BullGooseShaving and their own Asylum 17-4.....

To me, both of the new "fixed" models look different. #73 looks like there is some play between the top cap and baseplate, and some shoddy machining. #83 looks like everything fits tighter and the machining looks nice and flat. Also, the middle of the handle on #83 looks slightly over finished? This could all be the pictures and lighting of course, but just an observation.

I don't think it's the light. You can see it in multiple shots.

#83 looks like the engraver sneezed while working on the "8". But otherwise, the fit and machining of the head looks really good. #73 looks bad.

I think steep angle mostly works with aggressive razors. It helps to reduce the blade exposure.
I don't know how you can get efficient shave with negative exposure and steep angle.
Looking forward to shave reviews.

I have one and it does like a steeper angle but I have been getting great shaves with it. It is a mild feeling razor but it is plenty efficient. The machining on mine looks good.

Quick update, I reached out to Phil at Bullgoose and he wants to exchange the razor. I will update when the new one arrives.

Quick update, I reached out to Phil at Bullgoose and he wants to exchange the razor.  I will update when the new one arrives.

good on Phil to make it right.

Funny how Yates can machine and finish the winning razor for around $50 that looks way better than this. Yes I understand this is 17-4 but still looks unacceptable for over $200.

Funny how Yates can machine and finish the winning razor for around $50 that looks way better than this. Yes I understand this is 17-4 but still looks unacceptable for over $200.

You need to realize that the razors that are being shown are just back from the machinist. Even though Bullgoose describes it as a "machine finish" it really is no finish. They were meant to go to the polisher next and it is at that step that most of the rough edges and machine marks are removed. Phil sold just a small amount of these because of customer requests (and for those that could not wait or did not want to spend more for a polished version).

I took pics of my McMurphy that came in today and put it up against the original flawed 17-4 which was polished. You can see the difference in the edges around the base plate and the sides of the cap. Other razors that are shipped have some sort of finish. 

Funny how Yates can machine and finish the winning razor for around $50 that looks way better than this. Yes I understand this is 17-4 but still looks unacceptable for over $200.

You need to realize that the razors that are being shown are just back from the machinist. Even though Bullgoose describes it as a "machine finish" it really is no finish. They were meant to go to the polisher next and it is at that step that most of the rough edges and machine marks are removed. Phil sold just a small amount of these because of customer requests (and for those that could not wait or did not want to spend more for a polished version).

I took pics of my McMurphy that came in today and put it up against the original flawed 17-4 which was polished. You can see the difference in the edges around the base plate and the sides of the cap. Other razors that are shipped have some sort of finish. 

I have 2 machined finish razors from Blackland and they look great. I’m not sure if any finishing work was done before they were shipped out though, but they look more consistent across all of the razors. $225 seems high for a razor with no finish. A machined Blackbird is $185 and it looks like a tougher design to machine. I’m not trying to knock the design of the Asylum, only the price.

Funny how Yates can machine and finish the winning razor for around $50 that looks way better than this. Yes I understand this is 17-4 but still looks unacceptable for over $200.

You need to realize that the razors that are being shown are just back from the machinist. Even though Bullgoose describes it as a "machine finish" it really is no finish. They were meant to go to the polisher next and it is at that step that most of the rough edges and machine marks are removed. Phil sold just a small amount of these because of customer requests (and for those that could not wait or did not want to spend more for a polished version).

I took pics of my McMurphy that came in today and put it up against the original flawed 17-4 which was polished. You can see the difference in the edges around the base plate and the sides of the cap. Other razors that are shipped have some sort of finish. 

I have 2 machined finish razors from Blackland and they look great. I’m not sure if any finishing work was done before they were shipped out though, but they look more consistent across all of the razors. $225 seems high for a razor with no finish. A machined Blackbird is $185 and it looks like a tougher design to machine. I’m not trying to knock the design of the Asylum, only the price.

IIRC, Blackland electropolishes the razors as a final step, which doesn't remove machining marks, but does soften any sharp edges left by the machining.

"Machine finish" is kind of a deceptive term for this, because there are a wide array of finishes that are machine finish, but are miles apart. A machinist could lap the baseplate, which would leave different marks than a milled baseplate. The surfaces would be completely different, yet both be a "machined finish."

People expect to pay a certain amount for a razor and tend to ignore everything except the finish and the material. X finish + Y material = cost. What this doesn't take into account is that tolerances for razors MATTERS. A thousandth of an inch is the difference between an aggressive and mild razor, take a thousandth from the edge of the top cap, and suddenly a firmly held blade edge becomes a noisy chattery thing.

Finding a machinist who can calculate how much surface area will be reduced by polishing, and compensating for that is a fairly complicated problem. You just about require a aerospace machinist, because they are used to working with extremely tight tolerances and highly polished surfaces. They aren't cheap, and usually not interested in small little projects like razors.

You can have the best, most perfect razor design in the world, and 4 out of 5 machinists will mess it up for you.

Edit: actually, the number is probably closer to 9 out of 10.

Edit 2: CNC machining has come a long way, but it's still only as good as the person programing it, doing the setup, and how often the bits are changed. People don't realize how quickly a bit can dull, and it can make the difference between a clean razor and one that looks janky, even from the same run.

IIRC, Blackland electropolishes the razors as a final step, which doesn't remove machining marks, but does soften any sharp edges left by the machining.

"Machine finish" is kind of a deceptive term for this, because there are a wide array of finishes that are machine finish, but are miles apart. A machinist could lap the baseplate, which would leave different marks than a milled baseplate. The surfaces would be completely different, yet both be a "machined finish."

I'm curious to see what the polished version will look like. In this case, it seems less "machine finished" and more "machined". I quite like your example of Blackland razors, where the machining marks are left there as a stylistic choice but the the surface and sharp edges are softened. Softening and rounding the sharp parts should be the minimum requirement.

That said, the official pictures are posted and an accurate representation of what came out, so can't complain. And in a way, I do think it is kind of cool to have an "unfinished" version, though maybe not at this price. For someone like me who can't even make a sandwich properly, I really appreciate the various steps in the development and creation process, and this unfinished version feels much more organic, if that makes sense.