H&S P076 316SS DC Passaround – New Standard in SS Artisanal Razors at a Bargain Price

No worries. Feel free to edit if it bothers you. Amongst friends here. Your perspective was clearly communicated.

First shave with the P076 and other goodies from the pass around.

I'd previously used all the versions of the P076 and had very much liked them (except the 17-4 which my skin did NOT like).  I had a titanium, which was gorgeously finished, but I found myself never using it, partly because after a fair amount of use I found it too light and I found the shave to be somewhat scratchy. So I've been waiting for this pass around to arrive to see if a steel weight might work better for me.  After a single shave, I think the answer is "yes".  I put in a Gillette Yellow, which is my go-to blade for my N075 (and for my Wolfman) and decided to try out the Valentynka, as well.  Three passes where I was aiming for BBS all around and got a BBS all around.  I think I worked a bit too hard in a few places because, aside from two tiny nicks on my neck, my only complaint was that I got some slight irritation that lasted for a while.  I'm going to give it a few more shaves and see if I can avoid that slight irritation. I also might try out a GSB or a Bic, both of which I liked in my titanium.

The Wholly Kaw was excellent.  Not a brand I've used much or for a while but it gave me an excellent shave -- nice cushion and smooth.  There are certainly a lot of fine shave soaps out there these days.  The scent on the soap also lasted and lasted.  I used the Tallow + Steel to give me a holiday scent feel and hours later, the amber scent in the soap is still coming through but the aftershave is long gone (and T+S splashes usually last a while on me).  I somewhat like the scent so I'm sorry there was no splash to try.  Will see with the Vor.

Not much of an impression from the toner; not sure it did that much for me. 

A very good start to this pass around for me so thanks to DanLaw  and H&S and Wholly Kaw!

Some find the reduced weight of Ti influences them to apply pressure vs allowing the razor weight to do the 'work', thus preferring heavier metals such as SS or Cu.

individuals need determine which metal is most suited to their preferences, just as with gaps and blade exposure.

I strongly prefer the H&S P076 Ti to both the Paradigm Ti and Paradigm Ti2

First shave with the P076 and other goodies from the pass around.

The Ti was a little rough? I really hope that isn't the case with mine, guess I'll find out.

Just recently bought one and waiting for it to arrive. I know if I have a problem, hopefully I can just exchange it with the Z074.

I strongly prefer the H&S P076 Ti to both the Paradigm Ti and Paradigm Ti2

I don't think I used the word "rough" in describing my Ti.  And I wouldn't.  And, like DanLaw, the H&S was way better than the Paradigm Ti for me.  What I was trying to say was that, for me, the H&S P076 was very light and kind of scraped/resonated with the blade feel.  It wasn't what I would call rough, just a lot of resonance and feedback. In general, I think I've been more comfortable with slightly heavier razors; razors for which the weight defines the level of pressure.  DanLawmight be right that with a lighter razor I press too hard which can sometimes when overdone lead to more feedback than I want and possibly the irritation I've occasionally had.  But I've now tried a few titanium razors and I've not liked any of them. Of them, limited (admittedly) to a Henson, a Paradigm and the H&S, the H&s was clearly the best razor, however.  With only one shave with the 316 P0, I can tell I like it more than the Ti. And, as for you, Frl2 if you don't like a razor from Aji, he's amazingly good at taking them back and trying to make you happy.  His customer service is fantastic (at least in my experience) and he really stands behind his stuff.

FWIW, the P076 that I have in titanium is an absolute joy to shave with. In terms of shaving feel it is the best razor I have, and the one I find myself yearning for if I haven’t used it in a while. I love the lightness, the ultra slim profile head, and the “just right” amount of blade feel. It all comes together to make the razor feel extremely precise, nimble, light and gentle on my face, and it is still a medium-high efficient razor. It makes my shaves feel light and expressive.

It doesn’t require pressure - it cuts very effectively without weight. Blade feel is present, so I feel exactly where the blade is, but it is never at all harsh like, say, a Blackbird can be. Mine is the open comb version with the black coating. I usually favour very efficient razors like my Blackland Tradère OC, Rocnel Sailor, Timeless Slim 0.5 and Bronze 0.78, or Blackbird - which are all a little more efficient - but the P076 is efficient enough and I just enjoy shaving with it more than the others.

I think if anyone has a problem with irritation or not enough efficiency with no pressure with the P076, then it is probably due to poor lathering, not the razor.

I haven’t tried a steel P076 but I do have the copper on order and am looking forward immensely to seeing what this razor is like with greater weight. I don’t expect it to be better, but I anticipate it will be equal but with a different feel.

First shave with the P076 and other goodies from the pass around.

The Ti was a little rough? I really hope that isn't the case with mine, guess I'll find out.

Just recently bought one and waiting for it to arrive. I know if I have a problem, hopefully I can just exchange it with the Z074.

I strongly prefer the H&S P076 Ti to both the Paradigm Ti and Paradigm Ti2

I don't think I used the word "rough" in describing my Ti.  And I wouldn't.  And, like DanLaw, the H&S was way better than the Paradigm Ti for me.  What I was trying to say was that, for me, the H&S P076 was very light and kind of scraped/resonated with the blade feel.  It wasn't what I would call rough, just a lot of resonance and feedback. In general, I think I've been more comfortable with slightly heavier razors; razors for which the weight defines the level of pressure.  DanLawmight be right that with a lighter razor I press too hard which can sometimes when overdone lead to more feedback than I want and possibly the irritation I've occasionally had.  But I've now tried a few titanium razors and I've not liked any of them. Of them, limited (admittedly) to a Henson, a Paradigm and the H&S, the H&s was clearly the best razor, however.  With only one shave with the 316 P0, I can tell I like it more than the Ti. And, as for you, Frl2 if you don't like a razor from Aji, he's amazingly good at taking them back and trying to make you happy.  His customer service is fantastic (at least in my experience) and he really stands behind his stuff.

FWIW, the P076 that I have in titanium is an absolute joy to shave with. In terms of shaving feel it is the best razor I have, and the one I find myself yearning for if I haven’t used it in a while. I love the lightness, the ultra slim profile head, and the “just right” amount of blade feel. It all comes together to make the razor feel extremely precise, nimble, light and gentle on my face, and it is still a medium-high efficient razor. It makes my shaves feel light and expressive.

It doesn’t require pressure - it cuts very effectively without weight. Blade feel is present, so I feel exactly where the blade is, but it is never at all harsh like, say, a Blackbird can be. Mine is the open comb version with the black coating. I usually favour very efficient razors like my Blackland Tradère OC, Rocnel Sailor, Timeless Slim 0.5 and Bronze 0.78, or Blackbird - which are all a little more efficient - but the P076 is efficient enough and I just enjoy shaving with it more than the others.

I think if anyone has a problem with irritation or not enough efficiency with no pressure with the P076, then it is probably due to poor lathering, not the razor.

I haven’t tried a steel P076 but I do have the copper on order and am looking forward immensely to seeing what this razor is like with greater weight. I don’t expect it to be better, but I anticipate it will be equal but with a different feel.

I agree with both Lesser and Moriarity as odd as that may seem at first blush.

Lesser is on to something regarding Ti. When competitively bicycle road racing, tried a number of very high end Ti bicycle frames. Every one of the Ti frames absorbed so much energy under high watt pedaling that it was as though constantly going against a head wind or roads melting beneath the tyres acting as glue. Hated Ti although genuinely tried to like it; it was all the rage and it was so comfortable. Conversely, when riding a properly oriented high modulus lay up carbon frame, it was pure heaven with all the benefits of ti including weight reduction and comfort but possessing the energy transfer of the stiffest reinforced steel. Reflecting upon it, not only do I favour the weight of steel but also its stiffness with lack of resonance for want of a better term. Even better, copper gives the impression of more heft than steel while offering the soft face feel of Ti.

There are quite a few folk, like Moriarity, that prefer a light razor and have the technique/discipline to use it. Know a few of the senior members claim it needed to prevent pain in their wrists as they age.

That is exactly why the best artisans offer a range of metals and efficiencies.

3 more shaves in.

First, a shave using the Vor V and a Gillette Yellow. No photo because I had to rush through it since I had a Zoom meeting that I almost forgot about.  In any event, I made it a two pass shave and it was solid.  A clean DFS shave but the scent of the Vor V isn't one that falls in my wheelhouse.  I do believe that, for me, the steel is preferable to the scrape/resonance from the titanium that I've described above. This weight feels anchored and right to me; I comfortably let the razor do the work. The Wholly Kaw base again was good.

Then, second, a shave that didn't thrill me.  Perhaps the lather (but I don't think it was that) but more likely the blade. This is the second time in a month that I've had a bad GSB shave and I'm wondering if I might have gotten some duds because normally that's a go-to blade for me.  In any event, I got a bunch of nicks and irritation.  Lest anyone say it might have been the soap, I do use the DRH a lot and without issue. Anyway, not a great day.

Third shave (today). I was thinking it myself but at DanLaw's suggestion went with an Astra. Also went with the Vanilla Safi from Ethos which is one of my top five soaps. And, as a few days earlier, again went with one of my favorite (and softest) brushes, the Kent.  The result was so much more of what I expect from this razor:  very close shave, no cuts, no nicks, just close and tight.  The razor just delivers.  And for the money, I have to say this is a top flight shaving tool; the quality of the execution is just so fine and -- in my experience and without naming other popular razors that folks use and that I've tried -- better than what one may otherwise get for the money. Look at my photo from this shave; the razor, to my eye at least, looks great.  And this is about as aggressive a razor as I like to use.  I know Aji is working on a more aggressive shaver but, as a daily shaver, I just can't want more.  Finally, as I often do, I went with the OC for the first two passes and then went with the SB for the third and it dialed in well. This combination for this razor really makes good sense.  So, all in all, very pleased today.  I'll use it in a few days again and then send it along.

Photos, first the day that didn't thrill and then today's:

Getting to tail end of this passaround. Anybody interested in joining; this is last call

Last shave with the P076 was yesterday and I saved for the end trying the La Supérierure.  I don't often use creams since I delved into wet shaving but perhaps I should more often since I got a great shave out of it and really enjoyed the scent.  DanLaw is right that, in use, it has a wonderful tobacco scent -- I've not often tried tobacco soaps but the one or two I first sampled were much more aggressive and leathery and didn't do anything for me. This one sure did.  Really enjoyed it. And I must not have been alone in liking it because the jar was all but empty when it got to me. Still another two or three shaves left in should anyone else join the pass around.

And the shave was the same as most of the others -- this time, I put in a Gillette Platinum and it was close and clean.  No issues and there's no doubt this is one quality razor. For the price, it's really actually kind of a bargain. 

So, another many thanks to DanLaw, Haircut & Shave, and Wholly Kaw for being so generous with their time and wares to make this passaround.  So appreciated.