy this soap. Very nice base and there's something attractive about the scent. There's not one component to it that stands out. Just very peasing.

September 26, 2024

• Brush: Zenith B40 28mm Boar

• Razor: Dubl Duck Pearl Duck 6/8 Full Hollow

• Lather: Barrister and Mann - Marilyn - Soap

• Toner: Thayers - Lavender - Toner

• Aftershave: Barrister and Mann - Marilyn - Aftershave

• Fragrance: Barrister and Mann - Marilyn - Eau de Toilette

2 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave.

Instead of following this theme exactly, I'm honoring the only president to have Marilyn Monroe sing Happy Birthday to him.

I have not taken data on this, but I’m convinced that a well formed edge will last 60-70 shaves if a loaded strop (Cr2O3) is used every 10 shaves or so in addition to regular stropping with every shave.

Wedcrafts Witchesday++;

That's a stretch, but I like it a lot! :)

September 25, 2024

• Brush: Zenith B40 28mm Boar

• Razor: Dubl Duck 5/8" Full Hollow

• Lather: Spearhead Shaving Company - Seaforth! Black Watch - Soap

• Toner: Thayers - Lavender - Toner

• Aftershave: Spearhead Shaving Company - Seaforth! Black Watch - Aftershave

• Fragrance: Spearhead Shaving Company - Seaforth! Black Watch - Eau de Toilette

2 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave.

I haven't done a Black Watchday in a while. I forgot how good this trifecta is!

edge is showing first signs of wear after 24 uses

I tend to just want a new edge somewhere between 12 and 15 uses. I'm convinced that most razors can easily go 30-40 uses with a good starting edge and reasonable care with stropping.