New Karve Razor -- "The Bison" Dropping Black Friday!!!

Just shaved with the Bison. I haven't used my Overlander in a while, but I don't feel like the Bison is any less efficient.
The Bison, like the Overlander is incredibly smooth and efficient, and feels great ATG.

Agree with shaveSymptomatic on efficiency. The Overlander might take a two or three day growth down easier on the first pass but, I have to admit, for a daily or two day razor the Bison is top in my den right now. Remarkable going ATG as well.

As I mentioned earlier in the thread the low profile head and beveled corners really work for me. The blade extends farther out to the edge. Love that. Smoothest razor on offer right now in my use. I swapped out the Bison handle. Too long for me.

Stainless Steel will be great down the road and I am sure Chris will offer those at some point. Having owned all the Karve’s in most metals the Aluminum shaves as well and close as the other materials for me. Stainless will be nice though.

Bison and Overlander:

Just shaved with the Bison. I haven't used my Overlander in a while, but I don't feel like the Bison is any less efficient.
The Bison, like the Overlander is incredibly smooth and efficient, and feels great ATG.

Used my copper overlander today after using the bison for several days straight. I'm very confident in saying that the bison is NOT less efficient. If anything, it's ever so slightly more efficient. Both are incredibly smooth and can't really pick a winner.

Just shaved with the Bison. I haven't used my Overlander in a while, but I don't feel like the Bison is any less efficient.
The Bison, like the Overlander is incredibly smooth and efficient, and feels great ATG.

Used my copper overlander today after using the bison for several days straight. I'm very confident in saying that the bison is NOT less efficient. If anything, it's ever so slightly more efficient. Both are incredibly smooth and can't really pick a winner.

I have the Copper Overlander and a brass CB with a SB-E plate, among others. I can't say the Overlander isn't just as efficient, so it sounds like the Bison is another winner. I would just prefer more weight, hence brass or SS would be nice.They are still sharp.

Update: I found some reviews, details and videos on this razor (now that it's been out there for a bit). So, instead of the million questions, I'll post some comments I found and ask if anyone disagrees and/or would like to expound on them...

The razor has a slightly different angle than the overlander, which in turn was also different from the CB. The line of thinking is supposedly (1) to provide a wider working shave angle and (2) to make the ideal angle closer to vintage razors.

The blade gap is 71, two below the Overlander. The exposure is .06, where is the overlander is .07. So very close, with the overlander having ever so slightly more exposure and gap. Since these are not the only things that matter in a razor's efficiency/ aggression, I'm not sure actually makes a difference. Still, the consensus seems to be it's (slightly) smoother than the OL, but is a tiny bit less efficient, too. All the reviews seem to stress that it's still quite efficient and will get the job done. So basically no real difference unless you really nitpick?

A few references to this being marketed towards new shavers. IE, while the overlander certainly could be used by anyone newbie or expert, this one focuses on the newbies.

Any thoughts?

I'm thinking this is a razor which by all accounts is too duplicative of its predecessor to be necessary. Terms used like manufacturing stability (I think) lead me to believe Chris actually made a more cost efficient design, for a (copy of) Overlander and wants to try to phase the OL out? I could be going a bit too far with that hypothesis. Nonetheless, all these details make me think.

Thanks folks!


Sent from my Pixel 7a using Tapatalk

From what I read on Karve website, I think the Bison is meant as a more affordable option, and to reach that, the sole options are colors.
So I don't think Chris will make a SS or Brass version, and won't offer a choice of handles either, in order to keep the price lower.

From what I read on Karve website, I think the Bison is meant as a more affordable option, and to reach that, the sole options are colors.
So I don't think Chris will make a SS or Brass version, and won't offer a choice of handles either, in order to keep the price lower.

Ooh wow. The one place I didn't go for information is the Karve site (yep. I'll grab my dunce cap now, lol).

The OL is $92USD, Whereas the Bison is $73. So almost $20 cheaper. That's a big difference and, in my mind, nails home the idea that it is meant to bring folks into shaving (considering the wider acceptable angle and smooth shave). Kudos to Chris than. I was thinking it was the same price ... he did his homework for sure. I shouldn't have doubted him.

Thanks, appreciate the response.

Sent from my Pixel 7a using Tapatalk