Review (3/5): Good razor - if it's right for you
I was very excited about this razor based on the glowing reviews. I really wanted to love it- and there is indeed a lot to like about it. It's good but not great and probably not super beginner friendly as the heft makes it more aggressive and less forgiving.
The head looks like a copy of the Edwin Jagger DE89 or Muhle R89. The blade gap is a bit more aggressive than either of those razors. It also appears a bit more aggressive than the medium setting of my adjustable razors. The construction and fit and finish are decent but not especially stellar. It is made well enough that the blade is easy to load and center- and the blade stays very secure with proper alignment. This is very important and it's definitely there.
The knurling on the handle is good- but the edges did feel a bit sharp/rough which made it seem a bit cheap. It is a VERY hefty handle. By far the heaviest I've used. I thought this would be a good thing but it makes the razor seem a bit unbalanced and perhaps even a bit more aggressive than the head otherwise would be. It also makes the razor less conducive to finer, shorter moments like blade buffing and more likely to cause razor burn if not careful. It is a good combination- but for me it works best for a quick, reasonably efficient 2 pass shave. I feel like it is a bit too much and too unwieldily for a 3rd pass against the grain.
This is a good razor -but it may not be a perfect fit for many. You should also consider that this razor has been selling around $16-18 and around the $17+ price point there are a lot of other very solid options. If you compare it to other budget friendly options like sub $18 West Coast Shaving's stainless steel razors, or similarly priced Vikings Cheiftain Jr., or a real DE89 which is sometimes seen under $22 here on Amazon- I'm not sure this is the amazing bargain that others are portraying in the reviews.
Some have compared it to $40+ Merkurs, etc. It's kind of a weird comparison. True this is a very functional and solid razor - and Merkurs are overpriced due to the name and legacy. But those are also different razors - i.e. milder with lighter more refined handles for finer control, and built a bit better. The razor has to be right for you before you can compare price. If a razor is unbalanced and clunky (or not) - that's part of the design you're paying for. It's not just about how good the chrome job is.
If you know what you're getting into you'll enjoy this solid razor at a reasonable price. Just don't expect a superior razor selling for 1/2 or 1/3 the price of the name brand competition as others may claim here.