Greetings all,
I had intended to give an update with each shave, but it happened to arrive at an especially busy time for me. I'll give my impression of the Envoy from the three shaves I had with it. Coincidentally, the Rex Ambassador just arrived yesterday from a different pass-around I had signed up for months ago.
It should be interesting to try the Envoy's adjustable sibling next.
Initial Impressions:
The Envoy is a stout little razor. Its little, with the three inch handle, but still heavier than any other razor I currently own. The weight and overall appearance of the razor give the razor a very utilitarian look. The finish is an even machine brush and is fitting. The bottom plate engraving is attractive and well done. I'd personally prefer a slightly longer handle, but I love the grippy knurling.
Overall, I really like the look of the Envoy. I can't think of another three-piece that resembles it; perhaps because it's modeled on an adjustable.
Prep:
I didn't use the included soap. The ingredients look good and simple and the scent seems clean and fresh. I plan on scooping out a bit to sample later. I decided to not introduce an unknown with the soap and used Nuavia Blu instead. It was the next in my rotation and is a really solid performing soap.
I started with a new Personna Red blade and used it for the three shaves. I used different brushes and aftershaves each time. Each shave was with 36-48 hours growth.
Shave:
I had not used the Rex razor previously but was well aware of the positive reputation of the Ambassador. My understanding is that the Envoy is based on a 3 setting of the Ambassador (correctly me if I'm wrong). My impression from other reviews was that many found the razor quite aggressive beyond 1.5 or so. Based on this preconception, I started off taking extra care to my technique.
In practice, I did find the Envoy to be an aggressive shaver. The positive blade exposure is there and can be felt. My closest comparison would be the Karve E plate. That said, I didn't find the razor to be harsh at all. I had three beautiful and irritation-free shaves from the envoy; three really nice, nick-free DFSs.
Conclusion:
I really like this razor. The Envoy a well-crafted and attractive razor. The weight wasn't a negative factor for me. The blade-feel could be a positive or negative, based on preference. My first shave was less smooth due to the blade feel, but I adjusted on the next two and got very smooth shaves. That said, I do have other very efficient razors that are a bit smoother.
I'll give it a go with the Ambassador before I comment on whether I'd purchase the Envoy myself.
Thanks the organizers for giving me the opportunity to review the Envoy! I'll give the razor a clean and plan to ship it out to slantman tomorrow morning.
Merry Christmas, happy holidays, and a happy new year to all!