Member
Seattle
(This post was last modified: 01-24-2020, 11:06 AM by Captainjonny.)
I have had 1 enjoyable shave with the Envoy since receiving it today. I had a 24 hour growth, and typically do not shave for at least 48 hours between shaves. I made an exception to simulate a “daily” shave which most working men do. My next shave will be in 2 to 3 days, to see how the Envoy does with more growth.
I used a new Wizamet blade and tried the Rex Barbershop Soap that came with the razor. My brush was a West Coast Shaving Honeycomb finest badger (26mm). The Rex Barbershop Soap is more of a clean refreshing scent than the typical Barbershop. IMHO the soap performance was average.
The shave was easy and smooth, and left little to no irritation. I am not alone in my belief that the Envoy is more efficient than the Ambassador on a #3 setting. The blade is tight and there is zero blade chatter. Audio feedback is noticeable, but it is not pronounced. It is nearly intuitive to find the correct shave angle with the Envoy. I was able to easily maneuver under my nose. The Envoy rinses and drains very well.
I would rate this razor at a notch below mid-aggressive, and suitable for a new wet shaver. I did a 3 pass shave plus a cleaning buff-up, to BBS.
The only issues I have with this razor are subjective and apply to my personal preferences. I like a longer handle. Matt already acknowledges this issue,
and plans to offer longer handles on both the Ambassador and the Envoy in the future. My other issue is the corners of the base plate are not rounded.
The corners are pointed (Not “sharp”) and I prefer more rounded corners. Unfortunately, 95% of all base plates do not meet my personal standard, and
that is just the way things are. This is not a hit on the Envoy at all.
The razor is of the highest quality machining and has tight and perfect blade alignment. I own an Ambassador, and the brushed stainless finish is identical. I personally like the finish, since it will wear well over time. Some people may prefer a polished finish. I believe that Matt is working the polished finish issue as well.
The handle on the Envoy and the Ambassador, possibly have the best knurling in the razor market today. Very grippy! This razor is designed and built to last several lifetimes, and be passed down.
So far, I like this razor enough to purchase one, after longer handles are available. I own the Adjustable Rex Ambassador, but the Envoy 3 piece is a different animal. IMHO the Envoy shaves slightly better and is a great “entry level high quality”, USA manufactured artisan razor. The price reflects these qualities, and is fair.
I am looking forward to a couple of more shaves before passing it on. I will report with more details at that time.
Here are my personal pros and cons as of today.
Pros:
Fit and Brushed Finish………………….…Excellent (some machining marks) with Engraving on back of base plate
Manufacturing Tolerances.................Excellent
Handle Knurling and Finish………………Best in class
Weight and Balance…………………………..Good
Shave Quality……………………………………..Excellent
Cons:
Handle length is shorter than I prefer
Corners of baseplate are not rounded
I used a new Wizamet blade and tried the Rex Barbershop Soap that came with the razor. My brush was a West Coast Shaving Honeycomb finest badger (26mm). The Rex Barbershop Soap is more of a clean refreshing scent than the typical Barbershop. IMHO the soap performance was average.
The shave was easy and smooth, and left little to no irritation. I am not alone in my belief that the Envoy is more efficient than the Ambassador on a #3 setting. The blade is tight and there is zero blade chatter. Audio feedback is noticeable, but it is not pronounced. It is nearly intuitive to find the correct shave angle with the Envoy. I was able to easily maneuver under my nose. The Envoy rinses and drains very well.
I would rate this razor at a notch below mid-aggressive, and suitable for a new wet shaver. I did a 3 pass shave plus a cleaning buff-up, to BBS.
The only issues I have with this razor are subjective and apply to my personal preferences. I like a longer handle. Matt already acknowledges this issue,
and plans to offer longer handles on both the Ambassador and the Envoy in the future. My other issue is the corners of the base plate are not rounded.
The corners are pointed (Not “sharp”) and I prefer more rounded corners. Unfortunately, 95% of all base plates do not meet my personal standard, and
that is just the way things are. This is not a hit on the Envoy at all.
The razor is of the highest quality machining and has tight and perfect blade alignment. I own an Ambassador, and the brushed stainless finish is identical. I personally like the finish, since it will wear well over time. Some people may prefer a polished finish. I believe that Matt is working the polished finish issue as well.
The handle on the Envoy and the Ambassador, possibly have the best knurling in the razor market today. Very grippy! This razor is designed and built to last several lifetimes, and be passed down.
So far, I like this razor enough to purchase one, after longer handles are available. I own the Adjustable Rex Ambassador, but the Envoy 3 piece is a different animal. IMHO the Envoy shaves slightly better and is a great “entry level high quality”, USA manufactured artisan razor. The price reflects these qualities, and is fair.
I am looking forward to a couple of more shaves before passing it on. I will report with more details at that time.
Here are my personal pros and cons as of today.
Pros:
Fit and Brushed Finish………………….…Excellent (some machining marks) with Engraving on back of base plate
Manufacturing Tolerances.................Excellent
Handle Knurling and Finish………………Best in class
Weight and Balance…………………………..Good
Shave Quality……………………………………..Excellent
Cons:
Handle length is shorter than I prefer
Corners of baseplate are not rounded
