new DE razor from rex supply - the envoy

I’ve had my Rex Ambassador for over a year. On setting 2 it is one of my all time favorite razors. I decided to try out the Envoy and am glad I did:

It’s a bit lighter and a bit less handle heavy. To me it feels more like 2.6 or so then the full 3. I can and did shave every day for a week with it and my skin really liked it. Sometimes the Ambassador can be a bit too much, especially around the neck. Not sure if the blade exposure is the same, but it feels a bit smoother especially ATG.

The fit and finish is great, and it delivers the same BBS results. Was not expecting it to be shorter, but I didn’t notice until putting them side by side.

Overall I am really impressed, and glad to have both. 

Saturday January 18, 2020
2020 Shave # 19 ( 439 Consecutive Shaves )
Razor: Rex Envoy
Blade: Wizamet (2)
Brush: The Shaving Cadre Anniversary Brush
Soap: CBL Tonsorial Fresh Lime 3017 (19)
Aftershave 1: Humphrey's Alcoholado Maravilla
Aftershave 2: Stirling Deton-8
Fragrance: Viktor & Rolf Spice Bomb

Shave 19 on the 3017 of CBL Tonsorial Fresh Lime. More than double my best length I could last in a 3017 previously.........I can do this........

The time I test drove the Ambassador has faded but I remember that it just wasn't for me. So going into the pass with the Envoy which has been compared to the Ambassador on 3 I was skeptical and thought it would be a 1 or 2 shaves and done (Not for me)..................Boy was I wrong. Shave 2 today and I find myself intrigued with it. Taking my time and paying attention to angle and I'm getting some smooth and AMAZING shaves. It's smooth enough that it invites you to chase even the tiniest of stubble if you find it on inspection after the shave. I fought that urge today and am extremely happy with the results.
JoeLr I think this would be a perfect fit for you as it is. My feelings of the Ambassador mirrored yours and I'm pleasantly surprised by this razor.
I'll get 1 more shave in Sunday morning and get this passed to the next on the list. Pretty sure that is andrewjs18 Correct me if I'm wrong. Can you pm me your shipping info please ?

Envoy Pass-Around:

WEST COAST
gvw755
IanG153*removed at the user's request*
kehole
dabearis
fmalpartida
Ram57
Chef Glenn *removed at user's request*
captainjonny
draebeard
kooshman7
CK89
andrewjs18

EAST COAST
ScientficShaves
ShaveMD
Nh wet shaver *skipped for now as user hasn't responded to address messages*
Zen Shaver
slantman
velohammer
ANG69 *removed at user's request*
AJSharp
Tiny *removed at user's request*
Asafiev *removed at user's request*
Dave in KY
andrewjs18

Dave in KY, I'm PM you my address.

Sunday January 19, 2020
2020 Shave # 20 ( 440 Consecutive Shaves )
Razor: Rex Envoy
Blade: Wizamet (3)
Brush: Wolf Whisker
Soap: CBL Tonsorial Fresh Lime 3017 (20)
Aftershave 1: Humphrey's Alcoholado Maravilla
Aftershave 2: Nivea 2 into 1 Aftershave
Fragrance: Penhaligon's Endymion Cologne

Shave 20 with the 3017 of Fresh Lime and I'm enjoying the soap. I wouldn't say I'm tiring of it. Am I missing variety? Yes. Enough to end yet? No. While I miss variety, especially knowing all the great soaps languishing on the shelves, I don't wonder which soap I'm using the next day. It does seem redundant in the SOTD pics so I have dropped it from there recently. Any way, enjoying the soap. Onward and upward with that.

Rex Envoy razor: 3rd and final shave with it and I am impressed. I'd be interested in buying the pass around one at a good discount or find one on the BST down the road. It's a solid performer for me as a daily driver to share space with my 6s Plate 5. I appreciate Matt at Razor Emporium and Andrew hosting the pass around and a chance to try it out. Will disinfect and pack it up to go out tomorrow in the mail.

https://youtu.be/VStlXwryZDc

do you want me to bump you further down on the list?

If I can get it in February, sure. Thanks a lot for your help.

for some reason I thought you were on the west coast anyways.  what state are you in?  you can PM if you'd prefer to share it privately.

Sorry for late reply, I am in Indiana.

If I can get it in February, sure. Thanks a lot for your help.

for some reason I thought you were on the west coast anyways.  what state are you in?  you can PM if you'd prefer to share it privately.

Sorry for late reply, I am in Indiana.

I put you at the bottom of the west coast list. you should be fine for February.

Evening fellow shave mates.

My apologies for late posting of my test run with the Envoy, but had unexpected company knock on my door Wednesday night and they just left this morning. Normally, I like a little warning when the family stop by, but gave them a pass as they were planning on driving through Boise to Salt Lake and visit with me on the way back end of the month, but they had car trouble just west of Boise and had to be towed into town.

I was part of the Rex Ambassador pass around and really, really like that razor. Tried settings 1-6 and found the best settings for me were 2.5-3 with any blade I tried back then. If I recall, I tested with Iridiums, GSB, Spoiler, Supermax Tigers and feathers. With all the blades mentioned, I could what I call speed shave without fear of drawing blood. The weight of the Rex felt perfect for me, excellent build quality, excellent knurling on the handle and blade angle was easy to find. I was so impressed I was planning on buying a Rex during Black Friday sale. THEN..... I got word that RE was coming out with a 3pc with a blade gap similar to setting 3 on a Rex but between $100-$125 and a pass-around was being set up by Matt of Razor Emporium, so I decided to wait and test drive the Envoy. Fast forward to today.

The Envoy, just like the Rex feels great in my hands. I had no recollection of the weight of the Rex but the Envoy felt similar in weight and same height or darn close. So I went over to RE website and found both are the same weight, length, and knurling, just that the Envoy had a gap setting of .025. With those findings and word that this gap was a 3 on the Rex, I couldn't see how this was not going to be a razor I liked.

My four shaves with the envoy:

1/17
Razor: Razor Emporium Envoy
Blade: Rapira Swedish SuperSteel (5)
Brush: Semogue 2013 Barbear Classico Mistura LE
Bowl: Sweese Porcelain Suribachi 5”
Pre-Shave Scrub: MRGO Lime
Pre-Shave Balm: GroomingDept Eucalyptus & Spearmint
Shave Soap: L & L Grooming TSM Fougère
Balm: Handmade Soap Co. Soothing Cream
Aftershave: L & L Grooming TSM Fougère

1/18
Razor: Razor Emporium Envoy
Blade: Kai (1)
Brush: Grizzly Bay w Elite High Mountain White 26mm
Scuttle: Junichi Tanaka 5"
Pre-Shave Scrub: MRGO Lime
Pre-Shave Balm: GroomingDept Mandarin and Cardamom
Shave Soap: Shulton Old Spice
Balm: Stirling's Bay Rum
Aftershave: Shulton Old Spice
Cologne: Shulton Old Spice

1/19
Razor: Razor Emporium Envoy
Blade: Kai (2)
Brush: MS Faux Horn Memphis 24mm 2 band
Scuttle: Symmetrical Sheet Metal
Pre-Shave Scrub: MRGO Lime
Pre-Shave Balm: GroomingDept Unscented
Shave Soap: HTGAM Cavendish
Balm: HTGAM Cavendish
Aftershave: PAA Cavendish

1/20
Razor: Razor Emporium Envoy
Blade: Personna Med Prep (D1)
Brush: Shavemac TSR2015 LE 2-band Silvertip Xmas Coral
Bowl: The Distinctive Goat Style 4 5½” Cypress Sinker Log
Pre-Shave Scrub: MRGO Lime
Pre-Shave Balm: GroomingDept Eucalyptus & Spearmint
Shave Soap: Prairie Creations DdC Alpine Snowdrift
Balm: Organic Shea Butter
Aftershave: TSM Fougère Toner

and Tomorrow shave
Razor: Razor Emporium Envoy
Blade: Personna Med Prep (D2)
Brush: Nathan Clark Envy White 27mm Anodized Bronze
Scuttle: Dirty Bird 1.5
Pre-Shave Scrub: MRGO Lime
Pre-Shave Balm: GroomingDept Mandarin and Cardamom
Shave Soap: Tabac
Balm: Tabac
Cologne: Tabac

The first day with the Envoy was a joy. As noted above, the feel of this razor in my hands is perfect. Weight- check, length,-check, knurling-check, and the angle was each to find right away. With the Rapria Super Steel blade, the shave was mid aggressive but smooth. I felt I could speed shave with this blade with no worries of a nick, and had zero irritation when I ran alum block after the shave. Felt like a setting of 2.5 with this blade.

Day two and three with the Kai blade. Sharp like a feather, but just a little smoother. With this blade, it felt like a setting of 3 to 3.5. Could feel and hear the blade but again no nicks or irritation.

Day 4 I switched over to a Personna Medical Prep and once again it felt like the setting of 2.5 and this time I did a speed shave to see if I would draw blood. No sir, another smooth shave with no irritation. I expect the same results with this razor and blade combo tomorrow so I have the information I was seeking with this razor.

I must state that I am a daily shaver and 90% of the time I do two passes. On a rare occasion, I might have to do a 3rd pass when I have a bad blade or using a blade way past its life but that usually happens with SE blades than DE blades as I have over 1000 DE blades.

Do I plan on picking up an envoy, well that depends unfortunately on how my finances are in the near future. Have a way of medical bills starting to come in with more in the future, but if I didn't have those expenses, then my answer would be yes. I find it shaves me closer than my Karve(s) neck and neck with my TImeless .95 and .38. Just as mild as DE89 but more efficient and better feel in my hands, Smoother than my Rocca R95 but I Love the look of the Rocca. Test drove a wolfman guerrilla and Envoy smoother, more efficient as I had to do four passes with guerrilla and still felt like I had a 1 o'clock shadow. Also, I test drove a stainless Lupo and that was super smooth and efficient. For me neck and neck with the Envoy/Rex ambassador.

Have enjoyed my time with the Envoy and ready to pass it on after tomorrow morning shave.

East Coast razor mailed today and Andrew should have it by Friday. THANKS again everyone involved it this !!!

I received the east coast razor on Thursday afternoon. I'll give it a whirl on Friday or Saturday night...

first impressions: this thing has some heft! the knurling on the handle is machined well (I don't notice any sloppiness with it) and very grippy. the tolerances between the top cap and base plate is very tight. I like the etching on the base plate too!

the handle is a touch short for my liking just on first feel - that might change once I shave with it, we shall see! this razor might not hurt to have it machined in both stainless and aluminum...then people who like a heavier razor can go with stainless with those who like lighter razors can go with aluminum...