|
Post by mjclark on Dec 9, 2015 17:21:25 GMT -6
Following sharpspine's lead and having read his excellent review, my Mongoose arrived today! I am shockingly excited to shave with this razor tomorrow morning - I've heard only good news about the Mongoose It got to the UK very quickly, and much to my surprise there were no customs charges. But at 139g I am surprised at how weighty it is with that Dr Bomber handle. Is this the ultimate razor?
|
|
|
Post by wchnu on Dec 9, 2015 19:51:58 GMT -6
I would say it is not the ultimate LOL but I like the older stuff and have not tried one of them. It is a very nice looking razor for sure though.
|
|
|
Post by mjclark on Dec 10, 2015 2:06:24 GMT -6
First shave with the Mongoose this morning: I used a Feather Pro Super blade and have learned from other razors that these blades like a nice slick prep, so I used shaving oil under the lather and a lot of water. The result was shaving nirvana! I was pleasantly surprised by the loud audible feedback from this razor, easily as loud as a 1912 and the blade feel on the face which reminds me a lot of the 50s Streamline. The head geometry is brilliant and the angle is easy and intuitive. Steeper angles are possible and effective too which makes for a very good and easy shave round the jawline - as the angle varies on these tight curves the shave is still consistently efficient. The other Pro blades have less extension than the Super that I used, so maybe there is less noise and fewer effective angles with those, but the Super seems perfect here. And the result, as expected, is magnificent. Effortless ATG is possible and this gives that rare thing, a true BBS. Some of my top performing DEs give my skin a waxy feel, but with the Mongoose my face feels like a piece of polished marble. This is an absolutely incredible shave, and I wonder how long it will last and if the regrowth will be smart. The next 24hrs will bring the answers, and this is definitely love at first shave
|
|
|
Post by mpf9ret on Dec 10, 2015 5:10:09 GMT -6
First shave with the Mongoose this morning: I used a Feather Pro Super blade and have learned from other razors that these blades like a nice slick prep, so I used shaving oil under the lather and a lot of water. The result was shaving nirvana! I was pleasantly surprised by the loud audible feedback from this razor, easily as loud as a 1912 and the blade feel on the face which reminds me a lot of the 50s Streamline. The head geometry is brilliant and the angle is easy and intuitive. Steeper angles are possible and effective too which makes for a very good and easy shave round the jawline - as the angle varies on these tight curves the shave is still consistently efficient. The other Pro blades have less extension than the Super that I used, so maybe there is less noise and fewer effective angles with those, but the Super seems perfect here. And the result, as expected, is magnificent. Effortless ATG is possible and this gives that rare thing, a true BBS. Some of my top performing DEs give my skin a waxy feel, but with the Mongoose my face feels like a piece of polished marble. This is an absolutely incredible shave, and I wonder how long it will last and if the regrowth will be smart. The next 24hrs will bring the answers, and this is definitely love at first shave Marcus, Not Fair being so enthusiastic , it makes me want to try one & I have too Many razors already. Mike
|
|
|
Post by mjclark on Dec 10, 2015 5:40:23 GMT -6
Marcus, Not Fair being so enthusiastic , it makes me want to try one & I have too Many razors already. Mike Honestly Mike, if I live to see seven wonders I doubt I'll ever find a safety razor to match this one - Fleetwood Mac could've written a song about it. It's a beautifully designed and superbly made delivery system for an incredible blade. In terms of SE, this and the Streamline could be all she wrote Ha ha - is this really the RADkiller we've been awaiting so long?
|
|
|
Post by mjclark on Dec 10, 2015 16:07:12 GMT -6
12 hours on from this morning's Mongoose shave my face feels like I've just shaved with a really nice straight razor.
And I watched a ShaveBusta video in which he said he was told "if the blade is cutting hairs, then you know that the Mongoose is at the right angle" and I think that really sums it up.
The brilliance of the Mongoose geometry is that it has a very large range of effective angles, which guarantees a really good shave as long as you can judge the pressure down to zero.
And the regrowth is looking very smart in a way that I associate with the ER 1912 and Streamline. Perfect!
|
|
RocketMan
Gem Star
RazorAddict
Welcome To The Sharp Side!
Posts: 4,167
|
Post by RocketMan on Dec 11, 2015 9:27:42 GMT -6
When I saw the thread title suggesting you were showing off your mongoose I thought I had best check just in case the water was going funny out there on the big island. Relieved to see its your razor. These are sturdy looking pieces and Feather blades are high end products. I imagine it must be a lovely shave with those blades.
|
|
|
Post by mjclark on Dec 11, 2015 11:06:20 GMT -6
When I saw the thread title suggesting you were showing off your mongoose I thought I had best check just in case the water was going funny out there on the big island. Relieved to see its your razor. These are sturdy looking pieces and Feather blades are high end products. I imagine it must be a lovely shave with those blades. Yes this is a gorgeous gorgeous shave! My only gripe is that with the Mongoose I only need to shave every 36 hours but sometimes I want to shave more often, a problem which nicely illustrated the phrase "punishment of luxury"
|
|
RobinK
Lather Catcher
Posts: 505
|
Post by RobinK on Dec 11, 2015 19:58:18 GMT -6
Well, I recently scored a Streamline. Thanks, Paul. Any other razor cannot get any closer. I hear you, Marcus. But that Mondoose is simply too bloody ugly.
|
|
|
Post by mjclark on Dec 12, 2015 0:52:21 GMT -6
Well, I recently scored a Streamline. Thanks, Paul. Any other razor cannot get any closer. I hear you, Marcus. But that Mondoose is simply too bloody ugly. Enjoy that Streamline Robin! It really is "the one" for GEM blades. Like I said to Mike, the Streamline and the Mongoose might be all there is to it! And the aesthetics of the Mongoose are a long way from the sexy curves of the Cobra but nonetheless beautiful to me. It's more futuristic Bauhaus There's something about the Mongoose head design that reminds me of the OCMM and ER 1924 too - elegant functionality.
|
|
|
Post by mpf9ret on Dec 12, 2015 3:12:42 GMT -6
Well, I recently scored a Streamline. Thanks, Paul. Any other razor cannot get any closer. I hear you, Marcus. But that Mondoose is simply too bloody ugly. Enjoy that Streamline Robin! It really is "the one" for GEM blades. Like I said to Mike, the Streamline and the Mongoose might be all there is to it! And the aesthetics of the Mongoose are a long way from the sexy curves of the Cobra but nonetheless beautiful to me. It's more futuristic Bauhaus There's something about the Mongoose head design that reminds me of the OCMM and ER 1924 too - elegant functionality. Hi Marcus, You mean a bit like this 1924
|
|
|
Post by mjclark on Dec 12, 2015 3:14:36 GMT -6
Exactly that Mike! What handle is that? It looks lovely
|
|
|
Post by mpf9ret on Dec 12, 2015 4:06:08 GMT -6
Exactly that Mike! What handle is that? It looks lovely It is a Stainless Steel one from marketplace, " Windrose Safety Razor Handle "site. Go very quickly as around £11.
|
|
|
Post by mjclark on Dec 13, 2015 1:57:56 GMT -6
Exactly that Mike! What handle is that? It looks lovely It is a Stainless Steel one from marketplace, " Windrose Safety Razor Handle "site. Go very quickly as around £11. I've seen those Mike and wondered how good they were... ... I showed the Mongoose to my friend Matt yesterday and he said "That's it then, you're going to have to start collecting teapots now!" but Paul has lent me his Weck hoe-type and there's talk of a new open comb baseplate for the Mongoose, so perhaps the RAD lives on, albeit in a much more gentle and playful way than before the Mongoose arrived. Changed my prep to a cream this morning, and the extra cushion is useful for the first few shaves with these extreme blades: I really noticed a lot of blade feel and a lot of noise with this shave, reminding me very much of classic SEs like the ER 1924 and Streamline. I haven't seen this comparison made elsewhere, and I'm pretty sure a lot of it has to do with the extra extension of the Pro Super blades. Whatever, this was another fantastic shave - it only needed two passes, but I gave it three
|
|
|
Post by mjclark on Dec 15, 2015 17:10:25 GMT -6
Third Mongoose shave tonight on 60 hours of beard: Tonight I tried the "Flat to the face" approach. This gave a very smooth shave but a few weepers on the neck, which always prefers steep angle if it's available. I like very much the way these Feather Pro blades change in character as the number of shaves on them increases- like the GEM Stainless the first three shaves can be a bit dicey then the fourth is sublime, but unlike the GEM Stainless there's at least another eight shaves after that to enjoy. And now the Mongoose has got me shaving every two days with two passes and a touch up for the same result as shaving daily with three full passes used to do. So here's 21st Century SE shaving Gentlemen!
|
|