Blackland Adjustable: Osprey

I've been having interesting shaves with mine:
After several face shaves (using most settings between 1-9), I need 7+ for the efficiency I like, which is fine. My go to razor is Ambassador on 6 for all 3 passes.

My issue is I get a good amount of irritation/redness with the Osprey. I've used different blades (my favorites gillette Plat, nacets, and the included personnas). Setting 8 and 9 have good efficiency but tend to mess my skin up. Wtg, and xtg is fine but doesn't feel as buttery smooth going through whiskers as say my Blackland Dart (one of my top 5 razors). Atg the Osprey feels better but then I get a bunch of irritation. My shaving habits are the same as any other razor I use.  I'll be using a feather in it with the brass insert removed tomorrow. Setting 7 but I'll adjust as I feel necessary. I'm hoping the feather feels a lot smoother cutting the whiskers.

I really wanted to love this razor but it hasn't really done it for me, unfortunately.

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The efficiency comparison with Rex Ambassador is interesting

Osprey set at 7 remains as efficient as the Ambassador setting?

I've been having interesting shaves with mine:
After several face shaves (using most settings between 1-9), I need 7+ for the efficiency I like, which is fine. My go to razor is Ambassador on 6 for all 3 passes.

My issue is I get a good amount of irritation/redness with the Osprey. I've used different blades (my favorites gillette Plat, nacets, and the included personnas). Setting 8 and 9 have good efficiency but tend to mess my skin up. Wtg, and xtg is fine but doesn't feel as buttery smooth going through whiskers as say my Blackland Dart (one of my top 5 razors). Atg the Osprey feels better but then I get a bunch of irritation. My shaving habits are the same as any other razor I use.  I'll be using a feather in it with the brass insert removed tomorrow. Setting 7 but I'll adjust as I feel necessary. I'm hoping the feather feels a lot smoother cutting the whiskers.

I really wanted to love this razor but it hasn't really done it for me, unfortunately.

Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk

The efficiency comparison with Rex Ambassador is interesting

Osprey set at 7 remains as efficient as the Ambassador setting?

Setting 6 Ambassador is more efficient than 9 on osprey. My point was I need setting 7 on this for the efficiency I like but no it isn't as efficient as the Ambassador but some don't like the Ambassador because it's blade forward

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Redness is most likely due to using excessive pressure...in my case, it always is.
Trying without the insert is a good idea for sure.

One of the traits about the Osprey that I read about is quite a reduced blade feel that is fairly
constant even as you increase the gap. It could be that the reduced blade feel is masking any
pressure you are employing....so try to reduce pressure while shaving and see if there is an
improvement.

Redness is most likely due to using excessive pressure...in my case, it always is.
Trying without the insert is a good idea for sure.

One of the traits about the Osprey that I read about is quite a reduced blade feel that is fairly
constant even as you increase the gap. It could be that the reduced blade feel is masking any
pressure you are employing....so try to reduce pressure while shaving and see if there is an
improvement.

I am used to high efficiency razors, including the karve OC-G. So I'm good with a very light touch. I did use the feather today. Still didn't feel great. I have used it without the insert before, and today. It feels different but not necessarily better. I'm going to take a break from it and revisit in about a week.

Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk

Redness is most likely due to using excessive pressure...in my case, it always is.
Trying without the insert is a good idea for sure.

One of the traits about the Osprey that I read about is quite a reduced blade feel that is fairly
constant even as you increase the gap. It could be that the reduced blade feel is masking any
pressure you are employing....so try to reduce pressure while shaving and see if there is an
improvement.

I am used to high efficiency razors, including the karve OC-G. So I'm good with a very light touch. I did use the feather today. Still didn't feel great. I have used it without the insert before, and today. It feels different but not necessarily better. I'm going to take a break from it and revisit in about a week.

Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk

Run it on the bar? With a Platinum if that is your go to.

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OSPREY FIRST USE REVIEW BY A RELATIVE NEWBIE
Today was my first shave using the Osprey. I must admit I was really looking forward to it. I have previously given my initial visual review of the Osprey when it was received. This will be the shaving experience.
Shane recommended that if you use the Blackbird, a setting 6 is a good starting point. I was a chicken, so I used around 5.5. The other items is used were a new CaYuen brush (wonderful tool), pre wash with PAA Cube, the CaYuen domino bowl and a brand new unknown razor blade that I have had the honor to test. I can't divulge the name, but, I can say it is every bit as sharp as the Feather and much smoother. This was its 2nd use. The soap was SV Opuntia and the A&E Spartacus as an after shave with alum block and witch hazel. The star of the show was the Osprey. Loading the blade is easy and setting the initial number on the wheel is also simple.
With the first stroke, I was amazed at how smooth the razor and the blade were. The weight of the razor was perfect, with the brass insert. The design of the handle was perfect for holding even with wet sudsy hands. I kept the setting at 5 through out the 3 pass shave. I had 2 days of growth, not terribly heavy or coarse, just normal stubble. The razor went through the first pass with such efficiency that all the hair was nearly gone. Looking back, I probably should have done only a WTG AND ATG passes and that would have been enough. 3 passes and I did need to do some buffing. This experience indicated to me to increase the setting next time to 6 or 6.5. I stayed on setting 5 all 3 passes and buffing.
This is embarrassing, but I just stopped to feel my face. So smooth, I love it.

So, my inexperienced, non professional opinion. I leave that to SWCT and @Glazeboker, @Mr. Shavington. Au55ie and others far more experience and mechanically knowledgable than I.
The Razor is beautiful, well balanced and a wonderful shaving machine. It is easy to use and clean. Numbers on the wheel, already beat to death in other posts. I shave with my glasses on, if I didn't, I wouldn't see the razor let alone the numbers. With glasses on, the numbers are visible and not an issue.
I am not going into gap measurements or blade exposure comparisons, I am not qualified to do so. But I will say this. After only one shave, I can say that the Osprey is a winner and a potential GRAIL candidate.
PROVISO, THIS WAS ONLY MY FIRST SHAVE WITH IT. Need more experience with it. So for those of you considering this tool, I do recommend it, especially with the 30 day return policy that Blackland has. That policy shows me that they have a great deal of pride and confidence in their products, as well they should.
MY SHAVE? BBS+

Redness is most likely due to using excessive pressure...in my case, it always is.
Trying without the insert is a good idea for sure.

One of the traits about the Osprey that I read about is quite a reduced blade feel that is fairly
constant even as you increase the gap. It could be that the reduced blade feel is masking any
pressure you are employing....so try to reduce pressure while shaving and see if there is an
improvement.

I am used to high efficiency razors, including the karve OC-G. So I'm good with a very light touch. I did use the feather today. Still didn't feel great. I have used it without the insert before, and today. It feels different but not necessarily better. I'm going to take a break from it and revisit in about a week.

Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk

Run it on the bar? With a Platinum if that is your go to.

Sent from my SM-N986U using Tapatalk

What do you mean "run it on the bar"?

Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk

OSPREY FIRST USE REVIEW BY A RELATIVE NEWBIE
Today was my first shave using the Osprey. I must admit I was really looking forward to it. I have previously given my initial visual review of the Osprey when it was received. This will be the shaving experience.
Shane recommended that if you use the Blackbird, a setting 6 is a good starting point. I was a chicken, so I used around 5.5. The other items is used were a new CaYuen brush (wonderful tool), pre wash with PAA Cube, the CaYuen domino bowl and a brand new unknown razor blade that I have had the honor to test. I can't divulge the name, but, I can say it is every bit as sharp as the Feather and much smoother. This was its 2nd use. The soap was SV Opuntia and the A&E Spartacus as an after shave with alum block and witch hazel. The star of the show was the Osprey. Loading the blade is easy and setting the initial number on the wheel is also simple.
With the first stroke, I was amazed at how smooth the razor and the blade were. The weight of the razor was perfect, with the brass insert. The design of the handle was perfect for holding even with wet sudsy hands. I kept the setting at 5 through out the 3 pass shave. I had 2 days of growth, not terribly heavy or coarse, just normal stubble. The razor went through the first pass with such efficiency that all the hair was nearly gone. Looking back, I probably should have done only a WTG AND ATG passes and that would have been enough. 3 passes and I did need to do some buffing. This experience indicated to me to increase the setting next time to 6 or 6.5. I stayed on setting 5 all 3 passes and buffing.
This is embarrassing, but I just stopped to feel my face. So smooth, I love it.

So, my inexperienced, non professional opinion. I leave that to SWCT and @Glazeboker, @Mr. Shavington. Au55ie and others far more experience and mechanically knowledgable than I.
The Razor is beautiful, well balanced and a wonderful shaving machine. It is easy to use and clean. Numbers on the wheel, already beat to death in other posts. I shave with my glasses on, if I didn't, I wouldn't see the razor let alone the numbers. With glasses on, the numbers are visible and not an issue.
I am not going into gap measurements or blade exposure comparisons, I am not qualified to do so. But I will say this. After only one shave, I can say that the Osprey is a winner and a potential GRAIL candidate.
PROVISO, THIS WAS ONLY MY FIRST SHAVE WITH IT. Need more experience with it. So for those of you considering this tool, I do recommend it, especially with the 30 day return policy that Blackland has. That policy shows me that they have a great deal of pride and confidence in their products, as well they should.
MY SHAVE? BBS+

What's "bbs+"?

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I am used to high efficiency razors, including the karve OC-G. So I'm good with a very light touch. I did use the feather today. Still didn't feel great. I have used it without the insert before, and today. It feels different but not necessarily better. I'm going to take a break from it and revisit in about a week.

Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk

Run it on the bar? With a Platinum if that is your go to.

Sent from my SM-N986U using Tapatalk

What do you mean "run it on the bar"?

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The safety bar. Run it at a steep angle and see if it helps.

Sent from my SM-N986U using Tapatalk

Run it on the bar? With a Platinum if that is your go to.

Sent from my SM-N986U using Tapatalk

What do you mean "run it on the bar"?

Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk

The safety bar. Run it at a steep angle and see if it helps.

Sent from my SM-N986U using Tapatalk

Hey man, you going to post your thoughts on the Osprey? We need to hear from you good or bad Brother!!


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