Charcoal Goods Razor Antique Finish

Had my first shave today with a Charcoal Goods Open Comb. A fellow DFS member said that he found the OC Charcoal the smoothest OC he's used, and I agree wholeheartedly. Fantastic shaver. I have a Level 2 base, so it may not be as efficient as the more 'aggressive' OC razors, but boy is it smooth! I'm looking forward to getting a Level 3 base when they're available again. (If any of you gentlemen have a Level 3 base in brass, antiqued finish that you want to sell, please PM me)

I noticed something in comparing the new OC with the SB I've been shaving with-the antiquing does wear off a bit. I wrote to Brian at Charcoal about it, and he was very forthcoming-it's supposed to happen this way. The end result is to emulate the look of the slight aging of a bright brass finish.

Here's a comparison of the SB razor I've been using on the left and the OC razor before its first use this morning on the right. The difference can be most clearly seen on the handles.




Here's what the Charcoal website recommends as far as care. I've only used a drop of Dawn and warm water to clean the razor after use:

Charcoal Goods razors are delivered with only a coat of wax over the base metal. Copper and Brass are highly reactive metals and will change in appearance as you own them. The antique finish is non-permanent and some of it will wear off with use. If you don't want the finish of your razor to change, apply a clear coat immediately upon receiving your razor. In general all shaving products should be cleaned with Dawn dish soap or similar. An ultrasonic cleaner may be used, but will potentially remove the antique finish. Remember,  ultrasonic cleaners are marketed to remove the 'tarnish' from jewelry!

I'm not sure what is meant by 'clear coat', and was wondering if any of you can enlighten me on this, and if you would recommend it.

Lastly, I wanted to know if Barbicide would harm the finish, and asked Brian about it. He ordered some Barbicide, tested it, got back to me and added this to the care instructions:

Barbicide, IF USED AS DIRECTED, will sterilize your shaving gear and will not damage the finish.

I'm very happy I got these razors, and the customer care from Charcoal has been first rate.

Awesome razor! That's unfortunate that the finish wears off though. I really like the look of that antique finish. Clear coat refers to spray paint, most likely. I would go to an auto parts store or similar and get some automotive grade clear coat enamel such as Dupli-Color or 3M and follow the instructions on the can. Usually it's 2-3 light coats with some drying time in between. You can find some non-automotive stuff in satin finish too, if you would prefer that over a high gloss look. I think the stuff used for cars would be the most durable though.

I personally like the look of the used closed comb razor. I think the wear gives it character.....

Level 2 is just as smooth and efficient as level 3 but easier to cut yourself using level 3. One of the best razor heads ever made. Now Brian is getting like James at Wolfman. You have to get on a waiting list. I think that will improve during the summer as he is getting new CNC equipment in to meet demand. At least no pre-payment is necessary.

Damn, that's a looker!


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I love the worn look myself. I have the fatter handle incoming and am looking forward to the wear pattern.

I am using the level 2 dual comb base but popped myself on the wait list for the level 1 dual comb as the OC side is a tad tough on my skin, the lvl 2 SB side is perfect for me though.

Looks really nice, how do I get added to wait list?


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The Level 3 open comb in antique brass is my favorite DE razor, out of 30 or so. I don't clean or treat my razors, so I haven't used the Dawn or clear coat solutions. I did honor Brian's suggestion to grease the threads. I use a silicone grease for marine uses (so the stuff won't hurt you--if it's good enough for scuba gear near your mouth, it's good enough for a razor).

chaturvedi.ankit you just go to the Charcoal Goods website, and sign up for the email list, and you'll get notifications when there's razors, etc. available.

CCity, do you have any recommendations for a brand of silicone grease that works well?

wingdo I know it's a cliché, but the smoothness on the SB is such that I wonder if there's a blade in the razor.

Thanks for the compliments on the razor. To be honest, I bought the first one for its looks, but after I shaved with it, it went right into the rotation.

I personally like the look of the used closed comb razor.  I think the wear gives it character.....

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