Le Maurice Pass around

Monday August 1, 2022
Razor: Atelier Durdan "Le Maurice" .80 Gap Titanium
Blade: Wizamet
Brush: Trotter "Vein Quartz"/Badger
Soap: WK La Fougère Parfaite
AS 1: Humphrey's Alcoholado Maravilla 70
AS 2: Brut Splash
Fragrance:
Consecutive Daily Shaves - # 1,364

Decided to try the shallow end of the pool today with the .80 Titanium head. The open comb and staright bar sides felt equally comfortable and the angle is easy to find. Don't ask me what the cutting angle is as I never put a protractor to my face. Let's just say it is easy to find the correct cutting angle and get a close shave. A little more buffing was needed to get to the same smooth shave I desire but was easily done without any irritation whatsoever. It's been a pleasure sampling this fine collection. It's clear Augustin has done his homework and trialing things before presenting rather than after the fact and then needing to correct things. Will try the SS 1.0 Gap tomorrow. Everyone have a great day !

Tuesday August 2, 2022
Razor: Atelier Durdan "Le Maurice" 1.00 Gap 316L
Blade: Wizamet
Brush: Wolf Whisker Beehive/Badger
Soap: Ballenclaugh Honey and Tobacco
AS 1: Humphrey's Alcoholado Maravilla 70
AS 2: CHH Tobacco
Fragrance:
Consecutive Daily Shaves - # 1,365

Another BEAUTIFUL shave with the Le Maurice this time with the 1.00 Gap SS and I believe this is the sweet spot for me. All 3 are smooth operators and efficient. In my opinion the only advantage the highest gap would be is for those that don't shave every day. Again, this is my opinion. This is a razor I would love to have in the Titanium polished 1.00 gap Straight Bar if I had the budget. Another shave tomorrow perhaps on video before sanitizing and boxing up the set to mail to AJSharp by Thursday. Have a great day everyone !

Try this post again.

I'd like to be added to the pass around.
Keto and I'm in Missouri

Hi there,

here is the list for the USA and Canada

cornbread         NY
Dave in KY        Kentucky
AJSharp            NY
Marhos24          Michigan
ewk                  SC, USA.
GlazedBoker      New Jersey.
draebeard         Seattle, WA.
CK89                Indiana.
HighSpeed        Virginia.
Calm_Shaver     NY
ALI                   Connecticut
wyze0ne           Michigan
Time Bandit       Orégon
Lesser
Keto                    Missouri 

I will send a second box for Europeans

Olive               France
Tjebbe            Netherlands

Have a nice day !

For the list, I'm in New York.

Wednesday August 3, 2022
Razor: Atelier Durdan "Le Maurice" 1.00 Gap 316L
Blade: Wizamet
Brush: Stuart/Timberwolf
Soap: 1953 Williams Shave Cream w/Lanotrate 25
AS 1: Humphrey's Alcoholado Maravilla 70
AS 2: 1953 Aqua Velva
Fragrance:
Consecutive Daily Shaves - # 1,366

A HUGE THANKS to Atelier DURDAN Augustin and andrewjs18 for doing this GREAT pass Around. You hit it out of the park as far as I'm concerned !! Will get this shipped to AJSharp tomorrow
https://youtu.be/WxeOCnl9j4M

Thanks again to Andrew and Augustin for the time to use these well engineered tools. Shipped to AJSharp today and showing estimated delivery to him on August 8th

Is it too late to be added to this pass-around? I would like to try if possible. Pittsburgh, PA. Huge thanks for DFS for all the great info and to Augustin for making this available.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Dave in KY I have received the package and look to try it out and post my opinions over the next few days before I send it out to the next reviewer.

I purposely have not read or viewed Dave in KY reviews so as to not bias my opinions but I do see he included all the representative pictures. I would like to comment on the excellent presentation which is a wooden box with all the assorted caps and guards. When it comes to boxes or cases there is a legitimate concern that some people like an elegant case whereas others are not interested in the extra costs of a case for a razor - both these views are valid. This razor comes with a beautiful wooden box if, by my understanding per the website, one has to order over 500 euros worth of razor to get this box/case.

When it comes to razor boxes I recall a wooden box with the WCS/CG collaboration and there have been waterproof/gun cases with the original Tradere as well as Karve/H&S offerings. The most over the top razor box was probably from Raw Shaving as I recall a very heated debate within the wet shaving community at the time. I will point out that there have been customized tins and wooden cases for CG, Yates and Merkur Vision in the past. Also many vintage razors from Gillette included plastic or metal cases which are sought after by collectors - Gillette Toggle cases are a very collectable item as are early century cases. So keep in mind that a razor case or box can be "interesting" addition.

This wooden storage case measures approximately: 177 mm x 137 mm x 24 mm (height)

As far as the contents includes there is a variety of dual comb guards in metals with the following specs:

Titanium 0.8 mm gap: top cap 8.8 gm + guard 7.3 gm = total 16.1 gm
SS (316) 1.0 mm gap: top cap 16.4 gm + guard 13.1 gm = total 29.5 gm
Brass 1.2 mm gap: top cap 17.5 gm + guard 14.1 gm = total 31.6 gm

SS (hollow) handle: 52.8 gm and 85 mm/3.25" long and SS Stand: 61 gm

So the polished Ti head + SS handle = 69.0 gm ; SS head + SS handle = 82.3 gm ; Brass head + SS handle = 84.4 gm

I will get some shaves under my belt and report back over the next few shaves.

So I have managed several shaves with this excellent assortment of gaps and metals and have figured a number of opinions which I would like to share. This initial artisan release needs to be commended for the variety of products offered in different gaps and configurations.

HEAD:  This is a 3-peice razor which reminds me of the vintage Tech Gillettes in that the head is narrow and, as such, very nimble. The narrow head can easily access the tight areas under the nose and makes buffing very easy. Another nice (general) feature, which I like very much, is that the top cap fully covers the blade tabs yet the head does not feel overly large. There are several excellent artisans which produce relatively "large" heads (ie Timeless) and others "ruin" the experience with exposed blade tabs (ie Wolfman) - some may disagree but these are important to me.

HANDLE: The provided 3.25" handle works for my slender fingers and small hands despite my personal preference for a 90 mm/ 3.5" handle (think Charcoal Goods). The handle appears slightly thick in comparison to it's slender head but that is my optics. The handle was ever so slightly slippery with soapy hands given it's simple non-knurled design but that is easily fixed by wiping the handle dry or using an alum block on one's fingers. I would be concerned if I shower shaved or if my wife used in on her legs (in the shower) but then she would prefer a longer 4" handle.

TECHNIQUE: For those interested when I shave daily I do a standard 2 pass shave with WTG using the open comb and then ATG using the solid bar. This was done after a shower and I used the same soap, blade and post shave procedures. Also those of you who know me, I can use high gap razors yielding very efficient shaves yet I prefer a smooth and comfortable shave. As a daily shaver I expect my efficient shave to last the day and, although I do not generate a Mediterranean 5 o'clock shadow, I definitely have stubble by early evening that my wife will notice. That is my background in evaluating any razor and shave products in general.

OC vs SB: The open combs (all metals/gaps), never my preferred configuration, had 10 teeth which were not "sharp or harsh" on my face. The OC was quite smooth and the teeth were only noticeable along the chin and mustache regions. I am not sure the OC pass was any more efficient than the solid bar passes which is neither good nor bad IMHO. Second passes ATG with the solid bar were comfortable at all gaps/metals and I never experienced any facial irritation or razor burn.

GAPS: As expected using the larger 1.2 gap (brass) gave me the closest and longest lasting shave - approximately 10-12 hours before noticeable stubble. This larger gap was no less smoother than the smaller gaps. The 1.0 gap (steel) razor was equally smooth during the actual shave but lasted like 8-10 hours whereas the 0.8 gap (Titanium) only lasted 8 hours so barely the work day. Of interest I have other 0.8 mm gap razors which yield more efficient shaves lasting considerably longer performing or "punching above their class".

METALS: As expected the polished titanium head "feels" smoother on the skin compared to 316 steel and brass but these latter metals were quite smooth and comfortable. With all my shaves I do not think there was a tremendous difference among metals or gaps regarding the shave's smoothness or comfort. This is commendable to the artisan as often different razor metals and gaps from the same artisan yield very different shaves (ie Wolfman, Charcoal Goods, Blackland).

OVERALL: There is good selection of razor gaps, metals and handle lengths for most everyone to find something that works for them. Personally I preferred the 316 steel head and (not surprisingly) the 1.2 gap in a solid bar but I recognize that many would be thrilled with the other offerings. As a first attempt by this artisan I am very impressed as IMHO these razors rival those of Blackland, Carbon, H&S and Timeless who have been producing razors for some time.

I thank all for allowing me to try out this razor and wish luck going forward. The razor package is currently in the mail to the next reviewer.

Now I can watch Dave in KY always knowledgeable and entertaining video reviews.