I find the Konsul to be a superb razor, with the others being more or less equally good, with nothing to dislike, apart from the small numbers on the Tatara. With full WTG and ATG passes (and a chinward XTG pass along my jaw only, it’s a tight BBS result that I’d say is only a bit worse than the Ambassador around my chin, maybe because I continue to be wary of the slant’s blade angle. Although visually quite similar there are some aspects of the 2000S that set it apart from the Futur. This razor has a wider range of adjustment compared to the Futur, especially at the low end. And as you might expect at the price point, the Ming Shi/Qshave does “cut a few corners” in manufacturing. For example, the dial markings are painted on instead of etched in like the Futur. Some users report the printed dial numbers wear off after extended use.

Setting 5 – Hardy skin, coarse facial hair, prone to razor bumps and ingrown hairs, short beards, shaving every 5 – 7 days. I have some problems with the design, though. The un-textured handle can make holding the razor awkward. The the razor’s large(-ish) head can make getting into tight areas like under the nose a challenge. And the “window” of the adjustment range is biased a bit high for some who wish the low end of the range was even lower/milder. Of course everyone has their preferences, but I’ve used quite a few razors in my time and I definitely have some favorites for “best” adjustable safety razor.Settings – The razor blade gap is adjusted via the adjustable knob under the razor head that has 6 settings in total. Users may also turn the dial to a half setting giving a total of 11 settings. Setting 1 is the mildest, and setting 6 is the most aggressive. Our DeLuxe finish combines the best of Rex Supply Co. super shave experience and the best of Razor Emporium’s Revamp Service. These stainless steel safety razors are enhanced by high mirror polish and plated with precious metal. Smoothing the machine finish of Marine Grade Stainless Steel increases the shave experience in smoothness and efficiency and adds value to this heirloom razor. There is a 2 to 3 week turn around on Upgraded razors. Earlier versions of the Pearl Flexi adjustable razor had design and build issues, particularly with blade gap and alignment. These appear to have been solved. The Crusader’s dual comb head design continues on the Emperor: one side has a scalloped safety bar, while the other side has a smooth safety bar.

When I decided to take on making the first American adjustable since Gillette, I knew it was going to be an audacious goal. First, I had never made a razor before and second, it was a complicated piece of machinery at 8 pieces and 2 springs. The amount of variables present here is exponentially greater than a 3 piece razor. However I wanted to make a splash in the industry and do something that hadn't been done. I used setting 6 on four days of growth and it was a little aggressive for me. I toned it down to setting four which was fine. Materials and Finish – Made from 316L marine grade stainless steel for strength, durability and longevity which most stainless steel safety razors are made with. The stainless steel has a brushed finish. The name ‘REX’ had many meanings when we chose it. Formally, it stands for Revisit Excellent. It Latin, it means King. But to me, it means Razor Emporium eXperience. After years of retailing, repairing, and collecting razors, I feel it’s only the next evolution. We want to incorporate the best from the past and present and provide a line of products that make you feel like a king in your bathroom. Grooming can be fun or it can be a chore. We want to help men everywhere get the best shaves possible – and we want to create high quality products that aim to do so.” Versatility distinguishes an adjustable safety razor vs non adjustable models. They can be used to not only tailor a shave to your specific circumstances, they can also more easily mitigate other variables in the shave that might otherwise cause problems. Transitioning to an adjustable razor may take a little time to fully appreciate its capabilities, but I think it’s worth the effort. See: How To Use An Adjustable Razor Most Effectively Other Safety Razors That Are Adjustable In Some Fashion

Final Thoughts

The razor on every shave was very comfortable. There was no dragging despite not being chrome plated, and the low profile head was perfect for shaving sideburns and under the nose area. Serial Number – Rex Supply Co. has followed in Gillette’s footsteps and laser etched each model with its own personal serial number. The old Gillette dating system (2018 = N, 2019 = O, 2020 = P and R = 2021, etc.) has been used. Fit and finish. This is were I'm going to ding the razor, and hard. The razor shows obvious machining marks, small scratches here and there and, most infuriating, mine had a dark tool mark on the top of the cap and a tool mark on the end cap. It also has tooling marks inside the lather holes. The razor comes in a sturdy box, but it is cardboard. For the price point I expected more. A bakelite, wood or metal box would be more appropriate. As I mentioned previously, the Vikings Blade Crusader adjustable safety razor appears to me to be based on the same general design as the Parthenon and the Nostalgic, but each has their own tweak. The Crusader’s distinction is an “asymmetrical head” with a standard safety bar on one side and a scalloped safety bar on the other. The optimist in me thinks the different head side design could provide additional, subtle variables in the shave in addition to simply adjusting the blade gap. The cynic in me thinks the design could “cover up” uneven blade alignment due to poor engineering or manufacturing.